#PlayFair
Compliance & Legal Protocol
Results Management Process
Fair, transparent and rigorous results management, upholding anti-doping integrity and athlete rights across India.
NADA India manages results of Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) committed by athletes, athlete support personnel and other persons that fall under its jurisdiction.
Athlete, ASP and other person may receive sanctions for committing anti-doping rule violations. They can either accept the sanctions or challenge before the ADDP and may file appeal before the ADAP.
Chain of Custody & Findings
Sample Analysis
Sample Analysis Protocol
After a Sample is provided by an Athlete, the Doping Control Officer (DCO) will send the Samples to a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited laboratory, maintaining a secure chain of custody. On arrival at the laboratory, the A sample is analysed first and the B sample is kept frozen. There are three possible outcomes following sample analysis.
Negative Result
In the absence of a prohibited substance (and/or its metabolites and markers) and evidence of prohibited methods, the laboratory issues a negative test result.
Atypical Finding
The presence of a prohibited substance in the A sample may, in some circumstances, constitute an atypical finding. This will be followed by a review, where NADA will determine whether:
- A Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) was granted
- A departure from the International Standard for Testing and Investigations or International Standard for Laboratories may have caused the atypical finding
- The finding was caused by ingestion of a prohibited substance by a permitted route
If the review does not reveal any of these to be true, further action is taken according to the International Standard for Results Management. After ISRM, any follow up testing if required.
Adverse Analytical Finding
Upon receipt of an A Sample Adverse Analytical Finding, NADA determines whether:
- A TUE was granted
- There was a departure from the International Standard for Testing and Investigations or International Standard for Laboratories that may have caused the finding
- It is apparent that the finding was caused by ingestion of a prohibited substance by a permitted route
If the review does not reveal any of the above, then the athlete, the national federation, international federation and WADA are notified of the adverse analytical finding. The athlete can request an analysis of the B sample, within seven days of receiving the notification. If the B sample is negative the entire result is deemed negative and all parties are informed.
World Anti-Doping Code 2021
Anti Doping Rule Violation (ADRVs)
As defined in the World Anti-Doping Code 2021, there are 11 Anti-Doping Rules Violations. All of them apply to athletes.
Violations 5-11 also apply to Athlete Support Personnel and Other Persons.
Presence of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites or Markers in an Athlete’s Sample
Use or Attempted Use by an Athlete of a Prohibited Substance or a Prohibited Method
Evading, Refusing or Failing to Submit to Sample Collection by an Athlete
Whereabouts Failures by an Athlete
Tampering or Attempted Tampering with any Part of Doping Control by an Athlete or Other Person
Possession of a Prohibited Substance or a Prohibited Method by an Athlete or Athlete Support Personnel
Trafficking or Attempted Trafficking in any Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method by an Athlete or Other Person
Administration or Attempted Administration by an Athlete or Other Person to any Athlete In-Competition of any Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method, or Administration or Attempted Administration to any Athlete Out-of-Competition of any Prohibited Substance or any Prohibited Method that is Prohibited Out-of-Competition
Complicity or Attempted Complicity by an Athlete or Other Person
Prohibited Association by an Athlete or Other Person
Acts by an Athlete or Other Person to Discourage or Retaliate Against Reporting to Authorities
Mitigation & Relief
Reduction Of Sanction
A sanction may be reduced in a number of ways, depending on the nature of the ADRV, the timing of any admission to the charge and/or the nature of the Prohibited Substance(s) detected in an Athlete’s sample. Reductions can be applied due to:
Voluntarily admitting the ADRV in the absence of other evidence.
Reaching a case resolution agreement with NADA India and WADA and applying a reduction after assessing the individual’s degree of Fault, the seriousness of the ADRV and how promptly the violation was admitted.
An Athlete establishing that their use of a non-Specified Substance was not intentional (as that term is defined in the rules). This will also usually require the Athlete to establish how the Prohibited Substance entered their system.
Establishing No Fault or Negligence, or alternatively No Significant Fault or Negligence. A ban may be eliminated entirely as a result of No Fault or Negligence when an individual can establish that they did not know or suspect, and could not reasonably have known or suspected even with the utmost caution, that they had violated an anti-doping rule. No Fault or Negligence is applied in very rare circumstances.
The application of No Significant Fault or Negligence occurs where the individual establishes that any Fault or negligence, when viewed in the totality of the circumstances, was not significant. Reductions may also be applied in cases involving Specified Substances or Specified Methods, Contaminated Products, or Athletes classed as Protected Persons or Recreational Athletes.
Reaching a Results Management Agreement where an Athlete is facing a ban of four or more years: if they accept the ADRV(s) and applicable consequences within 20 days from the date of receipt of the Notice of Charge, they are entitled to a reduction of one year in the period of ineligibility.
The ADRV involving a Substance of Abuse. An Athlete may receive a reduced sanction of three months if they establish that the ingestion occurred out of competition and was unrelated to sport performance. The period may be reduced to one month if the Athlete satisfactorily completes a Substance of Abuse treatment programme approved by NADA India.
Have questions or need assistance?
Reach the NADA India helpline or office for results management queries.