Pseudoephedrine has been re-introduced on to the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) 2010 List of Prohibited Substances and Methods, which will come into force on 1 January 2010.

 

The Prohibited List specifies substances and methods prohibited in sport, and is the single list for organisations that have adopted the World Anti-Doping Code.

Pseudoephedrine, which can be found in many over-the-counter medicines, was removed from the list and placed on WADA’s Monitoring Program in 2004. It is vitally important therefore that athletes are fully aware that it is once again included on the List as a specified stimulant.

As a result, UK Sport’s Education team have contacted all sports on UK Sport’s testing programme and written to every athlete on the National Registered Testing Pool (NRTP) via email. There have also been posters produced and targeted messages will be placed on the Anti-Doping Administration & Management System (ADAMS) website for athletes to view when they log-on to register their whereabouts.

UK Sport’s Education and Information Manager, Joe Marshall, said: “We have been working closely with sports to ensure all are aware of the changes that will come in with the 2010 List, but in particular the reintroduction of pseudoephedrine. As this is commonly found in many medicines, it is our job to alert athletes of the importance of checking before they take any medication.

“We have been doing this, and will continue to do so, via comprehensive education. Be that either via personal correspondence to the athletes or contacting sports, we will look to use all possible resources at our disposal, and work with both the National Governing Bodies and other key stakeholders, to get these changes brought to their attention.”

Another important element of the new List is the change in status of salbutamol. Its use by inhalation will no longer require a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) but rather a simplified declaration of use.

In addition, the status of platelet-derived preparations, or "blood spinning", has also been clarified. It will be prohibited when administered by intramuscular route, but other routes of administration will require a declaration of use in compliance with the International Standard for TUEs.

Other more technical changes are detailed throughout the List and athletes and support personnel are encouraged to make themselves familiar with these ahead of its implementation.

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