ECB Anti-Doping Programme

Important warning from WADA on GW501516 (21/03/2013)

It has come to WADA’s attention that the black market substance GW501516 is being sold to and used by some athletes.

The side effect of this chemical compound is so serious that WADA is taking the rare step of warning “cheats” to ensure that there is complete awareness of the possible health risks to athletes who succumb to the temptation of using GW501516 for performance enhancement.

GW501516 was a developmental drug that was withdrawn from research by the pharmaceutical company and terminated when serious toxicities were discovered in pre-clinical studies.

Clinical approval has not, and will not be given for this substance.

However, GW501516 has been available for some months on the black market, through the Internet and elsewhere. Anti-Doping authorities have already seen its use by athletes, as there are a number of positive cases.

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The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is committed to ensuring that cricket is a drug free sport. Anti-doping programmes across all sports are intended to promote ethically fair and drug-free sport, with the aim of producing sportsmen and women who are competing and winning fairly.

The ECB works closely with UK Anti-Doping Agency (UKAD) and the ICC to conduct a comprehensive anti-doping programme that covers education, testing and results management. The ECB Anti-Doping web pages outline these areas, providing information to players and coaches on helping them make sensible, informed decisions about competing drug-free, their requirements to comply with anti-doping regulations and the relevant resources required to do this.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) was formed in 1999 following an International Olympic Committee conference on doping that was held primarily in response to the revelations of the 1998 Tour de France. This conference produced the Lausanne Declaration on Doping in Sport which recommended the formation of an International Anti-Doping Agency in time for the start of the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Since then it has sought to globally standardise anti-doping policy, regulation and rules across sports organisations and authorities. The WADA code provides the mechanism for this harmonisation, supported by four International Standards and further models of good practice. The latest version of the WADA Code came into effect on 1st January 2009.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is a signatory to the WADA Code, and the ECB as a member of the ICC is therefore obliged to ensure that the ECB’s anti-doping rules are WADA compliant. As part of the UK Government’s funding structure for sport, the ECB is also obliged to meet the WADA Code requirements in order to be a recipient of any public funding.

ECB’s Anti-Doping Rules

The ECB issues revised anti-doping rules at the start of each year in line with the requirements of the WADA Code. As a member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) the ECB also harmonises its rules to adopt, where appropriate the anti-doping code of the ICC. It is important for all players, coaches and support staff to familiarise themselves with the anti-doping regulations relevant to their competition to ensure that they are aware of the obligations and requirements placed upon them.

ECB Anti-Doping Rules 2013 (2.1 MB)
ICC Anti-Doping Code (601 KB)
WADA Code

The WADA Code also incorporates 4 International Standards aimed at globally harmonising specific technical and operational aspects of anti-doping.

International Standard for Testing
International Standard for Laboratories
International Standard for Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE)
International Standard for the Protection of Privacy and Personal Information

The Prohibited List

In order to ensure that all players, coaches and support staff are clear on what actually constitutes doping in sport, WADA produces the Prohibited List. This list is an internationally agreed standard identifying the substances and methods of use that are prohibited within sport. It also defines when these substances are prohibited as there is some variation between those that are prohibited only in competition (duration of a match) and those that are prohibited both in and out of competition.Substances and methods of use are classified by categories (e.g., steroids, stimulants, gene doping). The use of any Prohibited Substance by an athlete for medical reasons is possible by virtue of a Therapeutic Use Exemption. The WADA Prohibited List is revised each year, with the new list coming into effect from 1 January.
For a substance to be placed on the prohibited list it does not have to be merely performance enhancing, it must satisfy 2 out of 3 of the following criteria:

1. Evidence that the substance or method enhances or has the potential to enhance performance;
2. Evidence that the substance or method represents an actual or potential health risk to the athlete;
3. Determination by WADA that non-sanctioned use of the substance or method violates the spirit of sport.

WADA 2013 Prohibited List (110 KB)

UKAD have produced a guidance document that seeks to explain the Prohibited List, making it easier to use and clearer to understand.

UKAD Prohibited List Guidance Document (104 KB)

Please note that from 1 January 2010 Pseudoephedrine is listed as a prohibited substance. Therefore it is very important that you check the ingredients of any cold or flu remedies you may be thinking of using or consider not using them at all.

