Definition of Doping

Doping is not only taking a prohibited substance. Doping is defined as the occurrence of one or more of the following Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs):

 

• Presence of a prohibited substance in an athlete’s sample
• Use or attempted use of a prohibited substance or method
• Refusing to submit to sample collection after being notified
• Failure to file athlete whereabouts information and missed tests
• Tampering with any part of the doping control process
• Possession of a prohibited substance or method
• Trafficking a prohibited substance or method
• Administering or attempting to administer a prohibited substance or method to an athlete
• Complicity in an ADRV
• Prohibited association with athlete support personnel who has engaged in doping

Consequences of Doping

Athletes should be aware that doping can have severe health and social consequences.
 

Health Consequences

Substances and methods used to dope have health consequences. Many can lead to severe health issues or even death.

Medications are for people with health issues and were not developed for healthy athletes. Even medications purchasable in pharmacies are not approved to be used in higher doses or in combination with other substances.

All medications have side effects and can damage your body when your body doesn’t need them.

Not only the substances can have a negative effect on your body, but also the type of administration. If you use a syringe to dope, you have a higher risk of developing infectious diseases as HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis.
 

Social Consequences

Social consequences of committing an ADRV and receiving a sanction may include:

• wiping out of previous achievements
• damaged relationships with friends and family
• isolation from peers and sport
• damage to future career prospects
• effects on emotional and psychological well-being
• loss of credibility and respect
• loss of sponsorship deals
• loss of income

 

Legal Consequences and Sanctions

  A player or staff member committing an ADRV may be suspended for two to four years and multiple violations lead to longer sanctions, even to lifetime ineligibility.

Doping can have additional consequences for the team you are playing for. Your team may be imposed with loss of points, disqualification from a competition or event, or other sanctions.
 

Harm of Doping to the Spirit of Sport

  Besides the consequences for a doped athlete (and maybe his team), doping additionally damages the integrity, image, fairness and value of sport.

If you take banned substances you don’t only cheat yourself, your team and your fans. You betray the sport you love and dedicated so much of your life to.

Speak Up !

Whistleblowers

WADA has launched the “Speak-up” Program which is a secured whistleblower platform for everybody who would like to report detected, identified, witnessed, know of or has reasonable grounds for suspecting doping misconduct. The Speak-up team is experienced in intelligence and investigations and treats all information that is shared with utmost confidentiality.

If you like to report doping misconduct, please visit the Speak-up! Webpage or get in contact with the IIHF.