Tennis Anti-Doping:

What You Need to Know

Overview

 

Having a fair and effective anti-doping program is vital to ensure that the rights of clean athletes and the integrity of competition are upheld. USTA is opposed to the practice of doping in sport and fully supports and complies with the policies, protocols, and rules set forth by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) as the independent, non-profit anti-doping organization in the United States, and the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP) as operated by the International Tennis Federation. 

World Anti-Doping Agency

Who is WADA?

The World Anti-Doping Agency was established in 1999 to promote and coordinate the fight against doping in sport internationally. WADA develops and monitors the World Anti-Doping Code (the “Code” which is a framework of anti-doping policies, rules, and regulations within sport. The Code, along with the supporting International Standards, is maintained to ensure global harmonization of anti-doping rules. Some 700 sport organizations have accepted the Code, including USADA and the ITF (both discussed below). 

Does the Code Apply to Me?

 

The Code applies to any person who competes in sport at the domestic or international level. In our context, if you compete nationally or internationally in tennis or beach tennis, whether as a USTA member or professionally, you are subject to the rules and regulations of the Code. 

What Else Should I Know?

 

The Code is revised annually; the most up-to-date revisions to the Code are set to become effective on January 1, 2021. 

 

The WADA website contains mechanisms to report doping violations.

How Can I Find More Information?

 

The following website provides the Anti-Doping Code and Standards, Prohibited List, and many helpful articles and resources for WADA. Click here.

U.S. Anti-Doping Agency

Who is USADA?

The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency is the national anti-doping organization in the United States for Olympic, Paralympic, Pan American, and Parapan American sport. As of 2003, USADA is a signatory to the World Anti-Doping Code. Its mission is to preserve the integrity of competition, inspire true sport, and protect the rights of athletes.

Does USADA Apply to Me?

 

USADA governs all Americans who are subject to the WADA Code. In other words, any American tennis player who competes nationally or internationally in tennis or beach tennis, whether as a USTA member or professionally, is subject to USADA’s jurisdiction.

What Else Should I Know?

 

Like WADA, the USADA website contains mechanisms to report doping violations.

How Can I Find More Information?

 

The following website provides the Anti-Doping Code and Standards, Prohibited List, and many helpful articles and resources for USADA. Click here.

Tennis Anti-Doping Programme

What is the TADP?

The Tennis Anti-Doping Programme is managed and enforced by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) on behalf of the ATP, WTA, and Grand Slams. Like USADA, the International Tennis Federation is a signatory to the WADA Code. The purposes of the TADP are to maintain the integrity of tennis and protect the health and rights of all tennis players. Under the TADP, players are tested for substances prohibited by the WADA Code and, if applicable, violations are imposed in compliance with WADA procedures.

Does the TADP Apply to Me?

 

The TADP applies to any player participating in a “Covered Event” or who has an ATP or WTA ranking. Covered Events include:

  • Grand Slam tournaments
  • Davis Cup
  • Billie Jean King Cup
  • Hopman Cup
  • Olympic Tennis events
  • Paralympic Tennis events
  • Other IOC-recognized International events
  • WTA tournaments
  • WTA Finals
  • WTA Elite Trophy
  • ATP Tour tournaments
  • ATP Finals
  • ATP Cup
  • Next Gen ATP Finals
  • ATP Challenger Tour tournaments
  • ITF Pro Circuit events
  • ITF World Tennis Tour events
  • ITF Juniors events
  • ITF Seniors events
  • ITF Wheelchair events
  • ITF Beach Tennis Tour events

What Else Should I Know?

 

All players subject to the TADP are encouraged to create an account to access the TADP Portal (which can be found here).

 

Through the portal, players can submit Therapeutic Use Exemption applications and access Doping Control Forms and educational materials. A Therapeutic Use Exemption allows an Athlete with a medical condition to use a Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method, but only if the conditions set out in Article 4.4 and the International Standard for Therapeutic Use Exemptions are met.

Helpful Reference 

 

A helpful reference is The Global Drug Reference Online (Global DRO), which provides athletes and support personnel with information about the prohibited status of specific medications based on the current World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List.

 

Like WADA and USADA, the ITF website contains mechanisms to report doping violations.

How Can I Find More Information?

 

The Tennis Anti-Doping Programme and Player Rights and responsibilities can be found here

For up-to-date information on the TADP, download the Tennis Anti-Doping app to your Android or Apple device.
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