The World Anti-Doping Code harmonizes anti-doping policies, rules and regulations within sport organizations and among public authorities around the world. It follows eight international standards.

• The International Standard for Testing and Investigations (ISTI)
• The International Standard for Laboratories (ISL)
• The International Standard for Therapeutic Use Exemptions (ISTUE)
• The International Standard for the Prohibited List
• The International Standard for the Protection of Privacy and Personal Information (ISPPPI)
• The International Standard for Code Compliance by Signatories (ISCCS)
• The International Standard for Education (ISE)
• The International Standard for Results Management (ISRM)

Cheating has consequences. Basic doping rules are as follows.

• If athletes are found to have intended to cheat, they can be ineligible for up to four years.
• If an athlete can show no significant fault or negligence, the period may be up to two years, or a minimum of one year, depending on intention and the degree of fault.
• Multiple substances and multiple violations can increase the sanction beyond four years.
• Repeated violations can result in a lifetime ban.

Every athlete in the Registered Testing Pool needs to provide whereabouts so they can be tested in and out of competition. The information is filed every three months.

Athletes should use the Anti-Doping Administration and Management System (ADAMS). The filing includes home address, email, phone number, work and training schedule, overnight addresses and competition plans. ADAMS should also be updated while travelling.

Give clear directions, especially in rural areas, in the additional information section. In competition, include the event name and location. ADAMS SMS and the Athlete Central app can also be used to update the filing.

If an athlete cannot be tested, it is a whereabouts non-compliance. Three such failures in 12 months — a filing failure or a missed test — can be an anti-doping rule violation.

Filing failure. Whereabouts must reach NADA by the deadline. It fails if it is late, inaccurate, incomplete, or if the athlete is not at the place they listed.

Missed test. An athlete in the Registered Testing Pool can be given a missed test if they are not available during the 60-minute slot they filed. They must stay available for the whole hour.

A person serving a ban cannot take part, in any capacity, in a competition, event, training or other activity organised or authorised by the national federation or its associations. They also cannot coach other athletes.

They remain subject to the anti-doping rules and can still be tested. They may have to file whereabouts for some or all of the ban.

If an athlete retires during the ban and later returns, they must tell NADA, be available for testing, and finish the ban that was left when they retired.