Rules for the 2004 Lifesaving World Championships – Rescue 2004.

National Organisations are advised that the International Life Saving Federation (ILS) signed an Agreement with the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) and that ILS allows them to do out of competition testing on all lifesaving competitors.

The WADA Agreement requires National Organisations to register potential Members of the National Teams with ILS at least 90 days prior to International Competitions.

For the 2004 World Championships, names must be submitted to WADA by 15 June 2004 and therefore all names must be submitted to the ILS Headquarters before that date.

Competitors not registered on the list will not be able to compete for National Teams in Rescue 2004.

The fight against doping in sport entered a new era on 1 January 2004, with the advent of the first World Anti-Doping Code issued by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

While the code has many elements that will affect athletes worldwide, two of the most important fall under WADA’s purview for the first time : the Prohibited List of Substances, and the process for obtaining Therapeutic Use Exemptions.

1. The prohibited list of substances

WADA is now solely responsible for the preparation and publication of the Prohibited List of Sustances. International Federations can propose additions to WADA and WADA may include additional substances as doping in particular sport.

In addition of the only criterion considered the product performance enhancing (if the product was thought to artificially better an athlete’s performance) three other criteria have to be considered:

• Is it performance enhancing?
• Does it represent a risk to the health of the athlete?
• Is it against the spirit of sport?

This year, some major changes were introduced to the list. For example:

• Caffeine and pseudoephedrine were taken off the list.
• Glucocorticosteroids and cannabinoids may be withdrawn in competition for all sports, not just specifics one.

2. Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUE)

Athletes like all others, may have illness or conditions that require them to take particular medications. The substances they may be required to take may happen to fall under the Prohibited List. However, by obtaining a Therapeutic Use Exemption, they must contact his or her international federation or national anti-doping organisation.

In addition, athletes who requested a TUE and were denied can appeal the decision to WADA, and if WADA determines that a denial of the TUE did not comply with the international standard, the agency can reverse the decision.

They will receive an approval form from the organisation to which it applied.

The application for a TUE should be submitted at least 21 days before participating in an event.

Source: Play true, an official publication of the WADA. Issue 3 – 2003.