Anti-Doping

Global Dro logo (pills coming out of bottle)

GlobalDRO

Athletes should always check the status of medications prior to use. One of the fastest ways to search the status of a medication and/or ingredient is by using Global Drug Reference Online (GlobalDRO.com), which provides easily accessible and accurate information on the status of brand-name pharmaceutical products sold in Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. Some over-the-counter medicinal products are also included in the database. Global DRO® does not contain information on, or relating to, dietary supplements because they are associated with unreliable manufacturing and evaluation practices. If an athlete can’t find the brand name of their medication on Global DRO, they can also search the active ingredients listed on the medication label, which is often necessary in the case of cold, flu and other such over-the-counter medications.

If a medication cannot be found on GlobalDRO.com, that does not mean it is permitted. Please contact drugreference@USADA.org or call (719) 785-2000 and follow the prompts to connect to USADA’s Drug Reference Line.

Supplement Connect

USADA has created an online resource designed to provide athletes and support persons with the best possible information to evaluate the risks associated with the use of supplements. From product contamination to issues with product labeling, Supplement Connect provides athletes and support persons with information that will help them Realize that safety issues exist, Recognize risk when they see it, and Reduce their risk of testing positive or experiencing harmful effects from the use of dietary supplements. To learn more about the dietary supplement industry and access valuable information, including the TrueSport Supplement Guide, visit USADA.org/supplement-connect.

Play Clean Tip Center

In its mission to champion athletes to achieve their dreams in a fair and healthy way and to inspire the world, USADA is unwavering in its belief that every athlete has the right to compete on a clean and level playing field, free from the pressures and influences of performance-enhancing drugs. For this reason, USADA makes available a number of ways to report the abuse of performance-enhancing drugs in sport in an effort to protect clean athletes and promote clean competition.

If you would like to remain anonymous to USADA, do not provide any contact information. However, if you are willing to communicate directly with USADA’s Investigation Team regarding your tip, please provide contact information, and someone will respond to you. Please be advised that all Play Clean Tips are considered confidential information and that speaking to or otherwise communicating with USADA does not change the confidential status of the information provided or waive your right to remain anonymous throughout USADA’s investigation of another person and any resulting disciplinary proceedings.

Contact USADA’s Play Clean Tip Center to confidentially report the abuse of performance-enhancing drugs in sport by:

  • Calling: 1-877-752-9253
  • Anonymous texting: 87232 (“USADA”)
  • Emailing: playclean@USADA.org
  • If reporting a tip from outside the United States, text +1 719-748-USADA

Athlete Connect

USADA works hard to ensure we deliver quality anti-doping technologies for our athletes. With Athlete Connect, athletes and their support personnel will have a more streamlined and reliable way to file and update Whereabouts, complete education requirements, access test results and quickly navigate to Global DRO and USADA’s many other resources.

As with any technology, the web application will continue to evolve to best meet the needs of users. We encourage athletes to support that process by sharing feedback with us at AthleteConnect@USADA.org or by calling (719) 785-2000 or Toll Free at (866) 601-2632, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Mountain Time, Monday through Friday.

Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs)

There may be a time during an athlete’s career when they have a legitimate medical need to use a prohibited substance or method. If the recommended medication is prohibited, athletes are required to take precautions to not only meet their medical needs but also abide by the anti-doping rules. Athletes in the Registered Testing Pool (RTP), Clean Athlete Program (CAP) and Education Pool (EP) require a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) in advance of the use of a prohibited substance or method. All other athletes, including recreational athletes, should submit a TUE Pre-Check Form to USADA to determine if a TUE is required.

There are certain instances in an athlete’s career when a TUE cannot be obtained before the use of a prohibited substance or method. TUEs can be issued to athletes retroactively. To learn more about retroactive TUEs, visit https://www.usada.org/athletes/testing/tue/.

Testing Information

Testing is an important part of any effective anti-doping program and is the area that most often comes to mind when thinking about anti-doping. From test planning and collection of a urine or blood sample, through the results managements process, USADA provides a thorough program, with policies and procedures in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code, the WADA International Standards, the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee Anti-Doping Rules and the USADA Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing.

You can find more information about the testing process at USADA.org/testing.

Results Management

USADA is responsible for the results management and adjudication process for athletes in U.S. Olympic, Paralympic, Pan American and Parapan American Sport, providing important independence and removing any potential conflicts of interest from the USOPC and sport national governing bodies. USADA communicates with athletes regarding test results and manages any potential anti-doping rule violations. The results management process is designed to protect the rights of clean athletes, preserve the integrity of competition and hold accountable those athletes looking to cheat through the use of dangerous, performance-enhancing drugs, while ensuring only those athletes who have committed anti-doping rule violations (ADRV) face sanctions. USADA works to achieve a transparent and fair results management and adjudication process in accordance with the established rules, including Congressional Statutes, such as the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act, the World Anti-Doping Code, and the USOPC National Anti-Doping Policy which are agreed upon by the USOPC Athletes’ Advisory Council.

Additional information about the results management process can be found at www.USADA.org/testing/results/.

Coach’s Advantage

Coaches are some of the most influential people in athletes’ lives and are in a unique position to help them make positive and healthy choices. Understanding the role they play in keeping sport clean, as well as their responsibilities under the World Anti-Doping Code, is vital for both them and the athletes they support.

Find out more at http://www.usada.org/resources/coach/.

HealthPro Advantage

Health professionals, who care for athletes, are a vital component in the bigger picture of preserving the integrity of competition and the core principles of true sport. Athletes and support personnel depend on health professionals to help guide them in making good decisions. Understanding anti-doping rules is essential to ensuring success in program compliance and clean competition.

For more information on the free Stanford course, visit: http://www.usada.org/resources/healthpro/.

Athlete Retirement and Returning to Sport from Retirement

When athletes are ready for retirement, there are steps that must be taken to make it official and to remove themselves from the testing pool. They must promptly inform USADA, their National Governing Body (NGB) and their International Federation (IF) in writing via mail or email that they are retiring. They should also check with their IF to determine if there are additional steps they need to follow.

Until an athlete has finalized all of the necessary retirement steps, they are still subject to the requirements of an athlete in the USADA testing pool.

To learn more, visit: https://www.usada.org/athletes/retire/.

TrueSport

TrueSport is a community- based movement powered by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency that champions the positive values and life lessons learned through sport. Our powerful library of value and skill-based lessons, coaching education modules and onsite engagement programs helps equip young people with the resources to build life skills and core value for life-long success on and off the field of play. Working alongside experts in a wide range of fields. TrueSport provides evidence-informed content and engaging programs that are reflective of the Olympic spirit and elevate the athlete voice. Join the movement truesport.org.