Preamble

The Outgames endorses a healthy and fair approach to sports training and competition. Sports events at the 1st World Outgames are sanctioned by Canadian sports governing bodies. To comply with the rules of these sports bodies and to ensure that the Outgames are conducted in the spirit of fair play, GLISA and the Outgames endorse the anti-doping policies of the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport and the World Anti-Doping Agency.

As a result, all participants in the 1st World Outgames must adhere to GLISA's policies on doping and may be required to undergo drug-testing. We urge all participants to become familiar with this policy.

Rachel Corbett
Executive Director
GLISA - Gay and Lesbian International
Sport Association
www.glisa.org

Policy on Doping

Position Statement

GLISA and the 1st World Outgames (hereafter referred to as ‘the organizers’) condemn the use of banned substances and doping practices to enhance performance in sport. Substances and practices to enhance performance are contrary to the notions of fair play, integrity and respect, are potentially harmful to the health of athletes, and in some cases, are illegal.

All athletes competing in the 1st World Outgames must adhere to GLISA’s position on drugs in sport and may be required to undergo drug-testing. Collection and drug-testing of urine samples may occur in the sport of Bodybuilding, will occur if any athlete establishes a world record, and may occur randomly in other high risk sports, as determined by the organizers.

GLISA endorses a healthy and fair approach to sports training and competition for the 1st World Outgames and will deter Outgames participants from using banned substances and engaging in doping practices by:

• Publishing this policy on the GLISA and 1st World Outgames web sites and distributing information on the policy to all
  1st World Outgames athletes;
• Referring athletes to the anti-doping policies of the sport governing bodies that have sanctioned the events of the
  1st World Outgames;
• Providing information and educational materials on banned substances and doping practices to 1st World Outgames athletes;
• Recognizing any doping infractions and penalties imposed by the sport governing bodies that have sanctioned events of the 1st World Outgames;
• Imposing appropriate penalties that are within the jurisdiction of the organizers in the event an athlete commits a doping infraction.

Authority and Jurisdiction

Sport events in the 1st World Outgames are sanctioned by provincial, national, and in some cases, international sports governing bodies. All athletes registering for the 1st World Outgames agree, in the Terms and Conditions of Registration, to abide by the rules and regulations as determined by the sport governing bodies for the sport event in which they are registered, as well as to abide by the rules and regulations of the 1st World Outgames and GLISA.

Drug-testing at the 1st World Outgames will be conducted pursuant to this policy by officials of the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES), the agency approved by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to conduct drug-testing in Canada. All drug-testing at the 1st World Outgames, including sample collection, sample analysis and results management, will be carried out under the jurisdiction and authority of the CCES.

Banned Substances

Information on substances prohibited by WADA is available in the Substance Classification Booklet (2006), published by the CCES and readily available from its web site (www.cces.ca). Athletes competing in the 1st World Outgames are advised that WADA prohibits a very wide range of substances, including those found in medicinal products and nutritional supplements, as well as many recreational drugs. The onus is on the athlete to be aware of these prohibitions, as the presence of prohibited substances in the body will constitute a doping offence.

Therapeutic Use

The organizers recognize that many Outgames competitors may require medications for therapeutic use to manage health issues. Some of these substances may be classified as restricted or banned substances by WADA. Under WADA rules, such substances may be used if medically prescribed or on the provision of suitable medical evidence that their use is therapeutic.

The organizers have negotiated a change to the WADA protocol that normally requires athletes to obtain the Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) at the time of medical prescription, and/or to provide medical evidence of therapeutic use prior to arrival at a sport event. For the
1st World Outgames, competitors do not need to obtain the TUE in advance, or to declare which substances they are taking, before their arrival at the 1st World Outgames.

In the event that an athlete is selected for drug-testing and there is an adverse finding, that athlete will be given the opportunity to provide appropriate medical evidence for therapeutic use. The sample collection procedure and description of appropriate medical evidence are set out below.

Sample Collection Procedures

In the event that an athlete is selected for drug testing and is required to provide a urine sample, the following process will be used:

1. Notification of drug-testing will be given to the athlete by a CCES official.
   
   
2. The athlete will be chaperoned by the official from the time of notification until the completion of sample collection. Athletes will be given the opportunity to have a representative or interpreter accompany them through this process.
   
   
3. The athlete will be taken to the Doping Control Station where the urine sample is collected. The process consists of the following:

Preparing for Sample Collection

• The process is explained by the Chaperone.
• The rights of the athlete are explained. GLISA (Gay and Lesbian International Sport Association) Policy on Doping - Version 1.0
• The athlete will be given an opportunity to hydrate (consume fluids).
• The athlete will complete a written declaration of any substances they know to have in their system.

Collecting the Sample

• Samples will be collected according to established CCES protocols for urine sample collection.

Documenting the Sample Collection

• Athletes will fill out the prescribed forms to document the sample collection.
• At this time athletes will be asked to state what medications, if any, they are taking. In the event that they have suitable medical evidence with them, they should provide it at this time.
• Suitable medical evidence includes, but is not limited to, a letter from a physician, a written prescription, or an original medication bottle indicating name of medication, name of athlete, date, and name of prescribing physician. Depending on the nature of the medication, and in the absence of a letter from a physician, the organizers reserve the right to request further clarification from the athlete as to the nature and need for the therapeutic exemption.
• If an athlete does not have the medical evidence with them, and there is a doping infraction, they will be given the opportunity to provide suitable evidence at a later time, however they must declare all substances at the time of the collection of the sample.
• If a substance was not declared at the time of sample collection, and there is a doping infraction, the organizers, in consultation with the sanctioning sport governing body, will take appropriate action.
• Athletes will then be asked to sign the appropriate documentation to indicate their satisfaction with the procedures of the sample collection, and to note any concerns the athlete may have.

Sanctions

Any drug test conducted under this policy that results in an adverse finding will be referred to the appropriate sanctioning sport governing body to determine whether or not a doping infraction has been committed. In the event that it is determined that a doping infraction has been committed, the following sanctions will be applied by the organizers:

• Retraction of the 1st World Outgames participation medal;
• Retraction of any place medals awarded by 1st World Outgames; and
• Elimination of the athlete’s result from the GLISA/Outgames performance records.

The athlete’s sport governing body may impose further sanctions in accordance with their rules.

For further information on this policy, please contact:

Michel Langelier
Sports Director, 1st World Outgames
mlangelier@montreal2006.org

Rachel Corbett
Executive Director, GLISA             
rachel.corbett@glisa.org

[This policy was approved by the Board of Directors of GLISA on 23 March 2006]

Reviewed 21 April 2006.