This policy applies equally to all swimmers, coaches, teachers, officials and poolside helpers, and is based on the ASA Drugs, Sport and Doping Control Policy.
- The use of performance enhancing drugs in sport is cheating. They are associated with serious medical complications, and their use is illegal.
- The analytical procedures used to detect drug abuse are very sensitive, and can detect minute traces, which may have been taken several weeks previously.
- Punishment for drug abuse may lead to a lengthy ban from training and from competition.
- It is the individual swimmer’s responsibility to check that any medicine being used is legal. It is possible that illegal drugs may be taken accidentally. Typical examples are pseudoephedrine and phenylepherine, which are oral decongestants, and are present in many cough/cold remedies. Drugs such as salbutamol (Ventolin) are only legal if taken by inhaler, they are ILLEGAL if taken by mouth or injection.
- The individual swimmer should check with their GP or the dispensing pharmacist to see if their prescribed medication is on the Prohibited List.
- For further information, refer to: http://www.britishswimming.org http://www.wada-ama.org