The Irish Amateur Wrestling Association has adopted the Sport Ireland and World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) position that cheating, including doping, in sport is fundamentally contrary to the spirit of sport, undermining the otherwise positive impact of sport on society.
All club personnel have a responsibility to ensure that club members are aware of the Irish Anti-Doping Rules and that there is an atmosphere supporting a drug free sport within the club. A complete copy of the Irish Anti-Doping Rules is available below. This page provides up-to-date information from World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), Sport Ireland, UWW and the Irish Amateur Wrestling Association rules and regulations in the area of doping.
The consequences of not adhering to Anti-Doping rules can be severe for athletes and their support personnel such as coaches and parents; therefore, it is critical that any questions/concerns be clarified with either the Anti- Doping Officer in Irish Amateur Wrestling Association or Sport Ireland.
Irish Amateur Wrestling Association is fully committed to ensuring doping has no place in the sport of wrestling and associated sports.
The Irish Amateur Wrestling Association works with Sport Ireland and UWW in its anti-doping efforts. Rules apply to athletes and athlete support personnel. The Irish Anti-doping Programme seeks to preserve the spirit of sport. By virtue of their participation in Irish Amateur Wrestling activities, members, including minors, agree to abide by the Anti-Doping Rules.
The following sections highlight key areas with regard to Anti-Doping. The Irish Amateur Wrestling Association advises all members to read and understand the anti-doping rules and to understand your responsibilities under the rules.
Doping is the use of prohibited substances or prohibited methods to enhance an athlete's performance and concealing or attempting to conceal such use. There are a wide range of performance-enhancing substances and methods and, in line with scientific advancements, they are becoming increasingly diversified, sophisticated and ingenious. These substances and methods are prohibited under world anti-doping regulations.
The concepts of self-achievement, fair play and teamwork are an integral part of sport, and these values constitute a major part of the fascination and attraction of sport for many people. However, doping causes immeasurable damage to the values, integrity and attraction of sport. In addition, taking substances and utilising methods that have been originally developed for entirely different purposes can pose major health risks.
Finally, doping is an anti-social act that betrays the trust of the spectators and sponsors who have supported an athlete, and when that athlete is competing on behalf of his/her country, it betrays a nation's hopes. In recent times, institutional doping has become a major issue which has transcended the confines of the sporting world and has led to a massive loss of public trust in the integrity of sport.
Anti-doping constitutes a range of activities aimed at eliminating doping in sport, as well as protecting clean athletes and the integrity and values of sport. To this end, it is the duty of all related personnel, not only the athletes, to concern themselves with and promote anti-doping activities.
On the 1st of January 2021, a new world anti-doping code came into effect. From this date Sport Ireland and those who have adopted Sport Ireland rules must comply with their responsibilities under the new code. This includes the IAWA and its members and affiliated clubs. The policy of the Irish Amateur Wrestling Association is that doping is contrary to the spirit of FAIR PLAY and all members have a responsibility to ensure that our sport is free of doping.
All IAWA athletes, athlete support personnel including coaches, medical personnel, nutritionists, and officials are encouraged complete WADA Adel’s Anti-Doping eLearning educational online course.
This course is also a prerequisite to some IAWA training courses, National and International competitions. The course is free and takes approximately 3hrs. It doesn’t have to be completed all at once and can be done over a period of time.
The course recommended is the National Level Athletes Education Programme and can be accessed at this link: WADA Adel eLearning Course
At the very end, a certificate of completion will generate, which all athletes and coaches are encouraged to save this for their own records. You may be asked to produce this certificate as proof of completion. It can be sent to the Irish Wrestling Anti-doping email address at iawa.antidoping@gmail.com
Link to the Sport Ireland Anti-Doping Rules - Sport Ireland Anti-Doping Rules
Link to Clean Sport Education Flyer: Clean Sport Education Flyer
Link to Dried Blood Spot (DBS) fact sheet
The IAWA advises all members to read and understand the anti-doping rules and to understand your responsibilities under the rules.
