Anti-Doping: Information for Players

Basketball is my life, if I find that someone I have been competing against has
an unfair advantage, I am going to be really upset about it. I think everyone needs to take that stance.

- Lauren Jackson (Australia), 2006 FIBA Women's World Championship Champion

Often, players consider the Anti-Doping World as complex and feel intimidated by the matter.

This section aims to provide you with some tools which shall help you to better understand Anti-Doping related matters and thus to still the fears you may have.

Player Information Notice

Important information on the processing of your personal information for anti-doping purposes. Click here for more information.

WADA List of Prohibited Substances and Methods

In order to abide with the Principle of Strict Liability, you need to know the WADA List of Prohibited Substances and Methods.

The list is an international standard identifying substances and methods prohibited in sport which is being reviewed on a yearly basis.

As highlighted above, it is essential that all players and support personnel review carefully the Prohibited List, particularly in cases where they intend to use supplements or medication.

Please find herewith a link to the current list, the 2024 List and additional information:

2024 Prohibited List
2024 Summary of Modifications and explanatory notes
2024 Monitoring Program

The Golden Rule for all players: The principle of Strict Liability

If there is one such thing as the Golden Rule in Anti-Doping it would be the Principle of Strict Liability.

It is your ultimate responsibility to know what enters your body.

In case of a positive doping control, it will be your burden to prove how the prohibited substance entered your body. Therefore, you should always know what you eat, what supplements you use and what medication you take.

In any case of doubt, you should consult an expert (e.g. your team doctor) who may clarify whether or not you can consume a certain product.

Right to the best medical treatment – Therapeutic Use Exemptions

You have the right to the best medical treatment.

In certain cases, you may be required to take a prohibited substance or use a prohibited method in order to treat an illness or condition.

In such cases, you need to apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE), which, if granted, gives you the authorization to take the required medication containing a banned substance or use the required banned method.

Click here for detailed information.

Know where to get the right information

As mentioned above the Anti-Doping World is not always easy to understand. Therefore, it is key to know where to get the right information.

To that end, we herewith aim to list some important and useful sources which may answer your day to day questions linked to Anti-Doping.

WADA Athletes’ Anti-Doping Rights Act
The Athletes’ Anti-Doping Rights Act, which was developed by WADA’s Athlete Committee in consultation with thousands of athletes and stakeholders worldwide, is based on the 2021 Code and Standards and aims to ensure that athlete rights within anti-doping are clearly set out, accessible, and universally applicable. Download the Act by clicking here.

Athlete Reference Guide to the 2021 Code
The legal language which is often used in the Anti-Doping environment is not easy to understand and is therefore often confusing.

The World Anti-Doping Agency developed the “Athlete Reference Guide to the 2021 World Anti-Doping Code” on the Anti-Doping eLearning Platform (ADeL). This guide provides athletes with information on the significant changes to the new Code 2021. Learn more about the Guide here.

ALERT for all players using Cannabidiol (CBD)

Please be informed that CBD is not well-regulated and often contains prohibited substances, including trace amounts of Cannabinoids. Even if CBD oil is legal, it may lead to an anti-doping rule violation that may lead to a ban from competition. Using these products are at your own risk!

We strongly encourage you to review the available information on CBD to avoid jeopardizing your caree r.

WARNING: Cannabis

Please be aware that consumption out-of-competition can give rise to a positive result several days (or weeks) later. Even if cannabis is legal in your country, positive results usually lead a period of ineligibility (click here for examples).