#CurlClean

Anti-Doping

As a member of the World Curling Federation, the English Curling Association (ECA) in conjunction with UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) adopts the principles and values associated with clean sport, seeking to maintain the integrity of sport in terms of respect for rules, other competitors, fair competition, a level playing field, and the value of clean sport to the world.

Achieving Compliance with the UK National Anti-Doping Policy

I am delighted to confirm that English Curling Association has now submitted evidence against all of the Assurance Framework requirements. This evidence has been assessed by UKAD and determined to meet the required standards.

The Assurance Framework is the primary mechanism through which NGBs demonstrate to UKAD their compliance with the UK National Anti-Doping Policy (Policy), a new version of which was launched in April 2021 by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

I would like to place on record UKAD’s thanks for all of English Curling Association’s efforts on your submission. We hope that the measures that you have put in place, and continue to work with, ensure that English Curling Association has robust anti-doping processes to help mitigate the risk of doping in your sport.

I would like to note that whilst English Curling Association has now provided evidence against the Assurance Framework, your organisation remains obliged to comply with the Policy at all times. The ongoing actions required to maintain your organisation’s compliance are set out here.

We encourage you to continue seeking ways to develop your anti-doping programme, including consideration of the “Going Above and Beyond” elements referenced in the Assurance Framework.

Thank you again for your efforts towards keeping sport clean in the UK and completing the Assurance Framework.

What is Doping?

Doping is defined as the occurrence of one or more of the following Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) according to article 2 of the WADA Code:

• 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 anti-doping rule violation
• Prohibited association with athlete support personnel who has engaged in doping
• Acts by an athlete or other person to discourage or retaliate against reporting to authorities

Spirit of Curling

The Spirit of Curling is a commonly used term in the sport. It refers to the respect curlers show, not only to one another, but also to the sport itself. It can be found on page one of our rule book and is the foundation of the sport.

Curling is a game of skill and of tradition. A shot well executed is a delight to see and it is also a fine thing to observe the time-honoured traditions of curling being applied in the true spirit of the game. Curlers play to win, but never to humble their opponents. A true curler never attempts to distract opponents, nor to prevent them from playing their best, and would prefer to lose rather than to win unfairly.

Curlers never knowingly break a rule of the game, nor disrespect any of its traditions. Should they become aware that this has been done inadvertently, they will be the first to divulge the breach.

While the main object of the game of curling is to determine the relative skill of the players, The Spirit of Curling demands good sportsmanship, kindly feeling and honourable conduct.

This spirit should influence both the interpretation and the application of the rules of the game and also the conduct of all participants on and off the ice.

Values associated with Clean Sport 

Anti-doping programmes are founded on the intrinsic value of sport. This intrinsic value is often referred to as “the spirit of sport”: the ethical pursuit of human excellence through the dedicated perfection of each Athlete’s natural talents.

Anti-doping programmes seek to protect the health of Athletes and to provide the opportunity for Athletes to pursue human excellence without the use of Prohibited Substances and Prohibited Methods.

Anti-doping programmes seek to maintain the integrity of sport in terms of respect for rules, other competitors, fair competition, a level playing field, and the value of clean sport to the world.

The spirit of sport is the celebration of the human spirit, body and mind. It is the essence of Olympism and is reflected in the values we find in and through sport, including:

• Health
• Ethics, fair play, and honesty
• Athletes’ rights as set forth in the Code
• Excellence in performance
• Character and Education
• Fun and joy
• Teamwork
• Dedication and commitment
• Respect for rules and laws
• Respect for self and other Participants
• Courage
• Community and solidarity

The spirit of sport is expressed in how members of the Association play true. Doping is fundamentally contrary to the spirit of sport and that is why in curling the Athletes (regardless of playing experience) are urged to #curlclean.

Principles Associated with Clean Sport

Integrity

The quality of being honest and showing a consistent and uncompromising adherence to strong moral and ethical principles and values.

Respect

Respect is having a regard for other people and their lives; it is showing those around us compassion and empathy.

Responsibility

Responsibility is the state of having control over someone or something.

All members of the Association including support personnel are responsible for knowing their rights and responsibilities under the World Anti-Doping Code. Anti-doping needs to be taken seriously and all members need to fully understand the principle of strict liability.

Strict liability means that a member is solely responsible for any banned substance they use, attempt to use, or is found in their system, regardless of how it got there or whether there was any intention to cheat.

Anti-Doping Rule Violations

Breaking the anti-doping rules can result in a ban from ALL sport. The Code outlines the Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs). All members and support personnel need to make sure they are fully aware of these violations and the consequences of breaking them.

