Abstract
Drug Free Sport New Zealand (DFSNZ) aims to maintain New Zealand Sport as a drug free environment and thereby enhance our proud and successful sporting culture. New Zealand is bound into the World Anti-Doping Code and must therefore adhere to World Anti-Doping rules.
Detection of doping violations is one of the functions of DFSNZ. An aim of DFSNZ is to eliminate the risk of athletes failing a sports anti-doping test as a result of using legitimately prescribed medication as treatment without a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE). This can create major problems for the athlete who may then have to appear before the Sports Tribunal.
Some substances on the prohibited list are used by Orthopaedic Surgeons as part of regular management. “National level” athletes require a TUE to be completed prior to use of these medications or immediately following use in emergency situations. Examples are:
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Narcotics and Intravenous Corticosteroids perioperatively.
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Probenecid to enhance antibiotic concentrations in treating infections
Other athletes who are not in this category but may be tested do not require a TUE immediately but still have to be able to provide evidence that the medication was used for therapeutic use if they were subsequently to fail a test. It is the athlete’s responsibility to notify the surgeon and obtain the appropriate documentation. Athletes in the Testing Pools will carry a card with reference to MIMS Resources, the DFSNZ website and Hot-line. From time to time athletes stressed by the situation of their injury may forget to notify the surgeon, prior to surgery, of anti-doping requirements. Surgeon (and anaesthetist) awareness and support for the programme will enhance the overall care of the patient and limit subsequent demands on both the patient and medical staff. The aim of this presentation is to enlighten NZOA members regarding the correct procedures to follow should a prohibited substance be required when treating an athlete who is subject to drug testing in sport.
Correspondence should be addressed to: Associate Professor N. Susan Stott, Orthopaedic Department, Starship Children’s Hospital, Private Bag 92024, Auckland, New Zealand.
