About Anti-Doping – Clean Sport

Introduction

Doping can be harmful to an athlete’s health, damages the integrity of sport and is morally and ethically wrong. All chess players participating in competitions under FIDE jurisdiction must abide by the FIDE Anti‑Doping Rules.

What is doping?

Doping is not simply a positive test. It is the occurrence of one or more of the 11 Anti‑Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) outlined in the World Anti‑Doping Code and the FIDE Anti‑Doping Rules. These ADRVs include:

Presence of a prohibited substance, its metabolites or markers in a sample.
Use or attempted use of a prohibited substance or method.
Refusing, evading or failing to submit to sample collection.
Failure to file whereabouts information and/or missed tests.
Tampering or attempted tampering with the doping control process.
Possession of a prohibited substance or method.
Trafficking or attempted trafficking of a prohibited substance or method.
Administering or attempting to administer a prohibited substance or method to an athlete.
Complicity or attempted complicity in an ADRV.
Prohibited association with sanctioned athlete support personnel.
Acts to discourage or retaliate against reporting to authorities.

Why is doping in sport prohibited?

Using prohibited substances or methods is fundamentally wrong and detracts from the spirit of sport. Drug misuse can seriously harm an athlete’s health and damages the integrity, image and value of sport. To achieve integrity and fairness, a commitment to clean sport is critical.

Strict liability

The principle of strict liability applies to all athletes who compete in any sport with an anti‑doping programme. Athletes are responsible for any prohibited substance found in their sample, regardless of intent. It is each athlete’s responsibility to know what enters their body. Under Code Articles 2.1 and 2.2, intent, fault, negligence or knowledge do not need to be demonstrated by the Anti‑Doping Organisation to establish a violation.

Why is doping dangerous?

Doping can lead to serious health consequences and has sporting, social, financial and legal ramifications. For an athlete, doping could end a sporting career and damage reputation and opportunities both inside and outside of sport.

Sport consequences

Sanctions for an Anti‑Doping Rule Violation may include:

Provisional suspension: temporary exclusion from competitions and activities pending the outcome of the results management process.
Ineligibility: a ban on competing, training or receiving funding. Periods of ineligibility can last up to four years or, in some cases, life.
Disqualification: invalidation of results, with forfeiture of medals, points and prizes.
Public disclosure: announcement of the violation.
Fines: financial penalties where provided for in the rules.

Health consequences

Doping can affect both physical and psychological health:

Physical health: medications and interventions are designed to treat specific conditions. When used without medical need they may have severe side effects. The substance, dosage and frequency can all influence the risk.
Psychological health: some substances affect mental health and can lead to anxiety, obsessive‑compulsive disorders or psychosis.

Social consequences

Doping can lead to:

Lasting damage to reputation and image.
Harm to future career prospects.
Isolation from peers and sport.
Strained relationships with friends and family.
Effects on emotional and psychological well‑being.
Loss of respect and credibility.

Financial consequences

Financial repercussions may include:

Fines and costs associated with an Anti‑Doping Rule Violation.
Loss of income or financial support, including government funding or other financial backing.
Withdrawal or loss of sponsorship and the need to reimburse sponsors under contract.
Reimbursement of prize money.
Difficulty securing future employment or sponsorship because of a damaged reputation.

Legal consequences

In addition to sport, health, social and financial effects, doping can have legal consequences. Some countries treat possession, trafficking or use of prohibited substances as a criminal offence.

What do athletes and athlete support personnel need to know?

Athletes, support personnel and others subject to anti‑doping rules have rights and responsibilities under the World Anti‑Doping Code. Ensuring that athletes are aware of their rights, and that those rights are respected, is vital to the success of clean sport.

Athletes’ rights

Athletes have the right to:

Equal opportunities to compete in sport free of those who dope.
Equitable and fair testing programmes.
Apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) when necessary.
Be heard at a fair hearing by an impartial, independent panel with a timely, reasoned decision.
Appeal hearing decisions.
Hold Anti‑Doping Organisations accountable for their actions and report compliance issues.
Report violations anonymously without threat or intimidation.
Receive anti‑doping education.
Have personal information handled in accordance with the International Standard for the Protection of Privacy and Personal Information (ISPPPI).
Pursue damages from another athlete whose actions have harmed them through an ADRV.
During sample collection:
See identification of the Doping Control Officer.
Receive information about the process, authority and type of sample collection.
Hydrate.
Be accompanied by a representative and, if needed, an interpreter.
Request a delay for valid reasons (see International Standard for Testing and Investigations Art. 5.4.4).
Request modifications for athletes with impairments.
Be informed of their rights and responsibilities.
Receive a copy of the records of the process.
Request and attend a B‑sample analysis in the case of an Adverse Analytical Finding.

