Ready for the Games: Clean Sport at Birmingham 2022

UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) is reminding all athletes and teams to follow their clean sport education for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and be aware of the anti-doping rules in place at the Games.

The Commonwealth Games take place in Birmingham, England from Thursday 28 July until Monday 8 August. All home nations’ athletes, athlete support personnel and coaches have received clean sport education delivered by UKAD’s network of National Trainers and educators, as set out in the UK’s Clean Games Policy.

In a video message from UKAD Chief Executive, Jane Rumble released this week, Jane thanked all sports for participating in the education programme and reminded athletes, support personnel and coaches of the actions they can take now to prepare for clean sport in Birmingham.

Familiarise yourself with the testing process

Athletes can be tested any time, any place. There is no-advance notice before a test, meaning that when an athlete is called to a test, they will be the first to know. You’ll need to stay with them until the Testing Process has been completed. Familiarise yourself with the testing process and learn about the testing kit at Doping Control in this video by UKAD Athlete Commission Member, Jude Hamer.

Download the 100% me clean sport app

You’ve heard it from our National Trainers and it’s worth saying again. In the bubble of a Major Games as you prepare for competition, keep your phone close and download UKAD’s clean sport app. The information that we host online is also available on the app. Having this information close to hand while you are at the Games, will make life much easier when you’re searching for the answers to your clean sport questions.

Check medications

Medications prescribed by a doctor or bought directly over the counter may contain prohibited substances. It is an athlete’s responsibility to check their medication before using it even if they have used it before. Medication bought in the UK, can be checked on Global DRO – this website provides athletes with information about the anti-doping status of specific medications and ingredients based on the current World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List.

If a medication you need to take contains a prohibited substance, you will need to apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption. Please visit the Commonwealth Games Federation Anti-Doping pages on their website for further information.

Manage your supplements

We recommend a food-first approach but if you are taking supplements, remember to assess the need, assess the risk and assess the consequences. No supplement is a 100% risk free when it comes to prohibited substances, however athletes can gain confidence from checking to see if their supplement is batch tested by Informed Sport. Visit UKAD’s Supplements Hub to check your supplements and minimise the risk.

Know your rights and responsibilities

Make sure you are familiar with the anti-doping rules in place and that you abide by these rules and the policies in place. You need to be available for testing at all times, so keep your Whereabouts up to date if you are providing Whereabouts information.

Strict liability is an underlying principle of clean sport and means that the athlete is solely responsible for any banned substance they use, attempt to use or is found in their system – this is regardless of how it got there or whether it was intentional.

And finally…

Go out and enjoy the Games. This may be your first major competition, or you may be a seasoned pro. Either way, the Commonwealth Games in our home nations is a really special occasion, that doesn’t come around very often.

Best wishes from us all at UKAD. Compete clean knowing that what you see is 100% me.