UKAD publishes new UK Anti-Doping Rules for 2021

UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) has today published the 2021 UK Anti-Doping Rules which will come into effect on 1 January 2021.

These Rules govern anti-doping in the UK and set out the requirements for athletes and sports in line with the changes that will be introduced by the 2021 World Anti-Doping Code. The 2021 Code will also come into effect on 1 January 2021.

The Code and the Rules affect everyone in sport, including athletes and athlete support personnel (ASP), such as coaches or physios, and sport’s National Governing Bodies (NGBs).

Speaking on the announcement, UKAD Chief Executive Nicole Sapstead said, “The UK Anti-Doping Rules are the backbone of our mission to keep sport clean. They reflect the standards set out by WADA (the World Anti-Doping Agency) in the Code, to make sure that athletes across the world are held to the same high standards.

“We have developed the new Rules to ensure that we are able to meet the latest challenges threatening clean sport, and that athletes and the public can have confidence in clean competition.

“In the five months until the new Rules come into effect, our job will be working with athletes and sports, so they are aware of how the changes impact them and what they need to do to make sure they are working to the Rules by the new year.”

Some of the changes introduced in the 2021 Code and the 2021 Rules are:

• A new Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) has been added to protect those sharing information on doping in sport (whistleblowing). It will become an offence to either discourage the reporting of information or to retaliate against an individual for doing so
• Bans can be increased by an additional two years where “aggravating circumstances” occur (e.g. the use of multiple prohibited substances)
• Engaging in fraudulent conduct (e.g. submitting falsified documents) following an alleged ADRV will be treated as a separate offence and a further consecutive ban can be applied
• Substances of Abuse: Shorter bans can be given for a certain group of substances when their use is out-of-competition and unrelated to sports performance. There is also an emphasis on athlete welfare. A further reduction in the length of ban may be available if a treatment programme is completed

Click here to download a summary of the major changes for the 2021 UK Anti-Doping Rules