Athletes’ responsibilities

Athletes are responsible for:

Complying with the FIDE Anti‑Doping Rules in line with the World Anti‑Doping Code.
Being available for sample collection (urine, blood or dried blood spot), in‑competition and out‑of‑competition.
Remaining under direct observation of the Doping Control Officer or chaperone from notification until the sample collection process is complete.
Providing identification during sample collection.
Ensuring no prohibited substance enters their body and no prohibited method is used on them.
Verifying that any treatment is permitted under the Prohibited List and checking this with prescribing physicians, or directly with FIDE if necessary.
Applying for a TUE from FIDE if a permitted alternative is not available.
Reporting immediately for sample collection after notification.
Ensuring the accuracy of information on the Doping Control Form.
Cooperating with Anti‑Doping Organisations investigating violations.
Avoiding coaches, trainers, physicians or other support personnel who are ineligible or have been convicted of doping. See WADA’s Prohibited Association List.

Athlete support personnel

Athlete support personnel (e.g., coaches, trainers, medical staff) also have rights and responsibilities.

Rights

Support personnel have the right to:

A fair hearing before an independent panel.
Appeal the hearing decision.
Protection of personal data according to the ISPPPI and applicable law.

Responsibilities

Support personnel must:

Use their influence to foster clean sport behaviours.
Know and comply with all applicable anti‑doping policies and rules, including the FIDE Anti‑Doping Rules.
Cooperate with the doping control programme.
Cooperate with Anti‑Doping Organisations investigating violations.
Inform the relevant international federation or NADO if they have committed an ADRV in the last ten years.
Not possess, administer, traffic or conceal prohibited substances or methods, nor associate with persons convicted of doping. Exceptions include carrying prohibited substances for emergencies when justified (e.g., team physicians).

FIDE recommendations for athlete support personnel

To support clean sport education, support personnel are encouraged to:

Share the Athletes’ Anti‑Doping Rights Act with athletes.
Register for courses on WADA’s ADEL platform relevant to their role.
Follow FIDE social media channels for updates on anti‑doping.
Contact the Medical Commission with any questions.

Organisations involved in protecting clean sport

World Anti‑Doping Agency (WADA)

Established in 1999, WADA leads a collaborative worldwide movement for doping‑free sport. WADA develops and harmonizes anti‑doping rules and policies across all sports and countries. Its key activities include scientific and social science research, education, intelligence and investigations, capacity development and monitoring compliance with the World Anti‑Doping Programme. See www.wada‑ama.org or watch WADA’s video “Beyond Winning” on YouTube.

International Federation (IF)

FIDE is responsible for implementing an effective and Code‑compliant anti‑doping programme for chess. Under the World Anti‑Doping Code, international federations must:

Provide education programmes.
Analyse the risk of doping in their sport.
Conduct in‑competition and out‑of‑competition testing.
Manage Therapeutic Use Exemptions for international‑level athletes.
Conduct results management, including sanctioning those who commit Anti‑Doping Rule Violations.

For anti‑doping queries, contact FIDE at office@fide.com

National Anti‑Doping Organisations (NADOs)

NADOs are designated by each country and are responsible for:

Adopting and implementing anti‑doping rules at national level.
Planning and delivering anti‑doping education.
Planning tests and adjudicating rule violations nationally.
Testing athletes from other countries competing within their borders when required.

See the list of NADOs to find out who to contact in your country. If there is no NADO, the National Olympic Committee typically assumes these responsibilities.

Regional Anti‑Doping Organisations (RADOs)

In some regions, countries pool resources through a RADO to support anti‑doping activities. RADOs may:

Provide anti‑doping education for athletes, coaches and support personnel.
Test athletes.
Train local sample collection personnel (doping control officers/chaperones).
Offer an administrative framework to operate within.

For a list of RADOs, consult WADA’s RADO directory.