News

Posted: 23 December, 2014

From 1st January 2015, a revised World Anti-Doping Code (2015 Code) comes into effect. This means that internationally everyone will be working to a new set of anti-doping rules that will guide the anti-doping programmes in each country. As a member of Scottish Rowing, anti-doping rules apply to you too, at whatever level you participate.

The 2015 Code has increased the number of Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs), and places a greater emphasis on both Athlete Support Personnel (ASP) such as coaches and sports medics, and the relevance of anti-doping education. It is therefore vitally important that all members understand the 2015 Code and its implications.

From 1st January 2015, those who choose to deliberately cheat and return a positive test will face a four-year ban from all sport as the minimum sanction for the first offence. 

However, the 2015 Code also has less sympathy for carelessness. The penalty for inadvertent doping is likely to be a two-year ban or more.

Remember that it is not just a positive test by an athlete that is an ADRV - from 1st January there will be 10 ways to break the rules. You need to make sure you have the required level of anti-doping knowledge to protect yourself and help those around you to train and compete clean.

We are working with British Rowing, who are the the lead rowing organisation for Anti-doping in the UK, to ensure all members have access to the necessary Anti-Doping education.  Information on access to education will be circulated in the coming months.

Visit the Anti-Doping section of the British Rowing website for the relevant rules and policies www.britishrowing.org/competing/anti-doping.

For more information on the new code please visitUKAD’s 2015 Code Microsite, and you can also find key facts and the 2015 Code documentation on theWADA website.