What is Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE)?
The Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) application process provides athletes with an opportunity to apply for a TUE when medical treatment is required involving the use of a prohibited substance or prohibited method. This process, protecting all clean athletes, promotes competition on a level playing field.
If a TUE is granted, an athlete may continue, or start to use, the otherwise prohibited substance or method while competing without resulting in an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) and sanction, if applicable.
An athlete applying for a TUE must have a diagnosed medical condition, confirmed by relevant medical data that meet the ISTUE criteria for the grant of a TUE. This mandatory documentation, provided by the athlete’s physician, must accompany the TUE application sent to the ADO.
CRITERIA FOR GRANTING A TUE
An Athlete may be granted a TUE if (and only if) he/she can show, on the balance of probabilities, that each of the following conditions is met:
a) The Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method in question is needed to treat a diagnosed medical condition supported by relevant clinical evidence.
b) The Therapeutic Use of the Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method will not, on the balance of probabilities, produce any additional enhancement of performance beyond what might be anticipated by a return to the Athlete’s normal state of health following the treatment of the medical condition.
c) The Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method is an indicated treatment for the medical condition, and there is no reasonable permitted Therapeutic alternative.
d) The necessity for the Use of the Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method is not a consequence, wholly or in part, of the prior Use (without a TUE) of a substance or method which was prohibited at the time of such Use.
When must an athlete apply for a therapeutic exemption?
For substances and procedures that are prohibited in the competition, the athlete must apply at least 30 days before the competition.
For substances and procedures that are always prohibited, the athlete must apply immediately or before any use.
International Standard for TUE (ISTUE)
The purpose of the International Standard for Therapeutic Use Exemptions (ISTUE) is to ensure that the process of granting TUEs is harmonized across sports and countries.
Please complete the form and send the completed form, personally signed by the athlete and the doctor, together with the entire medical documentation (current illness, examinations performed, test results) to: [email protected]