Sport Irelands e-Learning Programme covers all key topics in anti-doping that athletes and athlete support personnel need to be aware of.
The following topics are covered;
All wrestlers, athletes, and coaches representing Ireland at international competitions must complete WADA's Anti-Doping eLearning course for National-Level Athletes.
This is the ADEL for National-Level for athletes and coaches.
This course includes multiple modules and each module addresses a specific topic about anti-doping.
- Glucocorticoid (GCC) by injection and we strongly recommend you to read the 2-pager factsheet to become familiar about this change
- Dried blood spot (DBS) testing basics
The whereabouts essentials is not a mandatory module for national level athletes. National-level athletes interested in learning more about whereabouts requirements and how to provide whereabouts information in WADA's Anti-Doping Administration System (ADAMS), have the option to complete the module as a standalone course.
It means that each wrestler is strictly liable for the substances found in his or her bodily specimen and that an anti-doping rule violation occurs whenever a prohibited substance (or its metabolites or markers) are found in bodily specimens, whether or not the player intentionally or unintentionally used a prohibited substance or was negligent or otherwise at fault.
The Anti-Doping Rules of the Irish Amateur Wrestling Association are the Irish Anti-Doping Rules as set out in Rule 21 of our constitution: The Anti-Doping Rules of the IAWA are the same as the Irish Anti- Doping Rules as amended from time to time.
In 1999, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) was established to promote international anti-doping activities in all sports, and later the World Anti-Doping Code was published as a set of universal regulations for the international sporting community. Anti-doping activities take place around the world under the regulations stipulated in the Code.
The World Anti-Doping Code defines the following ten anti-doping rule violations:
The following information regarding the new WADA 2021 Code is available at HERE
The 2021 Irish Anti-Doping Rules came into effect on January 1st 2021.
The Irish Sport Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel Procedures which also came into effect on January 1st 2021.
The IAWA advises all members to read and understand YOUR responsibilities under the Anti-Doping Rules and download an app today to check your medications.
As the National Governing Body for wrestling and grappling sports in Ireland, the IAWA and all its members are signed up to Sport Irelands Anti- Doping Policies.
For further information on Ant-Doping, please refer to Sport Ireland Athlete Zone which will cover such areas as;
Click HERE to be directed to Sport Irelands Athlete Zone
Wrestlers, like all others have illnesses or conditions that require them to take particular medications. All wrestlers should check their prescribed and over the counter medications to see if they are permitted. If the medication you require falls under the World Anti- Doping Agency prohibited list, you may need to apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE).
What do IAWA members need to know?
(1) WADA Prohibited List – Checking Medications & TUE Policy
The World Anti-Doping Agency issues a Prohibited List annually.
For information on the Prohibited List see:
https://www.wada-ama.org/en/what-we-do/prohibited-list
https://www.sportireland.ie/anti-doping/athlete-zone/athlete-zone/therapeutic-use-exemptions
Note: Recreational Drugs are tested in-competition.
What are you taking into your body?
Always check the status of over-the-counter and prescribed medications in relation to the Prohibited List, based on where you purchase the medication:
Medicine Checker Website
Athletes can now check the status in sport of all medication purchased in the ROI here medcheck.sportireland.ie. All athletes must check the status of all medication before consumption.
Medications bought in Northern Ireland, U.K., U.S.A and Canada can be checked on www.globaldro.com
If a medication is prohibited, you must check and adhere to the Sport Ireland TUE Policy at https://www.sportireland.ie/anti-doping/athlete-zone/athlete-zone/therapeutic-use-exemptions
Wrestlers need to be aware that there are risks associated with the use of sports supplements with many positive drug tests associated with their use.
If a wrestler is contemplating supplementation as a nutritional strategy, we advise that you seek professional assistance from a professional sports dietician.
Wrestlers seeking permission to use a medication containing a substance on the WADA Prohibited List.
Click HERE to be directed to the current prohibited list.
