MuayThai GB - Clean Sport/Anti-doping

Muaythai GB is committed to Clean Sport. Clean Sport includes compliance with the various rules that govern the sport, including the Anti-doping Rules.

It extends to promoting the health of those who participate in any aspect of Muaythai.

Introduction

All people involved in Muaythai, whether athletes or those in supporting roles, have the right to participate knowing that they and their competitors are clean. Fair competition is essential to maintain confidence in the sport and to uphold its traditional values.

There is no place for cheats in the sport, especially those who intentionally use prohibited substances or methods. These substances and methods will do nothing to develop the ability of any boxer.

At the same time, Muaythai GB wants to ensure that all members have the opportunity to be properly informed about their individual responsibilities. Being aware of and understanding anti-doping is essential to making informed decisions about Clean Sport, including avoiding unintentional violations of the rules.

100% me – Supporting athletes to be clean

Muaythai GB supports UKAD’s 100% me project. This is a values-based education and information programme. It helps everyone involved in sport meet their anti-dopingx responsibilities throughout their sporting journey. Like UKAD, Muaythai GB wants all athletes to be clean, stay clean and believe all others are clean.

Please download the 100% me app. It is simple and easy to access and use. It provides a greater opportunity to learn and to be kept informed about Clean Sport issues. Get more information about the project and or download the app by clicking here.

The app can also be downloaded from iTunes, Google

Anti-doping rules

Muaythai GB has in place a set of anti-doping rules that all members and other people actively involved in Muaythai must abide by.

The anti-doping rules for Muaythai GB are the current UK Anti-Doping Rules published by UK Anti-Doping. These rules are consistent with the current World Anti-Doping Code (WADA C), which governs anti-doping internationally.

You can find the UK Anti-Doping Rules by clicking here.

Everyone must understand that the anti-doping rules apply to all members of Muaythai GB, and those actively involved in Muaythai GB-related activity, regardless of the level of participation or role performed.

It is the responsibility of all individuals to ensure that they know and understand their responsibilities under the anti-doping rules.

New prohibited substance list for 2023

The World Anti-Doping Agency publishes its prohibited list annually in October, to come into effect on the 1st January the following year.

A new prohibited list applies from the 1st January 2023. For more information on the list visit UKAD’s website by clicking here.

Under the current Code, an athlete may be classified as being ‘International-Level’, ‘National-Level’ or a ‘Recreational Athlete’ based on their competition level. Further information on these different categories can be found by clicking here.

The rules establish various offences (officially called anti-doping rule violations). There are 11 offences. These are:

1) Presence of a prohibited substance or its metabolites or markers in an athlete’s sample. This is fairly straightforward. It is where a boxer has produced a positive test for a prohibited substance. See below for an explanation of what is meant by a prohibited substance.

2) The use or attempted use of a prohibited substance or a prohibited method. The use or attempted use of a prohibited substance. The use of a prohibited substance is fairly self-explanatory. Using or attempting to use a prohibited method is more complicated. This part of the offence is designed to stop people having injections or transfusions to boost performance and or recovery, other than when it is purely medically necessary. It includes infusions of modified blood, any kind of transfusion and/or injections of more than a total of 100ml in a 12-hour period and any form of gene or blood doping.

3) Evading, refusing or failing to submit to sample collection by an athlete. A boxer has to submit to a request to provide a sample when approached by a doping control official. All boxers are required to comply with the directions of an anti-doping control official. They will introduce themselves and produce their identity. They will explain what is required. The only excuse for not doing so is where there is ‘compelling justification’ not to do so. This is limited to exceptional circumstances, e.g, where a boxer requires immediate medical attention for an injury or illness.

4) Whereabouts failures by an athlete. This relates only to a few athletes and who are at the top end of our sport. These athletes are required to be available for testing in and out of competition, 365 days a year. They have to notify the authorities of where they will be for an hour each day to be available for testing, if required.

5) Tampering or attempted tampering with any part of doping control by an athlete or other person. This speaks for itself. This offence can be committed by anybody. Sadly, people have tried, for example, to substitute other people’s urine for their own sample, or tried otherwise to interfere with the collection process. Everyone has to comply to with the directions given by the anti-doping control officials.

6) Possession of a prohibited substance or a prohibited method by an athlete or athlete support person. Again, a self-explanatory offence. This is where a boxer, a coach or other person involved with the boxer, has possession of a substance listed in the prohibited list or any of the equipment or paraphernalia to provide a prohibited injection or transfusion.

7) Trafficking or attempted trafficking in any prohibited substance or prohibited method by an athlete or other person. Anybody can commit this offence. It includes ‘selling, giving, transporting, sending, delivering or distributing …a prohibited substance or prohibited method and can be done either physically or by any electronic or other means.

8) Administration or attempted administration by an athlete or other person to any athlete in-competition of any prohibited substance or prohibited method, or administration or attempted administration to any athlete out-of-competition of any prohibited substance or any prohibited method that is prohibited out-of-competition. This offence can be committed by anyone who gives or attempts to give an athlete a prohibited substance or help them with a prohibited method contrary to the rules.

9) Complicity or attempted complicity by an athlete or other person. This is where a person assists, encourages, aids or abets, conspires with or covers up any offence(s) or attempts to do any of these things. It is aimed at those who try to avoid being found out by covering their tracks or those of others.

10) Prohibited association by an athlete or other person. This is a rarely-used offence, but it is aimed at stopping for example, a boxer, a coach, a trainer or an administrator from meeting with or associating for a sporting purpose with a person who is banned from the sport because of a doping rule violation. It aims to stop those found to have committed a doping rule violation from continuing in sport in any way while their ban is in force. UKAD keeps a list of people who are banned. That list can be accessed by clicking here.

