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Why clean sport is important

Doping is unacceptable in any kind of sport.

Elite athletes have been banned or stripped of their titles for using forbidden substances or breaking anti-doping rules. Doping is on the rise in amateur sport too.

Clubs play a vital role in developing a culture of clean sport. It may also be compulsory to comply with anti-doping rules if you're affiliated to a national governing body (NGB) that has signed up to the National Anti-Doping Policy.

This section outlines your responsibilities and what you can do to protect your members - and the reputation of your sport. 

Doping Q&A

  • What is doping? 

    Doping is usually considered to be when athletes, players or participants take banned substances to enhance their performance.

    However it's much more than that. 

    There's a strict anti-doping code that governs professional sport. 

    The code covers trafficking of banned substances, possession, use, and associating with people who have previously violated the rules.

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  • Why is it important not to tolerate doping in sport?

    There is no room in sport for doping at any level. 

    Doping can give offenders an unfair advantage in competitions. It also represents a huge health risk as the banned substances are potentially harmful and can contain unknown ingredients.

    Promoting clean sport protects your members’ health and your club’s reputation. This will help you attract the right kind of members and deliver a positive club experience.

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  • Which organisations protect clean sport?

    UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) is responsible for protecting clean sport in the UK.

    They have devised the UK's National Anti-Doping Policy. 

    They work with the national governing bodies of sport to educate, deter and detect doping. 

    Clubs play an important role too. 

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  • What's the UK's National Anti-Doping Policy?

    If your national governing body has signed up to the UK's National Anti-Doping Policy, then your club will be bound by this too.

    You'll need to comply with the following rules: 

    • All members and participants should conduct themselves in line with the spirit of sport and anti-doping rules. 

    • Any member or participant could be prosecuted for any of the anti-doping rule violations. 

    • Any member, participant or coach who could be described as Athlete Support Personnel (ASP) could be prosecuted. 

    • Any member or participant could be tested at any time, in any place.  

    • Deliberate doping, even for a first-time offence, can result in a four-year ban from all sport. 

    • The anti-doping rules have limited sympathy for carelessness. This means that inadvertent doping, even a first-time offence, can result in a two-year ban from sport.  

    • Everyone involved in sport has a duty to protect it. Any suspicions of doping behaviour should be shared with your sport, UKAD or reported anonymously through the report doping in sport hotline. 

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  • Can doping be accidental?

    Doping can be accidental - for example if a player did not realise the medication or supplements they are taking contain banned substances.

    However it's still a serious offence.

    Sports people and support personnel such as coaches can be prosecuted and banned from sport if they break the rules.

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  • What should you do if you have concerns? 

    If you're unsure about supplements or drugs, this is what to do... 

    Supplements

    If you are unsure about a supplement that you or someone else is taking, do some research.

    Visit UKAD’s Supplements section. 

     

    Drugs

    If you are unsure about a drug that you or someone else is taking, you can check whether it’s banned. 

    Use a medication checker, called Global DRO. 

     

    Reporting doping

    You can report doping anonymously over the phone or online. 

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