Athletes Support Personnel
The role and responsibilities of coaches and athlete support personnel in clean sport.
Everyone has a responsibility to protect clean sport. When we watch sports, we want to know that things are real and that the sport we are watching is fair. Doping is cheating, and cheating undermines the spirit of sport and the efforts of clean athletes. The WADA Code recognises that Athlete Support Personnel have a responsibility to positively influence the athletes they work with.
Coaches play a critical role in the development of athletes as athletes and as individuals. The way you coach and your coaching philosophy can have a direct impact on whether athletes choose to train and compete clean. Serving as a role model, teaching athletes about ethical behaviour and helping them to succeed using their natural abilities are all important roles for coaches.
Clean sport means that coaches also need to be on the same page as their athletes and understand what they are achieving in their sport, as well as recognise when they may be vulnerable to adjust training schedules or encourage effective recovery strategies. This means they must support their athletes in the fight against doping. The WADA Code authorises coaches to advise athletes on anti-doping issues.
For the manager, coach, nutritionist, sports doctor or therapist, as well as all other Athlete SupportPpersonnel, clean sport is first and foremost about taking care of the health and well-being of your athletes.
This means that sports doctors and therapists also play a role by knowing when an athlete needs rest and recovery, and communicating honestly and transparently when they can return to play. This means that nutritionists give athletes sound advice on a 'food first' approach to improve performance through dietary adjustments. It also means that they help athletes understand what substances are banned in sport and inform them of the risks associated with the use of nutritional supplements.
If you are involved in sport as a coach, Athlete Support Personnel or even a sports administrator, you are also required to comply with anti-doping rules and have anti-doping responsibilities that you need to be aware of. Failure to comply with the values of clean sport or the Anti-Doping Rules (if they apply to you) can have serious consequences for your participation in future sport and careers.
The responsibilities of all Athlete Support Personnel under the Code are as follows:
- Know and comply with all anti-doping policies and rules that apply to you or the Athletes that you support
- Use your influence on the values and behaviour of Athletes to promote positive anti-doping attitudes
- Cooperate with Athlete Testing programmes
- Inform your Federation if you have committed an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV) in the last 10 years
- Cooperate with your Federation and NADO in the investigation of anti-doping rule violations
- Do not use or possess any Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method without a valid and reasonable excuse
What does this mean for you as a coach or an athlete support personnel?
The fight against doping is complex and requires the attention of all those who are obliged to comply with the Anti-Doping Rules. You must understand how the anti-doping system affects you and your athletes.
It is important to remember that 7 out of 11 Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRs) apply to Athlete Support Personnel (ASPs) and that you too can commit an ADR and face a ban from sport, not just athletes. In most cases, this means the end of your career.
Take the anti-doping responsibilities of Athlete Support Personnel seriously and help those around you (other coaches, professionals, athletes and sport administrators) to do the same.
Make sure you and the athletes around you are aware of everything you need to know to protect yourself and the athletes you work with. This will help to ensure that you, your athletes, as well as your coaches and support team, do not contribute to or be at risk of inadvertent doping. There is no excuse or sympathy for ignorance and negligence in the anti-doping field.
What is needed to train and compete fairly?
Create a coaching and supporting environment that fosters a culture of personal excellence rather than winning at all costs. Develop positive values and beliefs in all athletes you coach/support, as well as in any other staff you work with.
Take advantage of opportunities to receive anti-doping education through NADOs, National Sports Organisations or professional associations.
Enhance your education by completing WADA ADEL online courses that are relevant to you, such as ADEL for High Performance Coaches, ADEL for Medical Professionals or ADEL for Medical Professionals at Major Events.
Hold conversations within your sporting environment about anti-doping. Encourage continued participation in clean sport.
Help athletes to apply the principle of strict liability.
Support athletes in preventing inadvertent doping by helping them to check their medications on the Prohibited List or online drug reference (e.g., the Global DRO can be searched for specific information on medications only available in Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States) and manage the risks of nutritional supplements.
Learn the basic rights available to athletes in the fight against doping, as outlined in the Athletes’ Anti-Doping Rights Act.
Please familiarize yourself with the section dedicated to anti-doping issues on your federation's website, as well as with the website of the NADC.
Find the necessary information to be prepared to support athletes. If you cannot find the required information here or on the ADEL platform, please visit the WADA website or contact your international federation.