To be sportsmanlike requires members and their support personnel to take responsibility for their performance, as well as their actions on and off the field.

Fairness

Fairness is the quality of treating people equally or in a way that is right and reasonable.

The principles associated with Clean Sport are consistent with the ‘Spirit of Curling’ and the World Curling Federation and the English Curling Association strongly supports them and promotes them through their #curlclean campaign.

Taking Nutritional Supplements

UKAD always advises a food first approach to nutrition, as there are no guarantees that any supplement product is free from prohibited substances. Members can support their training and progress towards their targets by eating and enjoying nutritious food.

Members should assess the need, the risks and the consequences before deciding to take a supplement. More advice on managing supplement risks can be found on UKAD’s website.

2024 Prohibited List

• the 2024 Summary of Major Modifications and Explanatory Notes as compared to the 2023 List; and 
• the 2024 Monitoring Program, which includes substances that are not on the List, but that WADA wishes to monitor in order to detect potential patterns of misuse in sport.  

Major modifications for 2024 
All Major Modifications for 2024 are outlined in the 2024 Summary of Major Modifications and Explanatory Notes, including the following particular information regarding tramadol:

Tramadol has been on WADA’s Monitoring Program and data gathered through that program have indicated significant use in sports. Tramadol abuse, with its risk of physical dependence, opiate use disorder and overdoses, is of concern worldwide and has led to it being a controlled drug in many countries. Research studies funded by WADA, as referenced in the Explanatory Note, have also confirmed the potential for tramadol to enhance sports performance.

Annual list review process
WADA leads an annual revision process concerning the List.  It must be determined that it meets at least two of the following three criteria: 

1. It has the potential to enhance or enhances sport performance 
2. It represents an actual or potential health risk to the athletes 
3. It violates the spirit of sport

The List is released three months ahead of it taking effect so that athletes, their entourage and other stakeholders can acquaint themselves with any modifications. Ultimately, athletes are responsible for prohibited substances found in their body and prohibited methods found to have been used. Athlete entourage are also liable for Anti-Doping Rule Violations if determined to be complicit. Consequently, if there is any doubt as to the status of a substance or method, it is important that they contact the World Curling Federation (WCF) or National Anti-Doping Organization (NADO)) for advice.

Glucocorticoids and Therapeutic Use Exemptions Guidelines

Prohibited List Q&A

Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs)

Athletes may have illnesses or conditions that require them to take particular medications.

International Level Athletes

If you are an International-Level Athlete (see definition below) and have an illness or condition that requires a medication containing a substance that is on the Prohibited List, you must apply to the World Curling Federation (WCF) for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) using the WCF TUE Application Form (see below). Before you do this, you should ask your doctor if there are any suitable permitted alternative treatments.

All TUE Application Forms, along with medical documentation to support the application, must be sent to the World Curling Federation TUE Committee by email to tue@worldcurling.org 

In order to ensure the application can be processed efficiently, please include sufficient information to support the diagnosis including physicians’ notes, laboratory and/or test results and any imaging results.

Please also refer to Medical information to support the decisions of TUE committee’s

The World Curling Federation defines an International Level Athlete as:

Athletes who compete in the Olympic Winter Games, Paralympic Winter Games, any of the following World Curling Federation International Events and who are included in the WCF Registered Testing Pool (RTP) and WCF Team Testing Pool (TTP):

• World Men’s Curling Championship
• World Women’s Curling Championship
• World Junior Curling Championships
• World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship
• World Wheelchair Curling Championship
• World Wheelchair Mixed Doubles Curling Championship
• European Curling Championships A-Division
• Pan-Continental Curling Championships A-Division
• Olympic Qualification Event

Athletes participating in non-sanctioned events or events organised by the World Curling Federation but are NOT considered International Events for the purpose of the WCF Anti-Doping Rules, see below, should apply for a TUE to their National Anti-doping Organisation (NADO) in accordance with the NADO rules and request recognition of the TUE from the World Curling Federation.

• World Senior Curling Championships
• World Mixed Curling Championship
• Any B or C Division events
• Any Qualification events with the exception of the Olympic Qualification Event

If you are taking any medication that appears on WADA’s prohibited list for 2023 (you can check this list out on the WCF website or via the link below), you will need to complete a TUE. Please note that this application is via UKAD and NOT the WCF.

Please see some guidelines below:

The link to checking medications and applying for a TUE on the UKAD website can be found here: https://www.ukad.org.uk/checking-medications

Key Points to Remember

• You can refer to the FAQ section within Global DRO to make sure you understand the search results correctly.
• If you are unable to find the medication you are looking for, you should contact UKAD with the medication name and list of active ingredients via email to substance@ukad.org.uk.

