National TUE Pool

The timing of when an athlete needs to apply for a TUE and who they need to apply to is based on their sport and competition level. The National TUE Pool sets out which athletes are required to apply for and obtain a TUE in advance of starting treatment with a prohibited medication or method (unless any of the exceptional circumstances listed below apply).

Exceptions to obtaining a TUE in advance of starting treatment

Only in the following circumstances should treatment begin in advance of obtaining a TUE: 

  1. Emergency or urgent situations (e.g., allergic reaction, exacerbation of asthma, onset of bell’s palsy, surgery, admission to A&E). In such circumstances, a TUE application should be submitted to UKAD as soon as possible.
  2. When an athlete has started treatment prior to reaching a competition level that is included within the National TUE Pool. Such athletes should apply for a TUE as soon as they advance to a competition level that is included within the National TUE Pool for their sport.
  3. Athletes who require the use of a glucocorticoid by local injection. In this instance, athletes are only required to apply for a retroactive TUE if they are subject to doping control in-competition and they subsequently return an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) for the presence of that glucocorticoid. Please refer to our Glucocorticoid TUE Policy for more information.

National TUE Pool Athletes

Athletes who are considered within UKAD’s National TUE Pool are required to apply for and obtain a TUE in advance of starting treatment with UKAD. Athletes should use the search function below to find out if they are included within the National TUE Pool. 

International-Level Athletes

Athletes defined by their International Federation as being an International-Level Athlete are required to obtain a TUE in advance of starting treatment and should apply directly to their International Federation.

Note: Athletes who are considered within the National TUE Pool and an International-Level Athlete should apply to their International Federation.

All Other Athletes

Athletes who are not included within the National TUE Pool nor are defined as being an International-Level Athlete do not need to obtain a TUE in advance of starting treatment but instead should follow the retroactive TUE procedure outlined below.

Retroactive TUE Procedure

Athletes who are not included within the National TUE Pool and are not considered an International-Level Athlete do not need to obtain a TUE in advance of starting treatment, but instead are required to apply for a retroactive TUE if they are drug tested. Such athletes should check with their prescribing doctor before starting treatment that:

A. The need to use the prohibited substance or method is necessary to treat the diagnosed medical condition.

B. The diagnosis is supported by relevant clinical evidence such as investigations, clinical examinations, and/or test results.

C. No permitted alternatives exist (the status of other possible treatment options can be assessed using Global DRO). 

Athletes have five working days to submit a retroactive TUE application after receiving written notification from UKAD that they have returned an AAF (a positive test result).

Search the National TUE Pool

Athletes can search the list below to find out if they are included within the National TUE Pool.

Notes: Para-sports are listed separately from their non-disabled counterparts when the sports are governed by different National Governing Bodies (e.g., basketball and wheelchair basketball). Para and non-disabled sports are grouped together as one sport when governed by the same National Governing Body (e.g., athletics).

If an athlete’s sport is not listed within the National TUE Pool, they should contact their National Governing Body to find out about the TUE requirements for their sport.