Anti-Doping & Illicit Drugs Policy

Essential Contacts

RFU Anti-Doping and Illicit Drugs Programme Manager
Stephen Watkins
020 8831 7603
StephenWatkins@RFU.com

RPA Confidential Counselling Service
Phil Hopley
LPP Consulting
020 3219 3080
rpa.ccs@lppconsulting.org

Anti-Doping Website
http://www.rfu.com/TheGame/AntiDoping

What you need to know about Methylhexaneamine

February 2011

Methylhexaneamine is the stimulant that two South African players tested positive for during the Autumn International period. Use the links to read more about their drug test failure and subsequent tribunal result.

During the course of 2010, the anti-doping community has noticed evidence that Methylhexaneamine is appearing in a number of nutritional supplements and is therefore subject to inadvertent use by athletes

As of Jan 1 2011, Methylhexaneamine has been reclassified from a 'non-specified' stimulant to a 'specified' stimulant on the WADA prohibited substance list. It has a number of different pseudonyms:
dimethylamylamine, dimethylpentylamine, DMAA, forthan, forthane, floradrene Geranamine, 1,3-dimethylamylamine , 1,3-dimethylpentylamine, 4-methyl-2-hexanamine, 4-methyl-2-hexylamine and 2-amino-4-methylhexane.

Generally speaking, 'specified substances' are substances that are more susceptible to a credible, non-doping explanation. If an athlete can prove that he/she did not intend to enhance performance by using then to the satisfaction of the results management authority, the sanction under the World Anti-Doping Code can range from a warning to a two-year ban (as opposed to an immediate two year ban).

This does not change the fact that you are responsible for what you ingest, so be aware of the prohibited list and check all medication and supplements that you are taking.

The WADA list of prohibited substances can be found on the RFU website: www.rfu.com/TheGame/AntiDoping.aspx.
If you have any questions you can either call the RFU Anti-Doping and Illicit Drugs Programme Manager, Stephen Watkins on 020 8831 7063, talk to your PDM or call the RPA Player Services Manager, Caroline Guthrie on 020 8831 7939.

Drug Testing Update

Jan 2011

The following update on drug testing has been issued by Stephen Watkins, the RFU Anti-Doping & Illicit Drugs Programme Manager If you have any questions or concerns regarding this or any drugs testing related matter, contact your PDM or RPA Player Services Manager, Caroline Guthrie.


Firstly, we wish to thank you all for your continued co-operation with both the anti-doping and illicit drug testing programmes which have involved a significantly higher number of tests this season.

Selection for testing

The majority of tests conducted are selected from the squad at random, with the selection process taking place on site with a suitable member of staff present.

'Out of competition' testing (at training) may be conducted on behalf of UK Anti-Doping, the iRB or the RFU Illicit Drugs Programme whereas 'In competition' testing (after a match) may be conducted by UK Anti-Doping, the iRB or European Rugby Cup.

In some cases the testing officers may be the same individuals, they may be conducting a test as part of one of a number of independent testing programmes. It is therefore possible for a club to be tested more than once in any given week as part of the different testing programmes by the same testers.

Testing Procedures

Players may be subject to a number of different testing procedures, which are outlined very briefly below.

Urine tests are by far the most common form of testing and are used as part of all the testing programmes.

Blood tests are only conducted as part of the anti-doping testing programme, and although less common than urine tests their use is increasing. If selected for a blood test the blood collection officer shall assess the most suitable vein for collection. They will then unseal the hypodermic needle and attach the vaccutainers (self-sealing secure containers) and withdraw blood to fill the required number of tubes. No more than three attempts will be made per session.

Hair tests are only conducted as part of the RFU Illicit Drugs programme. Analysis of a hair sample can detect illicit drug use over an extended period of time - in some cases up to five months. If selected for hair testing the collection officer will take a hair sample, which will usually be from the head or under arm area and consist of approximately 150 3-4cm long hairs.

If you have any questions or comments about any anti-doping matter please contact Stephen Watkins, RFU Anti-Doping & Illicit Drugs Programme Manager or Richard Nunn, RFU Anti-Doping & Illicit Drugs Programme Officer.

2011 Prohibited List Changes

Click here to read the latest changes to the 2011 Prohibited List.

100%ME is an education programme run by UK Anti-Doping. See information for players and support staff on all anti-doping matters and competeing drug-free at www.ukad.org.uk/pages/athlete-zone

Medication

Players taking any medication or supplements need to check if they contain prohibited substances. You can check at http://www.globaldro.com/

New UK Anti-Doping hotline, Report Doping in Sport, make the call 0800 032 2332 is a new service for athletes, support personal or concerned family and friends to pass on information about the use, supply or trafficking of doping substances.

If anyone sees any suspicious activity or witnesses a doping offence, they can simply call the confidential line

REPORT DOPING IN SPORT
Make the call 0800 0322 332

RFU Illicit Drugs Policy

Click the links to download the RFU Illicit Drugs Policy and read the Player FAQs

Read about the launch of the RFU Illicit Drugs Policy here

Important Changes to the Policy - Effective 1st September 2010

Recent changes have been made to the RFU's Illicit Drugs Policy, all of which have been done in close collaboration with Premiership Rugby and the RPA. These changes will be effective as of the 1st September, a brief summary of them are;

• Adverse hair tests become a violation of the policy and subject to same sanction as other violations
• Pre-employment tests remain monitoring samples but can be used to justify target testing
• Club medical officers permitted to share details of Illicit Drugs assessments, testing and rehab of a player who transfers to another Club with the new Club's medical officer but only with player permission
• Admission of use post or during testing, where the player might believe it will prove positive, is treated as a violation with all the sanctions associated.

To read a full summary of and rationale for the policy modifications click here.