FIE adopts 2021 World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Rules

Following the adoption of the 2021 WADA Code and amendments to various international standards, the FIE has adopted new anti-doping rules, which will come into force on 1 January 2021.

These 2021 FIE Anti-Doping Rules were drafted jointly with the FIE Medical Commission, have been approved by WADA and are available on the FIE website, Clean Sport: https://fie.org/fie/documents/clean-sport

The amendments to the WADA Code affect a few specific areas and are detailed in the documents published by WADA here: https://www.wada-ama.org/en/resources/the-code/2021-world-antidoping-code

The National Anti-Doping Organisation in the UK is UK Anti-Doping (UKAD), they have published a short guide to the new changes here https://www.ukad.org.uk/news/2021-WADC-ukads-summary-major-changes 

Fencers, coaches and any other athlete support personnel (including parents) should pay particular attention to the amendments in the 2021 FIE Anti-Doping Rules; specifically articles:-

• 20 – Additional Roles and Responsibilities of Fencers,
• 21 – Additional Roles and Responsibilities of Athlete Support Personnel and
• 22 – Additional Roles and Responsibilities of Other Persons Subject to these Anti-Doping Rules.

The definition of an international-level fencer has been broadened as follows:-

• Fencers who are in the FIE Registered Testing Pool
• Fencers ranked in the world top 64 (previously the world top 32) in each of the 6 senior weapon categories at the start of each season.

As a reminder, all athletes and athlete support personnel are expected to undergo anti-doping training. Any coach wishing to travel to support a GBR athlete (at any level) is expected to complete an online training course. This training is currently being refreshed by UKAD in accordance with the 2021 rules and there will be more information once that is available.  UKAD currently have 2 courses available: Coach Clean (http://ukad.coachwisehub.com/store/828893-coach-clean-v3-3) and the Clean Sport Advisor course (https://www.ukad.org.uk/news/ukads-clean-sport-advisor-course-gets-education-renovation)

WADA also have an online education platform, Anti-doping education and learning platform (ADEL) https://adel.wada-ama.org/ and the Play True quiz at https://quiz.wada-ama.org/

Parents are strongly recommended to undergo this training (when available) as the concept of ‘strict liability’ applies to all athletes, including those aged U18. The new UKAD resources will contain a parents’ curriculum and we will run a training session for parents of ADP fencers during the December training camp.