Cycling New Zealand and its Member Organisations are committed to clean sport and wants to see clean athletes competing hard in clean competition, where the best competitors succeed. Clean athletes follow the anti-doping rules, know the health risks of doping, and value the high levels of integrity in sport in New Zealand.
Cycling New Zealand has adopted the NZ Sports Anti-Doping Rules, which means that the anti-doping rules apply to all Cycling New Zealand members, regardless of the level at which you compete.
The fastest way to understand how the sports anti-doping rules apply to you is to do Clean Sport 101, Sport Integrity’s (previously Drug Free Sport New Zealand) quick and easy to understand online course.
All members of Cycling New Zealand are bound by New Zealand’s Sports Anti-Doping Rules.
While testing is an important part of anti-doping – and positive tests are the source of many anti-doping rule violations (ADRVs) – you don’t have to be tested to fall foul of the Sports Anti-Doping Rules. An increasing number of anti-doping rule violations are detected through means other than testing, such as through investigations the Sport Integrity Commission carry out based on intelligence the Sport Integrity Commission receive about suspected doping.
In New Zealand, many anti-doping rule violations are unintentional, where an athlete commits an anti-doping rule violation not because they intended to dope, but because they were not aware of the rules or acted irresponsibly.
Below are some examples of how you could end up before a tribunal facing ADRV proceedings and potentially a ban from all sport:
· Taking a supplement that is contaminated with a prohibited substance and returning a positive test;
· Taking a medication that contains a prohibited substance and returning a positive test without a therapeutic use exemption in place (or not being eligible to apply for one after being tested).
· Purchasing a prohibited substance on the internet (for your own use or for use by another person);
· Receiving coaching or other sports related advice from someone who is currently serving a ban for doping;
· Providing fraudulent information to an anti-doping organisation during testing or as part of an investigation. All athletes and support personnel need to ensure they abide by the anti-doping rules.
There is a range of education material and resources available on the DFSNZ website to help you understand your rights and responsibilities: https://sportintegrity.nz/integrity/anti-doping
Workshops and webinars: Sport Integrity Commission offers face-to-face education for athletes and support personnel from club level to high performance. Learn more and book.
E-Learning: Sport Integrity Commission has four free courses available – Clean Sport 101, Level 1, Level 2 and Support Personnel. Learn more and register.
Resources: Sport Integrity Commission has free hardcopy and downloadable resources available including handbooks, wallet guides, youth resources and parent’s resources.
The easiest way to check a medication is to use the medication check feature on Sport Integrity Commission's website, or phone 0800 378 437.
You can also find out what substances are banned in sport by checking the Prohibited List. The Prohibited List is published by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) every year and and comes into effect on 1 January each year. It details all substances and methods which are prohibited or banned in sport.
Please note two important changes that are came into force on 1 January 2022.
1. ALL Glucocorticoid (GC) injections, e.g. cortisone, will be prohibited in-competition from 1 January 2022.
2. Permitted salbutamol dosages will be 600 micrograms over 8 hours from 1 January 2022.
For more details please see the information on Sport Integrity Commission's website.
Please be aware that the UCI also has a No Needle Policy, more details are available here.
As of 1 March 2019, the UCI banned the use of Tramadol in competition for all cycling codes. For more information, please visit the following links.
Many medications contain substances which are prohibited in sport. Any athlete who is sick or injured needs to carefully consider the medications they take to ensure they avoid prohibited substances.
To check whether a medication is permitted in sport, please visit the Medication Check page on the Sport Integrity Commission website.
Athletes can apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) if they need to take medication which is prohibited in sport.
Any TUEs issued by Sport Integrity Commission are automatically recognised by the UCI.
Do I apply in advance, or only after being tested?
If you’re competing at the top level, you may need to apply for a TUE before you take medication which contains a prohibited substance. Check here to see whether your level of competition means you need to apply for a TUE ahead of time.
If you don’t require a TUE in advance and return a positive test, Sport Integrity Commission will contact you and give you the opportunity to apply for a backdated TUE. If the TUE is approved, you will face no further action regarding the positive test.
Before using any supplement, it is important that you and your support people understand the risks involved. Supplement labels don’t always say exactly what is in them, or how much and Sport Integrity Commission cannot approve any supplement product or its use. Supplements include protein powders or drinks, pre-workout shakes, energy drinks, herbal remedies and vitamins. As an athlete you are solely responsible for every substance in your body. By taking a supplement, you accept the risk that it could contain a banned substance, which could ultimately result in you receiving a ban from sport, should you return a positive test.
Use Sport Integrity Commission's Supplement Decision Making Guide to make sure you understand the risks of supplements and make an informed decision.
Sport Integrity Commission's testing programme plays a crucial role in detecting and deterring doping in sport. Testing aims to protect the rights of clean athletes to compete in clean sport. While Sport Integrity Commission's testing programme is primarily focused on high performance athletes competing at the international level and emerging athletes competing at the national level, Sport Integrity Commission can and does test lower level athletes where there is good reason.
You could be tested in-competition at an event, or out-of-competition, at training, at home or at any other time or place, including whilst you are overseas.
More information about the testing process, including athletes’ rights and responsibilities is available on Sport Integrity Commission's website.
Anti-doping organisations, including Sport Integrity Commission, conduct drug tests on athletes’ out-of-competition with no advance warning. The Athlete Whereabouts Programme allows Sport Integrity Commission to locate athletes for testing.
If you’ve seen something or suspect that doping has happened, then contact Sport Integrity Commission and speak out. Have you seen someone with a bunch of syringes or pills, with no good explanation? Or an athlete with a sudden change in behaviour or appearance? Have you been approached and offered free samples of “gear” to help you perform?
Anyone can make a report. The best and most secure way to make a report is through the Sport Integrity website, email intel@sportintegrity.nz or phone 0800 DRUGFREE (378 437) and ask to report doping. Sport Integrity Commission wants to hear from athletes, coaches, managers, doctors, sports administrators, and sponsors – basically anyone who has information to help keep sport clean.
If you have any questions please contact the Sport Integrity Commission on 0800 DRUGFREE (378 437)
Cycling New Zealand’s point of contact for anti-doping matters is High Performance Programmes Administrator, Rebekah Cullinane – email: rebekah@cnz.kiwi phone: 027 962 1919.