England Ice Hockey proudly supports Clean Sport. We believe all athletes have the right to participate in ice hockey knowing that they, and their competitors, are clean.
We work closely with UK Anti-Doping (UKAD), Ice Hockey UK (IHUK) and the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) to ensure that the integrity of our sport is protected.
Anti-doping rules
England Ice Hockey has in place a set of anti-doping rules that all athletes and athlete support personnel must abide by. The anti-doping rules for England Ice Hockey are consistent with the World Anti-Doping Code, the core document that harmonises anti-doping policies, rules and regulations within sport globally.
The anti-doping rules of England Ice Hockey are the rules published by UK Anti-Doping, as amended from time to time. If you are a member of England Ice Hockey, then the anti-doping rules apply to you, regardless of what level you participate at.
Everyone, including athletes and athlete support personnel, has a duty to protect clean sport. The Anti-Doping Rules apply to you too – so don’t let one bad decision ruin a potential sporting career. The following provides information to players, coaches and support staff to enable sensible and informed decision making with regards to Clean Sport
England Ice Hockey Anti-Doping Policy Links:
UKAD Anti-Doping Rules https://www.ukad.org.uk/anti-doping-rules
IIHF Anti-Doping Rules https://www.iihf.com/en/static/5074/anti-doping
WADA Code 2021 https://www.wada-ama.org/en/resources/the-code/2021-world-anti-doping-code
Global DRO https://www.globaldro.com/UK/search
Medicine and TUE Hub https://www.ukad.org.uk/athletes/medicine
Informed Sport https://www.informed-sport.com/
From 1 January 2021, a new version of the Code is in effect and it’s important that all athletes and athlete support personnel are aware of how this impacts them.
For more information on the changes within the 2021 Code, visit UKAD’s website here.
Under the 2021 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 is available on the UKAD website.
Breaking the anti-doping rules can result in a ban from all sport. The Code outlines the Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs). Athletes and athlete support personnel need to make sure they are fully aware of these violations, and the consequences of breaking them. For more information and what this means for those individuals, click here.
A list of current and historic sanctions in the UK can be found here.
An athlete is responsible for anything found in their system, regardless of how it got there or whether there is any intention to cheat. All athletes and athlete support personnel should make themselves aware of the risks so they don’t receive an unintentional ban from the sport.
In anti-doping, athletes are responsible for their actions: including what they eat and drink. This is known as the principle of ‘strict liability’. As an athlete you are responsible for any banned substance you use, attempt to use, or found in your system, regardless of how it got there or whether you intended to cheat or not.
The Prohibited List sets out all substances and methods prohibited in sport. The Prohibited List is managed and co-ordinated by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and is updated annually on 1st January.
It is possible for WADA to make changes to the List more than once a year, but they must communicate such changes three months before they come into effect.
Some substances and methods are prohibited at all times and others are only prohibited in-competition or only prohibited in particular sports.
It does not matter when you take a substance, if it is prohibited in-competition and it is found in your system you may face a ban.
As this list is updated annually, athletes and athlete support personnel should make sure they check it ahead of what is coming into effect.
There may be times when an athlete has an injury, illness or condition where they require medication. Before taking medications (whether from a doctor or purchased over the counter), athletes must check to make sure it does not contain any prohibited substances.
Medications (ingredients and brand name) can be checked online at the Global DRO. It is important to note that medication 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 here.
SEARCH. CHECK. APPLY.
You can check the status of your medication using Global Drug Referencing Online (Global DRO). Search your medication here.
Check out the video from UKAD’s Athlete Commission member and British Paralympic Powerlifter, Ali Jawad, on using Global DRO here.
UKAD and England Ice Hockey advises a food first approach to nutrition as there are no guarantees that any supplement product is free from prohibited substances. According to Informed Sport, as many as one-in-ten supplements can be contaminated with ingredients and compounds prohibited in sport.
Athletes are advised to be extremely vigilant and assess the need, risks and consequences before deciding to take a supplement. You can find out more about the managing the risks of supplements here. If you need to use one, you can check if they have been batch tested by visiting the Informed Sport website.
If an athlete with a legitimate medical condition needs to use a prohibited substance, they will need 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, and there is a strict, detailed purpose to determine this.
It is an athlete’s responsibility to be aware of, and understand, the TUE process and requirements that apply to them. You can find more on the process of applying for a TUE and when you might need one here.
Athletes can be tested any time, any place. UKAD test to deter those vulnerable to a doping decision and to find those who chose to cheat by using banned substances.
Testing can take place in-competition at events, or out-of-competition, in training venues, or even at an athlete’s home.
Athletes should feel prepared and know their rights and responsibilities when they are notified to be tested by a Chaperone or Doping Control Officer. Take a look at this video below on the testing process from start to finish.
Athletes can find out more in the Introduction to Testing section of UKAD’s website.
Education is key to understanding and ensuring clean sport.
100% me is UKAD’s education and information programme, helping athletes meet their anti-doping responsibilities throughout their sporting journey. We want all athletes to be clean, stay clean and believe all others are clean. For more information on what this means, visit UKAD’s website.
UKAD’s 100% me Clean Sport App can also be downloaded from iTunes, Google Play or Windows Live Store, for essential anti-doping information.
Everyone has a duty to protect clean sport. If you are a parent/guardian, coach, medical staff or even a club administrator for example, you are part of an athlete’s support network and have the responsibility to help keep sport clean.
UKAD’s Athlete Support Personnel hub provides a wealth of information about your role and responsibilities to keep you informed.
Guidance for parents can also be found here: 24. Clean Sport Essentials Parents and Carers of Young Athletes Accessible Version.pdf
Working together we can all ensure athletes make informed decisions and help prevent doping.
England Ice Hockey are committed to keeping ice hockey clean and work closely with UKAD and IHUK to protect the sport in England and Wales.
We aim to provide our members with useful resources and information regarding anti-doping, including communication any major changes to the Code on an annual basis.
England Ice Hockey are working to meet UKAD’s Assurance Framework and be recognised as a compliant NGB.
Protecting clean sport depends on everyone playing their part – athletes, coaches, or parents. Speak out if you feel there’s something wrong – no matter how small. UKAD guarantee that your identify will always be kept confidential.
There are different ways to speak out:
- Email: When you feel something’s wrong, send an email. UKAD guarantee your name and email address will be kept confidential.
Email them at protectyoursport@reportdoping.com - Online form: Tell UKAD what you know via their online form on protectyoursport.co.uk . You will remain anonymous as standard, but if you choose to share your details confidentially it could help catch those in sport who seek to cheat.
- 24/7 Hotline: call UKAD on 08000 32 23 32. You will remain anonymous as standard, but if you choose to share your details confidentially it could help catch those in sport who seek to cheat.
Find out more about speaking out and protecting your sport here.
Please do not hesitate to ask questions about the anti-doping rules. As well as asking England Ice Hockey, you may also contact UKAD directly who will be able to answer any questions and provide guidance. They can be contacted at ukad@ukad.org.uk or on +44 (0) 207 842 3450.
Regular updates from UKAD can also be found in the news section of the website, or on their X (formerly Twitter) account: @ukantidoping
Contact:
Hannah Ridgard-Mason, England Ice Hockey Anti-Doping Operational Lead