11) Acts by an athlete or other person to discourage or retaliate against reporting to authorities. This is a new offence. It speaks for itself. It is meant to stop people from using any means to prevent someone from reporting a doping offence, or a suspected doping offence, or seeking to take some kind of harmful action against them after they have done so. It includes making threats to them, as well as any kind of spiteful rumours. It will include the use of social media.

For more information and what this means for those individuals, click here.

For information on individuals serving a ban from sport, click here.

Consequences are significant

The consequences of committing a violation of any of these offences are significant. The anti-doping rules provide for various possible punishments depending on the type of offence committed and the circumstances of each case.

You should understand that the punishments include lengthy period of suspensions from the sport, and can include a suspension for life in the most serious cases. For example, if an athlete is found to have deliberately taken a prohibited substance, a minimum four-year ban from sport can be given and that can go up to a lifetime ban in serious cases.

Prohibited List

There is a list of substances and methods that are banned. These are shown in the WADA Prohibited List. This list is revised each year.

The list underpins Muaythai GB’s anti-doping rules. All members of Muaythai GB should familiarise themselves with the current list.

The 2023 List is shown in a much more user-friendly format than previously published. You can access it using the link below:

World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List 2023

You can also access a document showing a summary of the changes to the new list using the link below:

World Anti-Doping Agency Summary Of Modifications 2023

Even in the new format, you may find the Prohibited (banned) List too complicated to understand. If so, you should seek the advice of a doctor for any medication that you take. You should also discuss it with your coach to check which substances are not prohibited (banned).

A really useful and easy to use online tool to check any medication or other substance against the prohibited list is Global DRO.

Muaythai-specific information about the Prohibited List

While there are three categories of prohibited substances shown in the list, only two of them apply to Muaythai: Prohibited at all times and Prohibited in-competition.

The substances prohibited at all times include anything that has not been licensed by the UK government, as well as anabolic steroids, peptide hormones and growth hormones, as well as diuretics and substances that mask any of these in a test.

The substances that are Prohibited in-competition include stimulants – the long list includes amphetamine and cocaine, various narcotics, including methadone, oxycodone, morphine, and pethidine and cannabinoids – and cannabis, in whatever form, whether natural or synthetic.

Please note, really important: Remember that this does not mean that it is okay to take any of these substances outside of the competition window.

All of these substances are controlled drugs in the UK. Possession of the likes of cocaine and cannabis and/or the supply of them could lead to criminal proceedings, as well as disciplinary action by Muaythai GB. Remember that we want a clean sport

What is Strict Liability?

Everyone needs to be aware that the anti-doping rules are very strict in respect of responsibility for anyone and everyone involved in our sport.

This is particularly the case for boxers when dealing with the first two offences shown in the list above: ‘Presence of a prohibited substance or its metabolites or markers in an athlete’s sample’ and ‘The use or attempted use of a prohibited substance or a prohibited method’.

The rules state that all boxers are solely responsible for any prohibited (banned) substance or method they use, attempt to use, or that is found in their system, regardless of how it got there and whether or not they had an intention to cheat.

The authorities only have to show that the substance was in the sample provided or that the boxer had the substance or paraphernalia of the prohibited method for an offence to be proved.

The reasons, whether it was or was not intentional, or whether there was any or some fault or negligence on the part of the boxer, are only relevant to the penalty that might be given. Onus, then, shifts to the boxer to explain.

Remember that no distinction is made between amateur, or elite boxers in this respect. This rule is known as ‘strict liability’. Boxers must, therefore, be very careful what they put into their body.

As a reminder, a really useful and easy to use online tool to check any medication or other substance against the prohibited list is Global DRO.

Checking Medications

Before taking any medication (whether from a doctor or purchased over the counter), all boxers must check to make sure it doesn’t contain any prohibited substance. Use the Global DRO to check, start your check by clicking here.

Please note: Medications bought in one country may contain different ingredients to the same branded medication in another country. For more information on checking medications, visit UKAD’s website by clicking here.

Be wary of taking supplements

Muaythai GB does not encourage the use of supplements. There have sadly been too many cases of athletes committing a doping violation when they have taken contaminated supplements.

UKAD provides good advice about the risks of taking supplements which you can access by clicking here.

If you decide to take supplements, you must undertake thorough research of any supplement products before use – including the name of the product and the ingredients/substances listed. All Muaythai GB members should initially use the Global DRO and examine the WADA Prohibited List.

All Muaythai GB members should also contact the manufacturer for confirmation that the substances have been batch tested to ensure no contamination by a prohibited substance. You are strongly advised to keep any evidence of this research.

Applying for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE)

A boxer with a legitimate medical condition who needs to use a prohibited substance or method will have to apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE). This is only accepted if there are no other suitable permitted medications or treatments that can be used. It is a strictly controlled and detailed process.

Click here to find more information on the UKAD website about the TUE process. UKAD also provide a TUE Wizard to help find out whether a boxer needs to apply for a TUE and who to submit their application to. The TUE Wizard can be accessed by clicking here.

What happens in a doping test?

The testing process can be quite lengthy because there’s a lot to do in it. Boxers have responsibilities – chief of which is to comply with the requests of the anti-doping officials – but they also have rights. You can find out more about your responsibilities and rights by clicking here.

Check out the UKAD video on the testing process by clicking here.

Additional resources

To go to the UKAD home page, click here.

UKAD offers online education about anti-doping. There are two particular courses that you might want to complete: Introduction to Clean Sport which is relevant to everybody and Coach Clean, which, as the title suggests, is specific to coaches.

You can access these courses by registering (for free) with UKAD on its Clean Sport Hub by clicking here and choosing which course(s) you want.

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