Meganavigation Breadcrumb UKAD Violations Consequences doping Share Facebook Twitter Consequences of Doping We know that the majority of athletes are clean and abide by the Anti-Doping Rules. We work hard to help protect your reputation and sporting achievements. We also know that some athletes will choose to cheat - and we work hard to detect doping behaviour and remove those doing so from sport. We also know that some athletes may be more vulnerable to a doping decision. Remember, not knowing is not an excuse - and there is limited sympathy for carelessness in anti-doping. If you’re found doping and face a ban from sport that is only the beginning. The consequences of doping to your health, psychological and mental wellbeing - as well as the social and financial consequences - are far-reaching and damaging. The facts - what you need to know For Anti-Doping Rule Violations of presence or use of a prohibited substance, the basic rules are as follows: If you intended to cheat, whatever the substance, the period of ineligibility is four years Otherwise, it is two years – unless you can show you had no significant fault or negligence, in which case ineligibility may be reduced by up to a maximum of one year (that is, to a minimum ineligibility of one year) If the violation involved a specified substance or a contaminated product, and you can demonstrate you had no significant fault, ineligibility may range from two years to a reprimand (depending on your level of fault) You should also be aware that multiple Anti-Doping Rule Violations, or the presence of multiple substances may increase the sanction you face beyond four years. For some Anti-Doping Rule Violations the penalty can be a life ban from sport. What that means for you It is not simply the detection of a banned substance in a sample that can result in an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV). There are 11 ADRVs that can result in a sanction, and these are not only applicable to athletes, seven also apply to a coach or athlete support personnel. If you believe you have inadvertently doped then you must be able to prove that fact, demonstrating that you were either not at fault or intending to cheat. That is not always easy to do. There is also a potential for a reduced sanction if an athlete (or other person charged) admits guilt promptly following an ADRV, or provides useful and reliable information which results in UKAD (or any other Anti-Doping Organisation) discovering or bringing forward an ADRV by any other person. This is known as 'substantial assistance'. What you should do Make sure you stay up to date with anti-doping matters to prevent inadvertent doping and keep records of any enquiries you make about any supplements you may take. Seek help when you feel under pressure or unable to cope with the demands of training and competing – there are always alternatives to doping that will not damage your health, reputation and sporting career Develop your resilience over your sporting career - working with your coach, wider support team, parents and other athletes Remember that the majority of athletes are clean – doping athletes are not the majority Where to go for further advice If you require support in dealing with an Anti-Doping Rule Violation, organisations such as the British Athletes Commission may be able to assist you. Read more about Protect Your Sport campaign We can't do it alone. It takes a team. protectyoursport@reportdoping.com Clean sport depends on everyone having the know-how to speak out when something’s wrong. Speak to us in confidence – no matter how small. Join our Newsletter Sign up for the latest news and updates from UKAD Email First Name Surname ukad@ukad.org.uk Quick Links About UKAD Careers Contact Us Accessibility Customer Complaints Policy Counter-fraud reporting Transparency Media Contacts Cookie Policy Privacy Notice Anti-Doping Privacy Notice Testing Reports Twitter Youtube Facebook Instagram © 2021 UK Anti-Doping. UK Anti-Doping is the trading name of the United Kingdom Anti-Doping Limited, a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales. Registered Number: 6990867. Registered Office: UK Anti-Doping, SportPark, 3 Oakwood Drive, Loughborough, LE11 3QF. Website by: Tell us whether you accept cookies We use cookies to collect information about how you use our website. We then use this information to help make sure you get the best experience on our website. Accept all cookies Set cookie preferences Read our Privacy Policy