Irish Sport Anti-Doping Programme
Guide to Doping Control in Sport, November 1999
Drug abuse in sport not only contravenes the spirit of fair competition, it can also be dangerous to your heath.
Recommended Precautions
Advise your doctor or pharmacist that you are an athlete subject to drug testing and ask him/her to check all medications being prescribed to you to ensure they contain no banned substances.
Do not take any medications given to you by others without checking them first and establishing if they are permitted in your sport.
Asthmatics, ensure that your medication is permitted and notification requirements are completed prior to competing. You are advised to declare all medications at the time of a drug test.
Some medications are available in different combinations; one may be allowed, while another is banned (e.g. Dimotane an antihistamine is permitted, Dimotapp, with a decongestant, is prohibited).
Use of foreign medications is at the athlete's own risk.
Some drugs may be banned by certain sports but not others (e.g. marijuana, alcohol, beta blockers).
When travelling overseas, it a good idea to take common medications with you (e.g. painkillers, cold tablets, upset stomach medications, jet lag medications). Make sure you check that these are all permitted before you leave.
If you suffer from a pre-existing condition (e.g. epilepsy, asthma, diabetes), take a supply from Ireland of any medications you may need when you are travelling overseas. Remember, your sport may require written permission or notifications to use some medications. Please check before you travel overseas.
Always check with your National Sporting Organisation if in doubt.
Warning
Medications prescribed by your doctor may contain prohibited substances. Some vitamin, herbal and nutritional substances may also contain prohibited substances, such as Guarana, Ma Huang, Chinese Ephedra. Use of these products is at the athlete's own risk. Do not be misled by the term "natural".
The substances listed on this card are only examples of substances permitted or prohibited by the IOC. It is not a comprehensive list. If in doubt, check with your doctor, pharmacist, governing body or with the Irish Sports Council.
Examples of classes and methods prohibited in sport
Classes
Stimulants: e.g. amphetamine, excessive caffeine (above 12mcg/ml in the urine), cocaine, ephedrine.
Narcotics: e.g. morphine, methadone, pethidine.
Anabolic Agents: e.g. nandrolone, stanozolol, testosterone, metenolone, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), clenbuterol, salbutamol - when taken orally.
Diuretics: e.g. frusemide, bumetanide, triamterene, hydrochlorothiazide, mannitol, acetazelamide.
Peptide & Glycoprotein Hormones & Analogues: e.g. human growth hormone, corticotrophin, human chorionic gonadotrophin, erythropoietin (EPO), and all respective releasing factors and their analogues.
Methods
Blood Doping
Pharmacological, Chemical & Physical Manipulation: e.g. substances and methods that alter the integrity and validity of the urine; e.g. probenecid, catheterisation, urine substitution, epitestosterone added to urine.
Classes of drugs subject to certain restrictions
Alcohol & Marijuana: Restricted in certain sports. Refer to regulations of national or international sports federations.
Local Anaesthetics: Route of administration restricted to local or intra-articular injection*.
Cortiocosteroids: Route of administration restricted to topical, inhalation*, local or intra-articular injection*.
Beta-blockers: Restricted in certain sports. Refer to regulations of national or international sports federations.
* Written notification of administration should be given to relevant medical authority, e.g.
governing body medical officer, except for dental application of local anaesthetics.
Examples of drugs permitted for use in sport by the IOC
Pain: anaesthetics**, paracetamol, ibuprofen, asprin, codeine, dihydrocodeine, all Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), dextropropoxyphene.
