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Useful guide for athletes testing positive (14.10.2005)

By Joseph de Pencier, CCES
The Canadian anti-doping philosophy is that our anti-doping program exists to protect athletes' rights to fair play. Therefore, providing fair and accessible means to challenge adverse analytical findings and possible anti-doping rule violations is a fundamental element of the Canadian program

Because most athletes have modest means, and may not be sophisticated, the CCES felt that a neutral guide was needed to give athletes basic advice on how best to respond if informed that they may have committed a doping violation.

It is for athletes who may have a positive test: what are their rights, what practical steps they should take when informed by their anti-doping organization, how to prepare for a hearing, etc.  While commissioned and paid for by the CCES, it was designed and written by an Ottawa sports lawyer who is independent of our organization but who has considerable practical experience with doping matters. The CCES exercised no control over the content of the guide. Therefore it provides objective as well as practical advice.

While the guide deals with the Canadian Anti-Doping Program, most of the content deals with basic principles and will apply to any Code-compliant anti-doping program.  So it will be useful to athletes in any country or sport with a proper anti-doping system.

The guide (in English and French) can be found under "Useful documents".