Anti-Doping Guidelines
IF YOU ARE ON A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE AS IDENTIFIED BY USADA (E.G., SUCH AS AN ASTHMA INHALER), THEN THE APPLICATION FOR A WAIVER FOR USE OF THAT SUBSTANCE DURING AN INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION MUST BE SUBMITTED AT LEAST 2 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE COMPETITION.
It is important that all athletes, who are selected to participate in a USA Volleyball National-level Team of either gender, know that they must take responsibility to ensure the eligibility of themselves, and their USA Team, under the governing rules of USADA (the United States Anti-Doping Agency).
The USADA is committed to helping athletes in the United States to do the right thing and to not run afoul of any drug or doping rule. The website (www.usantidoping.org;) , and their direct contact lines, are very helpful and will provide you with all the information you will need to effectively comply with these rules.
The governing rules of WADA and USADA cover a wide range of ingested and inhaled substances that may be strictly forbidden, or partially regulated, for participants in international competitions. Violations (positive test results) for these substances typically will disqualify an entire team for a competition, and can disqualify the violating athlete for a much longer time, depending on the severity of the violation.
For athletes participating in a USAV Youth, Junior, Senior, Sitting or Deaf National Team - Please do not make the mistake of thinking that only illegal drugs are banned in competition. Many over-the-counter drugs such as certain pain relievers, antihistamines and inhalers will result in a positive drug test. And many of these drugs will remain in your system, and are detectable through blood testing, for weeks or months.
Please first go to the USADA website www.usantidoping.org to review the current list of banned or controlled substances, and compare that with any medications that you may be taking. There is a waiver process that has been developed by the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB - Federation Internationale de Volleyball) and the World Anti-Doping Agency for all athletes who legitimately need to use a medication on a regular basis. This process is discussed in general on the USADA website, but is outlined below.
- If you determine that you are taking a controlled substance, such as an asthma medication, you should set up an appointment with your doctor immediately.
- Your doctor can write a letter, confirming your medical condition (sometimes this requires a test - such as a pulmonary function test) and your need to continue to take that medication.
- That letter must be submitted to the FIVB, in application for a waiver for that substance to be taken by that athlete (this application can be found on the USADA website).
- This entire process takes an average of two months.
In coordination with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the Anti-Doping agencies of other nations, USADA and USA Volleyball are striving to achieve and maintain an ethical and level playing field within our sport and across all competitions. USA Volleyball strongly supports the principles and policies of the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) in its mission to preserve the well being of Olympic sport, the integrity of competition, and the health of athletes. USA Volleyball discourages and opposes the use of performance-enhancing drugs under any circumstances, and in all instances will assist USADA in their efforts to identify possible violations.