TUE approvals issued by NADOs for International-Level Athletes who are not included in the WCF RTP or TTP are automatically recognised. Please make sure that the TUE approval is either saved by your NADO in ADAMS or submitted to the WCF tue@worldcurling.org

Athletes are advised not to take any prohibited substance without a valid TUE but any established treatment should not be stopped and any urgent medication should be started. In these circumstances, submission of a TUE Application and medical evidence must be submitted quickly.

If the TUE is granted, you will be permitted to use the medication without committing an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) during the period of validity of the TUE.

The ITA have provided slides from two webinars which may be of interest.

Additional Information

Testing Procedures

An Athlete’s first experience with anti-doping should be through Education rather than Doping Control.

Athletes who compete in sport and who are under the jurisdiction of the anti-doping rules, can have their urine and/or blood tested anytime, anywhere by the IF, NADO or a Major Event Organizer. Specially trained doping control personnel carry out all tests.

Testing can be conducted in-competition and out-of-competition such as at an athlete’s home, place of work or training venue.

Further Information on the following subjects can be found in the  Testing Procedures section of the WCF website:

• How are athletes selected for testing?
• Athletes’ Rights and Responsibilities
• WADA’s Doping Control Video
• Doping Control Process (urine) including the 11 stages of Doping Control

Anti-Doping E-learning

WADA’s Anti-Doping Education and Learning platform (ADEL) offers access to all topics related to clean sport and anti-doping.  It offers courses for athletes, coaches, medical professionals, parents, administrators and anyone interested in learning more about anti-doping and protecting the values of clean sport.

ADEL offers a range of education courses and information resources that can be used to support the delivery of an education program.

Register and join ADEL here: https://adel.wada-ama.org/

Athlete Education

Doping Control Process – The Doping Control Video provides athletes with basic information about their rights and responsibilities in the doping control process.

Information and Education Resources – The WADA education resources brochure.

Play True Quiz – WADA’s Play True Quiz is an interactive computer game that tests athletes and their entourage’s knowledge about anti-doping.

Play True Challenge – The Play True Generation Programme encourages young people, young athletes, their coaches, and support personnel to be leaders in promoting and ensuring clean sport. Play True Challenge is a computer simulation that allows young athletes and young people in general to explore the types of decisions they may be faced with regarding doping (uses Adobe Flash Player).

Parent’s Guide to Support Clean Sport – A guide to your role as parent in supporting clean sport.

Dangers of Doping: Get the Facts – This simple reference guide outlines the health consequences of using doping substances.

Athlete’s Guide to the 2023 Code – This guide provides athletes with information on the significant changes to the new Code 2023.

These are the key principles, but the ECA will always urge all those involved in the sport (regardless of capacity or experience) to check for information on the Association’s website as well as that of the WCF and UKAD.

TARGET GROUP	DESCRIPTION	EDUCATION
Children / Schools (incl. parents / guardians)	Individuals early in their sport experience	ECA Website; WCF Website; UKAD Website; Clean Sport Essentials Parents and Carers of Young Athletes.pdf (ukad.org.uk)
Recreational	Social curling; League competitions	As above plus download the 100% me Clean Sport App (free app on Google Play)
National	Individuals (incl. coaches) competing at national level & occasionally at international level representing England	As above plus Compete Clean eLearning course (UKAD); Clean Sport Live Webinars;

Protect our Sport

Protecting clean sport depends on everyone playing their part – athletes, coaches or parents. Speak out if you feel there is something wrong, no matter how small. UKAD guarantee that your identity will always be kept 100% confidential.

There are different ways to speak out:

• Email – send an email. UKAD guarantee that your name and email address will be kept confidential. Email at protectyourspsort@reportdoping.com
• Online Form – complete an online form on protectyoursport.co.uk
• 24/7 Hotline – Call on 08000 32 23 32

Major Modification concerning tramadol for 2024

It should be noted that, on 23 September, the ExCo endorsed the recommendation by WADA’s List Expert Advisory Group to prohibit the narcotic tramadol in competition, effective 1 January 2024.

Tramadol has been on WADA’s Monitoring Program and data gathered through that program have indicated significant use in sports. Tramadol abuse, with its dose-dependent risks of physical dependence, opiate addiction and overdoses in the general population, is of concern and has led to it being a controlled drug in many countries. Research studies funded by WADA have also confirmed the potential for tramadol to enhance sports performance.