An athlete develops a chest infection before an event. Another buys a supplement recommended by a teammate. Both may be making ordinary decisions about health or training, but sport’s anti doping rules can add a separate layer of responsibility.
A medicine being legally sold or prescribed does not automatically mean its use is permitted under the rules governing the athlete’s sport. The same applies to a product described as natural or intended for recovery.
In South Africa, the South African Institute for Drug Free Sport, commonly called SAIDS, provides information about prohibited substances, medication checks and therapeutic use exemptions. Athletes need to know which rules apply to them and make checks before a problem arises.
1. Find out which rules cover your participation
Anti doping obligations depend on the governing framework and the athlete’s participation. They should not be treated as rules relevant only to Olympic finalists.
Ask your federation, event organiser or anti doping organisation which rules apply to your level and competition. If you compete internationally, identify whether an international federation has additional responsibilities relevant to your status.
Keep the current contact information for the body that can answer your questions. A teammate’s experience at another competition may not establish what applies to you.
SAIDS publishes the prohibited list and related guidance for athletes. Use the current list applicable to the date and circumstances of your participation, rather than a screenshot saved several seasons ago.
2. Understand strict liability without oversimplifying it
Under the anti doping framework, athletes are responsible for prohibited substances found in their bodies. Establishing the presence violation does not generally require proof that the athlete intended to cheat.
That principle is often called strict liability. It explains why an innocent explanation does not automatically prevent a violation from being established. It does not mean every violation produces an identical sanction regardless of the circumstances.
The applicable rules distinguish the establishment of a violation from questions affecting consequences, including the substance, intent, fault and available grounds for reduction or elimination of a sanction.
See SAIDS answers to common anti doping questions.
For practical purposes, treat a product decision as something worth documenting. Knowing who recommended it, what was checked and why it was taken can matter if questions arise later. Those records do not guarantee a defence, but they are better than trying to reconstruct the decision after a test.
3. Check medicines before using them in sport
Tell the treating doctor and pharmacist that you are subject to anti doping rules. Give them enough information about your competition and sporting status to understand the concern.
Check the exact medicine, active ingredients, route of administration and any relevant conditions. A brand name alone may be insufficient where products differ between countries or formulations.
SAIDS provides an online medication check route and information about further guidance. Use that official route rather than a general internet discussion.
Keep a dated record of the check and seek clarification if the result is unclear. Rules may distinguish substances prohibited at all times from those prohibited in competition, and some restrictions depend on how the medicine is used.
Do not stop necessary treatment without medical advice. The goal is to manage health needs and the sporting requirements together, including an exemption where appropriate.
4. A therapeutic use exemption is a separate process
A therapeutic use exemption, or TUE, can permit the use of a prohibited substance or method where the applicable criteria are met. A prescription does not, by itself, constitute a TUE.
The application usually requires medical information sufficient for the relevant committee to assess it. Requirements about applying in advance depend on the athlete’s status and the rules involved.
See SAIDS guidance on therapeutic use exemptions.
Ask which organisation must receive the application and whether an existing exemption needs recognition for international competition. An approval from one body should not automatically be assumed to cover every future event.
The World Anti Doping Agency explains the international TUE framework and its purpose. Use that information alongside the instructions from the organisation responsible for your application.
See WADA’s explanation of therapeutic use exemptions.
Where emergency treatment is required, health comes first. The rules provide for particular circumstances in which a retroactive application may be considered. Obtain appropriate treatment and then seek guidance promptly rather than assuming retrospective approval is automatic.
5. Supplements can create risks beyond the label
Supplements may contain substances that are not clearly declared, or may be contaminated during production. A label describing a product as natural, legal or safe does not settle its anti doping status.
SAIDS warns athletes about supplement risks and misleading claims of approval. Do not rely on a statement that a product is “WADA approved” or “SAIDS approved” as proof that it cannot cause a violation.
See SAIDS information on supplements and their risks.
Ask whether the product is needed and discuss the decision with an appropriately qualified health or nutrition professional. The potential benefit should be considered alongside health, contamination and rule compliance risks.
Independent batch testing can reduce particular risks, but it does not create a complete guarantee. Confirm what was tested and whether the result relates to the actual batch you intend to use. Do not treat a logo as sufficient evidence without checking its meaning.
6. Keep a practical product record
If you use a supplement or medicine, maintain a record that can be understood later. Include the reason, product details and the checks made.
Useful records include:
- The product name and ingredient information.
- Batch details and photographs of packaging.
- Purchase receipts and the source of the product.
- Medication check results and relevant correspondence.
- Prescriptions and supporting medical information.
- TUE decisions and expiry information where applicable.
Keep the original packaging where practical. A product purchased online may disappear from the seller’s page, while your own records remain available.
Avoid sharing an unlabelled powder or medicine supplied by another athlete. You may not know what it contains or which batch it came from. A recommendation from someone you trust is not a substitute for identifying the substance.
7. Coaches and parents should support the checks
Athletes often depend on coaches, team staff or parents to arrange treatment and training products. Those people can help by making the compliance questions part of ordinary planning.
Before an event, confirm whether any athlete is using a medicine that needs a check or an exemption. Give enough time for a complete application rather than discovering the issue at registration.
For younger athletes, avoid treating adult supplement routines as automatically appropriate. Obtain qualified advice about health and nutrition needs and the relevant sporting rules.
If a sponsor provides products, clarify that the sponsorship does not remove the need to assess them. Commercial obligations should not pressure an athlete to use something whose contents or status remain uncertain.
8. Respond promptly if an allegation arises
An adverse test or alleged violation can trigger a formal process with important rights and deadlines. Read the notice carefully and obtain advice from someone familiar with anti doping proceedings.
Preserve the product, records and medical documents. Do not destroy packaging or publish a detailed defence on social media before understanding the issue. An inaccurate public explanation can complicate the formal response.
Ask about the procedural options and applicable time limits. A request for more information should not be assumed to extend every deadline. Keep a clear record of instructions and submissions.
Build the check into your training routine
Medication and supplement checks work best before a product is taken or a competition begins. Use the official guidance, document the decision and arrange exemptions through the correct organisation where needed.
That routine allows athletes to focus on health and performance with a clearer understanding of their responsibilities. It is much easier to ask the right question in advance than to explain an unknown product afterwards.
