Anti-Doping

Introduction

The fight against doping in DanceSport is assigned the highest priority by WDSF and ITA (International Testing Agency). A signatory to the World Anti-Doping Code from the outset, WDSF has been assessed fully Code compliant by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) ever since. The anti-doping activities required of World DanceSport Federation by the World Anti-Doping Code include conducting testing at competitions and out-of-competition, providing educational programmes for athletes and officials, and sanctioning those who commit anti-doping rule violations.

The World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) has entered a partnership with the International Testing Agency (ITA) and delegated its clean sport program to the independent anti-doping organisation. A two-year contract between the world governing body for DanceSport and the ITA marks the start of this collaboration.

All clean sport activities on behalf of WDSF will be carried out by the ITA in strict compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code and its International Standards, with ITA’s dedicated Regulatory Compliance Unit ensuring full alignment with all mandatory rules. Any potential anti-doping rule violations stemming from its anti-doping efforts will be subject to independent results management by the ITA.

Doping can be harmful to an athlete’s health, damages the integrity of sport, and is morally and ethically wrong. All athletes participating in WDSF competitions/under NADO jurisdiction must abide by the ADO Anti-Doping Rules.

What is doping? 

Doping is not just a positive test showing the presence of a prohibited substance in an athlete’s urine sample. Doping is defined as the occurrence of one or more of the 11 Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) outlined in the World Anti-Doping Code and WDSF Anti Doping Rules These are:

1. Presence of a prohibited substance, its metabolites or markers in an athlete’s sample

2. Use or attempted use of a prohibited substance or method by an athlete

3. Refusing, evading or failing to submit to sample collection by an athlete

4. Failure to file whereabouts information and/or missed tests by an athlete 

5. Tampering or attempted tampering with the doping control process by an athlete or other person

6. Possession of a prohibited substance or method by an athlete or athlete support personnel 

7. Trafficking or attempted trafficking of a prohibited substance or method by an athlete or other person

8. Administering or attempting to administer a prohibited substance or method to an athlete

9. Complicity or attempted complicity in an ADRV by an athlete or other person

10. Prohibited Association by an athlete or other person with a sanctioned athlete support personnel

11. Acts to discourage or retaliate against reporting to authorities

Anti-Doping Overview (At a Glance)

Why is doping in sport prohibited?

The use of doping substances or doping methods to enhance performance is fundamentally wrong and is detrimental to the overall spirit of sport. Drug misuse can be harmful to an athlete's health and to other athletes competing in the sport. It severely damages the integrity, image, and value of sport, whether or not the motivation to use drugs is to improve performance. To achieve integrity and fairness in sport, a commitment to clean sport is critical. 

What does ‘Strict Liability’ mean?

• The principle of strict liability applies to all athletes who compete in any sport with an anti-doping program. It means that athletes are responsible for any prohibited substance, or its metabolites or markers found to be present in their urine and/or blood sample collected during doping control, regardless of whether the athlete intentionally or unintentionally used a prohibited substance or method. Therefore, it is important to remember that it is each and every athlete’s ultimate responsibility to know what enters their body.

• The rule which provides that principle, under Code Article 2.1 and Article 2.2, states that it is not necessary that intent, fault, negligence, or knowing use on the athlete’s part be demonstrated by the Anti-Doping Organization to establish an anti-doping rule violation.

Why is doping dangerous?

Doping can result in severe health consequences and comes with significant sport, social, financial, and legal repercussions. For athletes, doping could jeopardize their sporting career, reputation, and overall prospects both in and out of sport.

Published on 19 January 2011 (last update on 7 January 2024)