International Federation of American Football Athletes may have illnesses or conditions that require them to take particular medications or to utilize particular methods of treatment.
If the medication an Athlete is required to take to treat an illness or condition happens to fall under the Prohibited List, a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) gives that Athlete the authorization to take the needed medicine so long as the Athlete fulfils all the mandatory criteria to do so.
International Level Athletes (as defined in the Scope Section of the IFAF Anti-Doping Rules) and listed below should submit their TUE Applications to IFAF. IFAF has delegated its TUE process to the International Testing Agency. The ITA TUE web page provides the most complete and up-to-date TUE information. If you have any questions regarding TUEs, please contact TUE@ita.sport
All other Athletes who are not defined as International Level Athletes should submit their TUE applications to their National Anti-Doping Organisation also known as their “NADO”. The list of NADOs can be found here.
The purpose of the International Standard for Therapeutic Use Exemptions (ISTUE) is to ensure that the process of granting TUEs is harmonized across sports and countries.
According to Article 4.2 of the ISTUE, an Athlete may be granted a TUE if (and only if) he/she can show, on the balance of probabilities, that each of the following conditions is met:
a) The Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method in question is needed to treat a diagnosed medical condition supported by relevant clinical evidence.
b) The Therapeutic Use of the Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method will not, on the balance of probabilities, produce any additional enhancement of performance beyond what might be anticipated by a return to the Athlete’s normal state of health following the treatment of the medical condition.
c) The Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method is an indicated treatment for the medical condition, and there is no reasonable permitted Therapeutic alternative.
d) The necessity for the Use of the Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method is not a consequence, wholly or in part, of the prior Use (without a TUE) of a substance or method which was prohibited at the time of such Use.
The following Athletes are considered “international level athletes” under the IFAF Anti-Doping Rules and should apply for a TUE with IFAF:
(a) Athletes who are included in the IFAF Registered Testing Pool, Testing Pool, or other Testing Pools, including the IFAF Team Whereabouts Pool, and,
(b) Athletes who are registered to compete in any of the following IFAF World Championships, for 12 months from the date of registration into the relevant World Championship:
Women’s World Flag Championship
Men’s World Flag Championship
Men’s World U19 Championship
Women’s World Championship
Men’s World Championship
In general, unless exceptional circumstances apply, a IFAF International Level Athlete who needs to Use a Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method for Therapeutic reasons must obtain a TUE from IFAF prior to using or possessing the substance or method in question and in all cases must apply for a TUE 30 days prior to competing.
YES! So long as IFAF is informed of it, IFAF recognizes all TUEs granted to Athletes by their NADO. While IFAF grants TUEs to International-level Athletes, they also recognize TUEs that have been granted by a NADO.
National-level TUEs shall be automatically valid for international-level competition so long as :
IFAF is informed of the granted TUE in a timely manner (ideally 30 days before the international IFAF event), And,
The TUE meets the criteria set out in the ISTUE. If it does not, IFAF will not recognize it. In that case, the Athlete and the relevant NADO shall be notified, and have 21 days from such notification to refer the matter to WADA for review. (In accordance with Article 4.4.7 of the IFAF Anti-Doping Rules.)
Also note
If IFAF chooses to test an Athlete who is neither an International-Level nor a National-Level Athlete IFAF shall permit that Athlete to apply to IFAF for a retroactive TUE for any Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method that he/she is using for therapeutic reasons.
(MEO” as defined in the World Anti-Doping Code) e.g. Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Mediterranean Games etc.
MEO’s will generally recognize TUEs that have already been granted and that are still valid.
If an Athlete requires a new TUE in the 30 days preceding a major event, in many instances an MEO will expect Athletes to send them TUE applications directly, to be valid during the period of the major event, in the 30 days preceding the start of their event and/or during the course of their event (when applicable).
Please verify the Anti-Doping Rules of each relevant MEO to be sure that you comply with their respective obligations in relation to TUEs.
In accordance with Article 4.1 of the ISTUE, you may only apply retroactively to IFAF for a TUE if one of the following exceptions applies:
– Your competition level permits (i.e., you are neither an International-Level Athlete as defined by IFAF nor a National-Level Athlete as defined by your NADO). See ISTUE Article 4.1 d)
– An emergency or urgent treatment of a medical condition was necessary. See ISTUE Article 4.1 a)
– Due to exceptional circumstances, you had insufficient time or opportunity to submit, (or for the TUEC to consider), your application prior to sample collection. See ISTUE Article 4.1 b)
– Due to national level prioritization of certain sports, the Athlete’s National Anti-Doping Organization did not permit or require the Athlete to apply for a prospective TUE. See ISTUE Article 4.1 c)
– The Athlete Used Out-of-Competition, for Therapeutic reasons, a Prohibited Substance that is only prohibited In-Competition. See ISTUE Article 4.1 e)
Please note that pursuant to Article 4.3 of the ISTUE:
In exceptional circumstances and notwithstanding any other provision in this International Standard for Therapeutic Use Exemptions, an Athlete may apply for and be granted retroactive approval for their Therapeutic Use of a Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method if, considering the purpose of the Code, it would be manifestly unfair not to grant a retroactive TUE.
Using a prohibited substance before being granted a TUE could result in an Adverse Analytical Finding and a potential anti-doping rule violation.
In case an application for a retroactive TUE is necessary following sample collection, you are strongly advised to have a medical file prepared and ready to submit for evaluation.
IFAF shall receive, whether directly or via ADAMS, all TUE applications for international-level Athletes. The Form can be downloaded from below.
For the purpose of recognition, IFAF shall receive, whether directly or via ADAMS, all TUEs granted to national-level Athletes by their NADO. Upon receipt of the TUE, IFAF shall process the application (s).
Should the application form not be properly filled out, or should mandatory medical documentation be missing, the Athlete shall be so informed, and the TUE application will not be accepted until adequately submitted.
Once a TUE application has been duly received in proper form, the TUE application will be directed to the IFAF TUE Committee who will process with the application.
As soon as the decision is made, the Athlete will be informed if his TUE has been granted or denied.
In accordance with Article 4.4.4. 6 of the IFAF Anti-Doping Rules, if the TUE is denied, the Athlete will be given the opportunity to appeal for a review of that decision before the WADA TUE Committee.
