Number Eighteen, April 2004    -    SPORTS MEDICINE     &     USAPL SUSPENSION LIST 
USAPL Main Site Our Sponsors Classified Ads Sports Medicine Info for Novices Technical Info Profiles Coaching Info Upcoming Events Contest Results Feature Articles Organization Info EC Editorials Newsletter Home

Therapeutic Use Exemption Procedures

Introduction.

(The following procedures will be in place for USA Powerlifting within 30 days.)

Any athlete who is using a substance listed on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Banned Substance List to treat a medical condition that has been diagnosed and documented by a medical doctor must declare that use to USA Powerlifting (USAPL), to the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF), and to WADA, at the discretion of the IPF. It is the responsibility of the individual athlete to be aware of the substances that he or she has been using or has been prescribed and to disclose such use to the agencies listed above. Two types of Therapeutic Use Exemptions("TUE") have been defined by WADA: a Full TUE, for those substances that are less commonly seen in competitive athletes and a Abbreviated TUE, for substances which are prescribed for treatment of more common conditions found in competitive athletes. The athlete must submit information, detailed below which describes the medical condition and the treatment required, to the USAPL TUE Committee not less than sixty (60) days prior to the intended competition.

WADA Banned Substance List:

The WADA Banned Substance List is available at the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency website: http://www.usantidoping.org/prohibited_sub/index.htm . It may be accessed through the link on the USA Powerlifting website: http://www.usapowerlifting.com/committees/drugtesting/index.shtml . Responsibility for the substances and medications used by an athlete is the sole responsibility of that athlete. Those competitors using medication to treat a legitimate medical condition must examine the Banned Substance List to determine if use of such medication will require a TUE. Failure to do so may and probably will result in disciplinary action should the athlete be found using such a substance.

Substances Requiring an Abbreviated Therapeutic Use Exemption:

The Abbreviated TUE process is allowed in cases where the treatment is of a medical condition that frequently occurs in the athlete population. Specifically, WADA Standards limits application of Abbreviated TUE procedures to conditions treated with: Beta-2 agonists (formoterol, salbutamol, salmeterol and terbutaline), by inhalation. A useful reference is the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency Wallet Card: http://www.usantidoping.org/files/2004WALLETCARDFINAL.pdf . Glucocorticsteroids by non-systemic routes of administration are prohibited, although their use topically may be permitted if an Abbreviated TUE is submitted.

Substances Requiring a Full Therapeutic Use Exemption:

In general, any use of a prohibited substance may be allowed if the treatment is for a legitimate medical condition and the use of the substance will not allow the athlete a competitive advantage as a result of the use of the medication other than would be seen in a normal return to health. It should be noted that the treatment may be allowed if withholding the treatment would result in significant health impairment. Use of prohibited substances is not allowed to increase "low-normal" level of any endogenous hormone. Additionally, a TUE will not be granted to treat a condition that results from the prior non-therapeutic use of a prohibited substance.

Confidentiality of Information:

The information considered in an Abbreviated or Full TUE process will be held in confidence by the USAPL TUE committee, and by the USAPL Executive Committee, the IPF, and by extension, WADA. The athlete will be required to sign a release of information allowing exchange of information among the USAPL TUE Committee, the IPF, and WADA. Notification of the granting of a TUE will be allowed to the USAPL Drug Testing Committee (which examines drug testing results and specifies disciplinary measures for USAPL competition), the IPF Discipline Committee (examines drug testing results and specifies disciplinary measures for international competition), and WADA, which maintains a clearinghouse on TUE's granted.

Materials Required for Submission of a Request for a TUE:

An Application for a TUE, as well as a list of required supporting medical records of the medical condition on which the application is based, can be found at: http://www.usapowerlifting.com/committees/drugtesting/index.shtml . The Abbreviated TUE application is available at: http://www.usapowerlifting.com/committees/drugtesting/index.shtml as well.

Procedures for Submission of a TUE or Abbreviated TUE:

The athlete must submit the TUE Application, Abbreviated TUE Application (if appropriate), the supporting medical records, the Consent for Release of Information to not less than sixty (60) days prior to the intended competition to:

Mark Rodacker, M.D., Chair
USA Powerlifting TUE Committee
PO Box 668
Columbia City, IN 46725


TUE applications which are incomplete will be returned to the applicant.

 USAPL Suspension List, Effective January 05, 2004