1.    Doping is strictly forbidden.

 

2.    Doping is the use by, or distribution to, a sportsman or sportswoman (the competitor) of any substance defined by the Welsh Hockey Union and International Olympic Committee Medical Commission as a banned class.

 

3.    The identification of a substance and / or metabolites of a doping class in a competitor's urine will constitute an offence. The offender may be penalised. Evidence of blood doping, pharmacological, chemical or physical manipulation is also an offence, which may be penalised.

 

4.    A competitor must, if requested by an authorised official, submit to a doping control test. Refusal or failure to do so may be taken as if a positive test result had been obtained and dealt with accordingly.

 

5.    Any person assisting or inciting others in the contravention of doping regulations shall be considered as having committed an offence against these rules and may be penalised.

 

6.    Doping control collection procedures shall conform with current guidelines recommended by the International Olympic Committee and International Hockey Federation.

 

       A urine sample will be provided by the individual selected and will be divided into 'A' and 'B' samples of which only the 'A' sample will be analysed initially.

 

7.    If the analysis of the 'A' sample proves analytically positive, or a doping offence is suspected, an investigation will take place. The individual will be given the opportunity to insist on the analysis of the 'B' sample and to be present or to be represented at this analysis.

 

8.    The competitor may be suspended from competition until the 'B' sample is analysed and / or disciplinary proceedings have been conducted.

 

9.    If, after the 'B' sample has been analysed and / or an investigation has been held, it is considered that the sample is positive or that a doping offence has occurred, a disciplinary hearing shall be conducted.

 

10. The International Olympic Committee Medical Commission recommended sanctions for positive cases in doping control are the following:

 

(a)   androgenic anabolic steroids, amphetamine-related and other stimulants, caffeine, diuretics, beta-blockers, narcotic analgesics and designer drugs

 

two years for the first offence

life ban for the second offence

 

(b)   ephedrine, phenylpropanolamine, etc. (when administered orally as a cough suppressant or painkiller in association with decongestants and / or anti-histamines)

 

a maximum 3 months for the first offence

two years for the second offence

life ban for the third offence

 

11.  Competitors may be required as a condition of eligibility for selection for national representative teams and international competitions to make themselves available for out-of-competition testing.

 

12. Competitors under 16 years of age may be requested to obtain the consent of a parent or guardian agreeing to the child's participation in doping controls as a condition of eligibility for national events and national squad membership.

 

13.   All competitors should note that some drugs, whether prescribed by a doctor or purchased without prescription, contain a banned substance. THE ONUS IS ON THE COMPETITORS TO ENSURE THEY DO NOT TAKE A BANNED SUBSTANCE. If in doubt, the Sports Council for Wales Drug Control Officer should be contacted for advice - any enquiry will be treated with the utmost confidence.

 

16th June 2001.