Drug Free Sport NZ
Rowing NZ is committed to clean sport.
We believe in protecting the health of our athletes, the integrity of our sport and the spirit of clean competition in which the best competitor succeeds.
We work in collaboration with Drug Free Sport New Zealand (DFSNZ), our national sports anti-doping agency, to:
- promote a culture of clean sport;
- educate members on clean sport rules, rights, responsibilities and best practice;
- facilitate testing;
- report doping and suspicious activity;
- support athletes to compete clean.
We have adopted New Zealand’s Sports Anti-Doping Rules.
These rules apply to all Rowing NZ members, no matter your role or level of play.
Sports Anti-Doping Rules
The Sports Anti-Doping Rules exist to keep sport fair.
Members who don’t follow the Sports Anti-Doping Rules risk a ban from all sport.
With so much at stake, we encourage all our athletes and support teams to learn the rules and how to avoid breaking them.
Learn about the Sports Anti-Doping Rules
Prohibited substances
Some substances are prohibited in sport. Each year, the World Anti-Doping Agency publishes a list of all substances that are banned.
Substances can be included on the list if they meet any two of the following criteria:
- It has the potential to enhance sporting performance
- It presents an actual or potential health risk to the athlete
- It violates the spirit of sport
See the Prohibited List and useful resources
Medications
Even common medications can contain prohibited substances.
Athletes are 100% responsible for everything that goes into their body, so it’s important to check every medication in advance on Global DRO.
Find out how to check medications
Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs)
If an athlete needs to take a prohibited substance on medical advice, a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) allows them to do so without breaking the Sports Anti-Doping Rules.
Certain high-level athletes need to apply for a TUE before they take any prohibited substances; other athletes may only need a retroactive TUE.
Whereabouts
Any athlete can be tested out-of-competition at any time and without advance notice.
The Whereabouts programme is used worldwide to make sure athletes can be located for testing.
Athletes must update their Whereabouts quarterly to protect the integrity of sport and to stay within the Sports Anti-Doping Rules.
Testing
Testing is a way to deter and detect doping in sport.
As an athlete, you should expect – and be prepared – to be tested any time, anywhere.
It may happen in or out of competition. You may be asked to supply a urine sample, blood sample or both.
Prepare for the sample collection and testing process
Supplements
Supplements are a risk for clean athletes.
DFSNZ don’t approve any supplements or their use.
The safest option for clean athletes is a food-first approach to nutrition.
If you’re thinking about using a supplement, it’s important to make an informed decision.
The DFSNZ Supplement Decision Making Guide can help. The Supplement Decision Making Guide helps you consider the health implications of supplements, your nutritional needs, and ways you can manage – but not eliminate – supplement risk factors.
As an athlete, you’re responsible for everything found in your sample. By taking a supplement, you accept the risk that you may test positive for a prohibited substance.
Speak Out
Anyone who has concerns about possible doping in sport can report those concerns confidentially to DFSNZ on 0800 DRUGFREE (378 437) or via their website.