Dec 04

Competing Clean for Archers

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The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) is the national anti-doping organization for the Olympic movement in the United States.

Since 2000, USADA has worked to preserve the integrity of competition, inspire genuine sport and protect the rights of athletes in the Olympic & Paralympic movement. USADA protects the values and life lessons learned through all sports. USA Archery, through compliance with USADA requirements, actively promotes clean sport in and out of competition. By competing clean, archers ensure that there is a fair and level playing field throughout the sport.

How Does Clean Sport Affect You?

If you are a competing athlete, you are obligated to compete clean. The U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) and its National Governing Bodies – such as USA Archery – have authorized USADA to test any athlete who is a member of USA Archery, and/or participates in events or competitions sanctioned by USA Archery or World Archery. Additionally, other athletes – such as foreign athletes present in the U.S., or those named to international teams, such as teams for a World Cup or World Championships – may be tested. Athletes competing in any USA Archery sanctioned event – such as National Championships or USAT Qualifier Series Events – are subject to drug testing.

Registered Testing Pool Whereabouts

Whereabouts are an extremely critical component of an anti-doping program to facilitate out-of-competition testing and to detect doping. Athletes in the USADA Registered Testing Pool (RTP) and those who are included in the USADA International Testing Pool (ITP) are required to provide a 60-minute time slot as part of their whereabouts requirements. The 60-minute time slot, in addition to other whereabouts requirements, is the athlete’s responsibility. Athletes who are part of the Registered Testing Pool or International Testing Pool will be notified by USA Archery’s National Teams Manager – but remember, whether in a testing pool or not, any athlete competing at a USA Archery event may be tested at any time, without notice.

Substances and Methods Prohibited

It is important to remember that an anti-doping rule violation can happen regardless of whether an athlete intentionally uses a prohibited substance or prohibited method, or unknowingly uses a product containing a prohibited substance. In other words, athletes need to take steps to ensure they are aware of what prohibited substances are, and file appropriate paperwork with USADA if they need to use a prohibited substance for medical reasons. This request is called a Therapeutic Use Exemption, or TUE, and is requested when an athlete is required to use a substance that may cause a positive substance test.

Athletes should be aware that some restricted drugs are found in everyday products. For example, see the following list of prohibited substances – and products in which they may be found:  

Prohibited Substance: Anabolic Agents

May Be Found In: Dietary Supplements

Prohibited Substance: Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors and Related Substances

May Be Found In: Insulin (Peptide Hormones)

Prohibited Substance: Beta-2 Antagonists

May Be Found In: Some Inhalers

Prohibited Substance: Pseudoephedrine (Stimulant)

May Be Found In: Over the Counter Cold and Flu Medications

Other commonly used medications or substances that may require a TUE include some medications used to Attention Deficit Disorder, some heart medications, and more. For complete information on substances, testing and TUEs, please visit the USADA website at http://www.USADA.org