Cricket players wishing to check the status of any specific medications should go to the newly developed Global Drug Reference Online (DRO). Here you will be able to search by brand name or ingredient and be provided with up to date information on the medication in question. Global DRO will also provide guidance on whether or not particular medications and their ingredients are prohibited in or out of competition.

Due to differing regulatory requirements involved in their production Global DRO cannot provide information on the status of nutritional supplements.

UKAD has issued a position statement on nutritional supplements which provides further guidance.

Methylhexaneamine Warning

There have been a number of recently reported cases of athletes returning positive tests for the prohibited stimulant methylhexaneamine. Inadvertent ingestion of methylhexaneamine is a very real risk for cricket players with confusion arising in relation to this particular substance for two main reasons.

• It is an ingredient in many widely available nutritional supplements, most commonly in those marketed as pre-exercise energy boosters or fat burners to aid weight loss with no reference made to prohibited status on the packaging of these products.

• It may be listed under a number of alternative names such as 1,3-dimethylamylamine, dimethylamylamine, dimethylpentylamine, DMAA, forthan, forthane, floradrene, geranamine and geranium oil.

Further information can be found in the UKAD methylhexaneamine media release (84 KB).

As always it is important to check anything you may be thinking of taking and to seek expert advice and guidance if you are unsure or require clarification on any matters.

Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE)

Cricket players at a certain level are required to submit a TUE application if they wish to use a prohibited substance or method for a legitimate medical condition.

There are two types of TUE application form, Standard and Beta-2 Agonist. Both types of application must be supported by detailed medical history and clinical evidence to be considered by the UKAD TUE Committee.

From 1st January 2012 the therapeutic use of non-systemic glucocorticosteroid injections and glucocorticosteroid inhalers does not require a TUE or online declaration. The Beta-2 Agonist inhalers salbutamol and salmeterol (maximum therapeutic threshold of 1600 micrograms in 24 hours) along with formoterol (maximum therapeutic threshold of 46 micrograms in 24 hours) do not require a TUE or online declaration either. Please note that other longer acting Beta-2 Agonist inhalers such as terbutaline still require a TUE.

Currently only players at the following levels of competition must hold a valid TUE prior to testing:

• England Representative Teams
• First Class Counties – 1st XI

Players representing their County 2nd XI or Academy side may apply for a TUE retroactively within 10 working days of their selection for testing.

Further information on TUE, guidance notes and resources can be found in the TUE section of the UKAD website.

Testing

In compliance with the WADA International Standard for Testing the ECB operates a strong in and out of competition testing programme which is conducted by UKAD. Players may also be subject to testing outside of the ECB programme when competing in other competitions under the jurisdiction of the ICC or other governing bodies (e.g. IPL).

The in competition testing period is defined as 06:00 local time on the first day of a match up until 1 hour following the completion of the match. The entire duration of a match lasting longer than 1 day will be viewed as an in competition period. A player may be notified for an in competition test at any point during this time.

The out of competition testing period is therefore any time out of the in competition period including training and rest days.

Under the ECB’s Anti-Doping Rules any cricketer in England and Wales could be selected for testing with no advanced notice, anytime, anywhere.

There is though a nominated ECB pool of players, which consists of the players who will be subject to regular in and out of competition testing. Players competing at a level within this pool must be aware of their individual responsibilities in relation to ECB Anti-Doping Rules, Therapeutic Use Exemptions and the Prohibited List.

The ECB testing pool consists of:

• England Representative Teams
• First Class Counties (1st XI, 2nd XI, Academy)

Further information on Testing and the procedures involved in sample collection can be found in the Testing Programme section of the UKAD Website.

Education

The ECB, in conjunction with the PCA, is committed to developing and furthering the provision of anti-doping education to players and support staff at international, First Class and Academy level.

As well as the delivery of direct education sessions, nominated key staff will be provided information and guidance so that they themselves can advise players within their team on current anti-doping policy and rules in an engaging fashion. Appropriate staff will be introduced to the UKAD Anti-Doping Education Delivery Network which has recently been redeveloped which provides opportunity ofr development and support with the aim of promoting positive attitudes and values for clean sportsmen and women.

Contact
For further information on anti-doping in cricket please email anti.doping@ecb.co.uk.