If no prohibited substance or evidence of the use of a prohibited method is detected in the sample, the laboratory will issue a negative test result.

Some prohibited substances can also be produced naturally by the body. In certain circumstances the presence of such substances in the A Sample may result in the laboratory reporting an Atypical Finding.

Upon receipt of an A Sample Atypical Finding, UK Anti-Doping will determine whether:

• a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) has been granted
• there has been a departure from the International Standard for Testing or International Standard for Laboratories that may have caused the atypical finding.

If the review does not reveal a TUE or departure that caused the atypical finding, further investigation will take place.

UK Anti-Doping will not notify the athlete of an atypical finding until it has completed its investigation and decided whether it will bring the atypical finding forward as an adverse analytical finding.

On conclusion of the further investigation, UK Anti-Doping will advise the athlete as to whether or not there is evidence of the administration of a prohibited substance or prohibited method. If there is no evidence, then no further action will be taken. If there is evidence of administration, UK Anti-Doping will report the atypical finding as an adverse analytical Finding.

Upon receipt of an A Sample adverse analytical finding, UK Anti-Doping will determine whether:

• a TUE has been granted
• there has been a departure from the International Standard for Testing or International Standard for Laboratories that may have caused the adverse analytical finding.

If the review does not reveal a TUE or departure that caused the adverse analytical finding, then UK Anti-Doping will report the outcome to the athlete.

It is not simply the detection of a prohibited substance in a sample that can result in an anti-doping rule violation. There are eight (8) anti-doping rule violations that can result in a sanction. Click here to view anti-doping rule violations past and present.

An athlete may be deemed to have committed an anti-doping rule violation if they:

• have a prohibited substance found in their bodily specimen (blood or urine)
• use, or attempt to use, a prohibited substance and/or prohibited method
• fail or refuse to submit to sample collection after notification of testing
• provide inaccurate athlete whereabouts information resulting in any combination of three missed tests and/or filing failures in an eighteen month period
• tamper, or attempt to tamper, with any part of the doping control process
• possess a prohibited substance and/or prohibited method
• traffic a prohibited substance and/or prohibited method
• administer, or attempt to administer, a prohibited substance and/or prohibited method to any athlete; or assist, encourage, aid, abet or cover up an anti-doping rule violation.

If it is decided that there is a case to answer in relation to a possible anti-doping rule violation then a “Notice of Charge” will be issued to the athlete detailing:

• the adverse analytical finding (if applicable)
• the anti-doping rule violation the athlete is charged with committing
• a summary of the facts and evidence relied upon in support of such charge
• notice of provisional suspension to be imposed on the athlete (if applicable)
• the consequences if it is established that the athlete has committed the anti-doping rule violation charged
• the athlete’s right to promptly request the analysis of the B Sample (if applicable). 

Where the charge is based on an adverse analytical finding, the athlete has the right to request the analysis of the B Sample.

If the B Sample does not confirm the A Sample then the entire test shall be considered as negative and the notice of charge withdrawn.

If the B Sample analysis confirms the adverse analytical finding in respect of the A Sample, then the matter shall proceed to a hearing.

If the A Sample adverse analytical finding is for a prohibited substance other than a specified substance, a mandatory provisional suspension will be imposed. If the adverse analytical finding is for a specified substance, the provisional suspension will be imposed at the discretion of UK Anti-Doping.

A provisional suspension can only be imposed if the athlete is given either:

• an opportunity for a provisional hearing
• an opportunity for an expedited hearing.

An athlete that is charged with an anti-doping Rule violation has the right to a fair hearing. The hearing process will address whether an anti-doping rule violation was committed and, if so, the appropriate consequences. Depending on the applicable anti-doping rules, it is likely that the hearing will be held before the National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP). The NADP is a national tribunal and appeals body in the UK, entirely independent of sporting Governing Bodies and UK Anti-Doping. Further information on the NADP can be found at www.nadp.uk.com.

There are prescribed periods of ineligibility that apply if an anti-doping rule violation is found to have been committed. However, in a hearing, an athlete has the opportunity to eliminate or reduce the period of ineligibility. Based on exceptional circumstances an athlete may reduce the period of ineligibility.

In regards to specified substances, if the athlete can establish how the substance entered their body and prove it was not intended to enhance their performance, they may reduce the period of ineligibility.

Decisions made by the NADP or alternative hearing body may be appealed. Depending on the status of the athlete, the appeal may be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) or the NADP (or applicable National Appeals body).

Under the World-Anti Doping Code, there is now greater consistency of sanctions being issued. It is important to remember that, as an athlete, contravening these rules may result in a sanction ranging from a formal warning and reprimand (with no period of ineligibility) to a lifetime ban.

Anti-doping rule violations (ADRV's) do not only apply to individual athletes. Athlete support personnel, such as coaches and doctors, are also subject to the rules of the World Anti-Doping Code. In the event that a support person is found to be in breach of the anti-doping rules, the aforementioned stages relating to the notice of charge, hearing and appeal will apply.

If an athlete is involved in a team sport and is found to have committed an anti-doping rule violation, there could be implications for the entire team. If two or more team members during an event are found to have committed an anti-doping rule violation, UK Anti-Doping can also impose an appropriate sanction on the whole team.