Zero Tolerance Anti-Doping Newsletter
Volume 2, Issue 3 - April 2005

In This Issue

Why Zero Tolerance?

USA Track & Field CEO Craig A. Masback and USATF President Bill Roe developed the plan in concert with the USATF Board of Directors in October 2003 by combining existing programs and USATF priorities with ambitious new initiatives. "Zero Tolerance" focuses on three goals: increasing efforts to catch and punish cheaters; expanding educational efforts and focusing the message on the theme that cheating is wrong and cheaters will be caught; and taking a more visible role on these issues.

Attention Athletes

If you need to take a medication that contains a prohibited substance, you must complete the proper paperwork - either an Abbreviated Therapeutic Use Exemption (ATUE) or a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) - before competing at an event where you could be subject to doping control.

ATUE & TUE forms and instructions can be found on the USADA website at www.usantidoping.org in the Athlete Express section or by contacting USATF's Melissa Beasley.

If you have questions regarding which form you need to complete or the application process, please contact USADA's Betsy Liebsch at 719-785-2045.

Latest News

Small changes in Doping Control

USADA recently announced several subtle changes in the processing, equipment and paperwork that athletes encounter when they are subjected to both in-competition and out-of-competition drug tests.

The changes are as follows:

Doping Control Station Marshals will now sign all relevant people in and out of the doping control station.

Athletes who are minors are encouraged to have a third party, whenever possible, present during the testing process.

Sample Collection Kit bottles now come in shrink-wrapped sleeves with a silver pull tab - these kits were first introduced at the Athens Olympic Games.

Additions to the Doping Control Official Record

  • You may be asked to report your sport discipline.
  • When declaring medications, vitamins, etc, you will now be asked to declare any blood transfusions received in the past (3) three days.
  • A consent area for research has been added to the form in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code. When you accept this option - an excess amount of your sample (after all required analyses are completed) can be used for anti-doping research. After the sample has been turned over for research, it no longer can be linked to you, and you therefore risk no repercussions.

IAAF Announces Amendments

In their April 2005 Report, the IAAF Medical & Anti-Doping Commission (MADC) announced two significant changes to current procedural guidelines for doping control. The changes are as follows:

Paragraph 3.9 was amended to state that any athlete who breaks or equals an Area and/or World Record in any Race Walking, Running or Combined event shall be tested for rh-EPO.

Paragraph 4.6 was deleted from the guidelines. This provision stated that athletes in the IAAF Registered Testing Pool shall be entitled to receive prize money from the IAAF unless he/she has undergone (2) out of competition tests in the 12-month prior to the event where the money had been won. The original purpose of this provision was to encourage athletes to provide their whereabouts information, but now that that there is an IAAF whereabouts rule with disciplinary sanctions attached for non-compliance (missed tests), this provision is no longer required.

Important Notice to Athletes in the IAAF OOC Testing Pool

Recently, the IAAF amended their testing protocol regarding Out of Competition (no advance notice testing) in several key areas. While we have not received official word about this procedural changes, many athletes have contacted USATF in regards to these topics and we want everyone to be aware of what to expect.

  1. The IAAF no longer will call athletes in an attempt to notify the athlete when they have been selected for an OOC test.
  2. In some cases, the IAAF will be also collect blood as well as urine for screening.

USATF strongly recommends that athletes take into consideration these changes when they are notified of an IAAF missed test by responding by the deadline in detail regarding your whereabouts on the day in question. USATF understands the frustration that you as athletes are encountering regarding this procedure. We are working with the IAAF to try to amend the protocol, but until that time, we need all athletes to continue to be compliant with the current IAAF rules and procedures, including a list of athlete's rights when they are chosen for testing.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact USATF's Melissa Beasley at 317-261-0478 x335.

Yasmin Removed from Prohibited List

On January 25, 2005, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) List Committee considered the status of Yasmin, an oral contraceptive. On January 27, 2005, WADA notified USADA that the medication, Yasmin, is allowed in- or out-of-competition, effectively immediately.

Previously, USADA had informed athletes that the medication was prohibited based on the presences of the diuretic drospirenone. WADA's decision is a positive one for athletes. American athletes who compete around the world and use Yasmin will not be subject to a doping violation for the presence of drospirenone.

For the athletes previously impacted by the Yasmin's prohibited status, USADA thanks you for your supporting their anti-doping efforts.

USADA Makes Drug Reference Information Available Online

Athletes can now get drug reference information from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency Drug Reference Online (DRO) 24-hours a day, 7-days a week at www.usantidoping.org/dro/. In October 2004, USADA launched its DRO to serve as a supplement for athletes who have questions about medications on weekends or after USADA office hours.

The DRO provides easily accessible and accurate information on whether specific U.S. pharmaceutical products are permitted for us by athletes. Some over-the-counter medicinal products are included in the database.

The DRO provides the status of the pharmaceutical from the WADA 2004 Prohibited List and applies ONLY to the formulations used in the United States. A DRO search will classify a drug or a formulation (combination of medications) based on the strictest status of any one component.

2005 Wallet Cards are now available

USADA recently posted the 2005 USADA/WADA Prohibited Substances and Prohibited Methods Wallet Card online for athletes, coaches and trainers to download and print for reference. The Wallet Cards will also be available at various Visa Championship Series Events throughout the indoor and outdoor season and will be mailed to all athletes currently in the USADA Out of Competition Testing Pool.

Visit the USADA website for the updated Wallet Cards (PDF).

Please note that the list online is not complete and is subject to change. USATF recommends that athletes call the USADA Drug Reference line with questions about medications not listed on the Wallet Card at 1-800-233-0393.

Reminder - Forms due June 1

If you are currently in the USATF Out-of-Competition Drug-Testing Pool, your Athlete Location Form (ALF) for the 3rd quarter is due to USADA by June 1, 2005. Forms are available online at the USADA website.

Athletes can submit their ALF online, if they have an email address on file with USADA or forms can also be submitted via fax - 719-785-2099.

If you have a question about the USATF Out-of-Competition Drug-Testing Pool, please contact USATF's Melissa Beasley.

Upcoming U.S. Events

April 30 Drake Relays, Des Moines, IA
April 30 Penn Relays, Philadephia, PA
May 7 Modesto Relays, Modesto, CA
May 22 Track & Field Invitational, Carson, CA
May 30 Payton Jordan U.S. Open, Palo Alto, CA
May 30 Bolder Boulder 10 km, Boulder, CO
June 4 Nike Prefontaine Classic, Eugene, OR
June 8-11 NCAA Division I Track & Field Championships, Sacramento, CA
June 23-26 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, Carson, CA

Important Numbers

  • USADA Drug Reference Line - 800-233-0393 (toll free)
  • USATF Whistleblower Hotline - 866-809-8104 (toll free)
  • USATF Anti-Doping Liaison (Melissa Beasley) - 317-261-0478 x335

Links to other Anti-Doping Websites