IOC releases Anti-Doping Rules for Rio 2016

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has released its Anti-Doping Rules for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

All athletes competing in Rio will be subject to testing as outlined in the Anti-Doping Rules, which have been drafted in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code (Code) and the List of Prohibited Substances and Methods.

The rules will cover the period from the opening of the Athletes’ Village on 24 July until the closing ceremony of the Games on 21 August 2016. 

Out of competition testing is defined as any sample collection process commencing from the opening of the Athletes village until twelve hours before the start of a competition in which the athlete is scheduled to participate in.

In competition testing is defined as any sample collection process commencing 12 hours before the start of a competition in which the athlete is scheduled to participate through to the end of such competition including the sample collection process related to such competition. 

If an athlete is competing on multiple days or in multiple events, any tests conducted outside of 12 hours before the start of each of the athlete’s competition’s through to the end of the sample collection process related to each competition would be considered as Out of Competition.

The difference between Out of Competition and In Competition is that the full list of prohibited substances and methods is applicable for samples collected In Competition and a slightly reduced list of prohibited substances and methods is applicable to samples collected Out of Competition.  For further information on what classes of prohibited substances are prohibited In and Out –of-Competition please consult the WADA’s 2016 Prohibited List.

During the period of the Games, athletes registered to compete at the Olympics can be tested at anytime, anywhere in the world, including outside the Olympic Village and official training and competition venues under the jurisdiction of the IOC.

Those athletes in a Registered Testing Pool of their National Anti-Doping Organization or their International Federation are required to keep their whereabouts information accurate and up to date during the period of the Games.  This includes those athletes staying in the athletes village who are required to provide their housing block and room number and their one hour time period.

Furthermore, during this period all athletes will be subject to doping controls initiated by the IOC at any time or place, with no advance notice required to be given.

Click here to consult the IOC Anti-Doping Rules for Rio 2016.