Welsh Gymnastics Anti-Doping Annual Report 2023
Our Position
Welsh Gymnastics condemns, and is totally opposed to, the use of performance enhancing drugs and doping practices in the sport and fully supports the position of the International Olympic Committee, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), UK Anti-Doping against the use of banned substances and methods. All Gymnasts have the right to compete in sport knowing that they, and their competitors, are clean. We believe in clean sport and work in partnership with UK Anti-Doping (UKAD), British Gymnastics, and the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) to ensure that the integrity of our sport is protected.
An Anti-Doping rule violation shall be considered a breach of the British Gymnastics membership rules and of the UK Anti-Doping Rules.
The use, possession and/or trafficking of banned substances, methods or the encouragement or counselling to use banned substances, or methods; and/or taking measures to mask the use of banned substances is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Welsh Gymnastics is part of UK Anti-Doping which means ALL members may be subjected to Drug Testing by UKAD at any time during the season. We fully endorse testing by UKAD and FIG.
Anti-Doping Rules
Welsh Gymnastics has in place a set of anti-doping rules that all players and player support personnel must abide by. The anti-doping rules for Welsh Gymnastics are consistent with the World Anti-Doping Code, the core document that harmonises anti-doping policies, rules and regulations within sport globally.
The Anti-Doping rules of Welsh Gymnastics are the rules published by UK Anti-Doping (or its successor), as amended from time to time. If you are a member of Welsh Gymnastics then the anti-doping rules apply to you, regardless of what level you participate at. You can find the UK Anti-Doping Rules here.
The UK Anti-Doping Rules shall apply to and shall bind all Athletes, Athlete Support Personnel and other Persons under the jurisdiction of Welsh Gymnastics. Those to whom these Rules apply include:
- All Athletes, Athlete Support Personnel and other Persons who are members of, or licensed by Welsh Gymnastics;
- (ii) All Athletes, Athlete Support Personnel and other Persons participating in such capacity in Events, Competitions and other activities organised, convened, authorised or recognised by Welsh Gymnastics;
- (iii) All Athlete Support Personnel and other Persons working with, treating or assisting an Athlete participating in a professional or sporting capacity; and
- (iv) Any other Athlete, Athlete Support Personnel or other Person who, by virtue of an accreditation, membership, licence, contractual arrangement or otherwise, is subject to the jurisdiction of Welsh Gymnastics for the purposes of anti-doping, whether or not such person(s) is or are resident in the UK.
All Athletes, Athlete Support Personnel and other Persons must cooperate fully with any anti-doping investigations or proceedings, whether conducted by UK Anti-Doping or any other competent body. Failure to do so without acceptable justification may be sanctioned accordingly.
2021 World Anti-Doping Code
From 1 January 2021, a new version of the Code is in effect and it’s important that all athletes and athlete support personnel are aware of how this impacts them. For more information on the changes within the 2021 Code, visit UKAD’s website here.
Under the 2021 Code, an athlete may be classified as being “International-Level”, “National-Level” or a “Recreational Athlete” based on their competition level. Further information on these different categories is available on the UKAD website.
Anti-Doping Rule Violation
Breaking the anti-doping rules can result in a ban from all sport. The Code outlines the Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs). Athletes and athlete support personnel need to make sure they are fully aware of these violations, and the consequences of breaking them. For more information and what this means for those individuals, click here.
For information on individuals serving a ban from sport, visit UKAD’s sanction page on their website.
Your Responsibility – Top Tips for Clean Sport
An athlete is responsible for banned substance they use, attempt to use, or found in their system, regardless of how it got there or whether there is any intention to cheat. All players and player support personnel should make themselves aware of the risks, so they don’t receive an unintentional ban from sport. Useful information for players and support personnel can be found on the UKAD website. Everyone involved within gymnastics; gymnasts, coaches, administrators or team mates have a duty to ensure that each gymnast is aware of their own responsibility and accountability. Each gymnast is personally responsible for any prohibited substance found in their system – regardless of how it got there. To assist, ALL gymnasts should:
- Check the status of any substance before using it
- Inform all medical personnel that you must abide by anti – doping rules and that any medical treatment you receive must not violate these rules.
- Check your medication before taking it.
The Prohibited List
All prohibited substances and methods in Code-compliant sports are outlined in the Prohibited List. The Prohibited List is managed and coordinated by WADA, found on the WADA website here. The List is updated each year, coming into effect on 1st January. It is possible for WADA to make changes to the List more than once a year, but they must communicate such changes three months before they come into effect. As this list is updated annually, athletes and athlete support personnel should make sure they check it ahead of it coming into effect. More information can be found on UKAD’s website here.