You must seek a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) to do so. IAWA wrestlers are permitted to apply retroactively (get a Post-test TUE). You need to ensure that your medical practitioner has a full medical file in place (see below for further details)
Post-test TUE: If you are drug tested and the lab report shows a prohibited substance in your sample, Sport Ireland Anti-doping will contact you to offer you the opportunity to make a Post-Test TUE application for the substance, within specified timelines. You will need to supply a complete medical file documenting your medical history, diagnosis and medical justification for using a prohibited medication as opposed to a permitted alternative.
A wrestlers medical file would typically consist of:
A detailed medical history (when diagnosed, previous episodes, previous hospitalisations, related symptoms, etc.)
The results of any relevant medical tests, laboratory studies, etc.
Any other supporting information which will confirm that the player has a legitimate therapeutic requirement to use a prohibited medication to treat a medical condition
For asthma TUE applications, the medical file should also specifically include a comprehensive report of the Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1)
The Irish Amateur Wrestling Association Parental Consent form for Drug Testing should be completed by any underage players (under 18 years of age) wrestling in an adult division – these forms are submitted to IAWA Antidoping Officer at commencement of Season and are available by contacting iawa.antidoping@gmail.com
Declaring Medications and Supplements:
It is very important that you declare ALL MEDICATIONS AND SUPPLEMENTS taken within the last 14 days if you are drug tested. The Doping Control Officer will ask you to list all medications, supplements, etc. you have taken within the last two weeks on the Doping Control Form.
Sport Ireland Anti-doping is the body responsible for the administration of anti-doping testing, education and administration. There is more information on their website and a copy of the Irish Anti- Doping Rules is available from HERE or you can contact them directly on 01 8608800.
It is recommended to supply all members of IAWA Clubs with an Information Wallet Cards. These are supplied at competitions, seminars and at the AGM and are also available for order direct from the Sport Ireland website
An anti-doping reference guide/booklet for parents seeking more information to ensure healthy athletic development and prevent the use of performance enhancing substances. This resource is relevant to parents of all levels of athletes from beginner to elite.
Parents play a key role in forming athletes’ attitudes to doping and athletes often turn to them for advice. Topics such as healthy sport cultures, nutrition, the risks of supplements, and doping risk factors are outlined, and links to websites where parents can find further useful information are suggested.
Parents, please click on this link for more information: https://www.wada-ama.org/sites/default/files/html5/edu_parents_cleansport/en/?page=1
E-learning for Wrestlers, Coaches, Administrators and Club Personnel https://www.sportireland.ie/anti-doping-e-learning
Main Page of Sport Ireland Anti-Doping - http://www.sportireland.ie/Anti-Doping/
World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) https://www.wada-ama.org/
UWW Anti-Doping information https://unitedworldwrestling.org/governance/about-anti-doping
Digital Antidoping Wallet Card Wallet Card
Contact our IAWA Anti-doping Officer: iawa.antidoping@gmail.com
Sport Ireland Anti-Doping Unit can also be contacted at:
Sport Ireland, The Courtyard, Sport Ireland Campus,
Snugborough Road, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15,
D15 PNON,
Tel +353 1 8608800
Email- contactus@sportireland.ie
If you find links that are not working on this page, please report them to iawa.antidoping@gmail.com
Under the Irish Anti-Doping Rules, Sport Ireland carries out drug testing on behalf of the Irish Amateur Wrestling Association. These measures come into effect on January 1st, 2022.
Sport Ireland has reviewed the Irish Anti-Doping Rules to ensure compliance with the 2022 World Anti-Doping Code. All relevant documents can be downloaded below:
These documents are also available on https://www.sportireland.ie/anti-doping-rules
WADA publishes its Prohibited List annually and the 2024 list has now been published. This List shall come into effect on 1 January 2024.
2024 Summary of Major Modifications and Explanatory Notes (you can use this document to familiarise yourself with the changes)
As of 1st Jan 2024, Tramadol is prohibited In-Competition as approved by the WADA Executive Committee on 23rd September 2022.
Please see attached a tramadol fact sheet for medical professionals designed by WADA plus additional information at this link Tramadol-Factsheet-for-Medical-Professionals