Anti-Doping

Anti-Doping

Vision Sports Ireland is the National Governing Body (NGB) for sport for blind and vision impaired people in Ireland. Vision Sports Ireland promotes an ethos of ‘clean sport’ that is fair to all. To this end VSI has adopted an Anti-Doping Policy and requires that all its members comply with it. This policy complies with the Anti-Doping Rules of Sport Ireland, with the Anti-Doping Code of WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) and with the Anti-Doping Policy of the International Blind Sports Association (IBSA).

Vision Sports Ireland’s Constitution specifically refers to our Anti-Doping Policy. Please note the following extract:

Article 4: Anti-Doping

4.1) The Anti-Doping rules of Vision Sports Ireland are Sport Ireland’s Anti-Doping Rules as amended from time to time or as substituted, supplemented or altered.

4.2) Individual players / athletes and members will be required to:

  • (a) Subscribe to a drug free ethos in sport.
  • (b) Participate in Sport Ireland’s Anti-doping programme.
  • (c) Undertake, if required, any urine or non-urine based testing techniques operated by the relevant International Federations.

It is important that all people participating (as competitors, coaches or as assistants) in either national or international competitive events become familiar with their responsibilities, and their rights, in relation to complying with anti-doping programmes. They should also make themselves familiar with the procedures used during the testing process itself. Assistance can be provided by a PA when a vision impaired person is being tested to help with reading and completing the required paperwork and other tasks. Members of Vision Sports Ireland must comply with the Anti-Doping Rules and Regulations.

The current reality is that only those attending and competing at high level national and international competitions are likely to be selected for drug testing but all members need to be aware that testing could occur at any time. Anti-Doping testing is unlikely during recreational sporting activities.

Vision Sports condemns either the use of banned substances or the use of banned methods for improving performance during competitive sport. Vision Sports Ireland supports fairness and equality during competition and believes that doping, or the use of banned doping methods, will not provide this. Neither will doping promote good health for its members. We believe that using any illegal substances or doping methods is against the spirit of sport.

All members, individual players / athletes, managers / coaches and PAs are required to:

  1. Comply with the Vision Sports Ireland Anti Doping Policy and support a drug free ethos in sport.
  2. Participate in Sport Ireland’s Anti-doping programme.
  3. Submit to any Anti Doping testing, as required, requested by the relevant International Federations. Assistance can be provided by a PA when a vision impaired person is being tested to help with reading and completing the required paperwork and other tasks.

Link to Sports Ireland’s Anti-Doping website

Link to current Irish Anti Doping Rules of Sport Ireland

List to current list of Prohibited Substances and Methods

Requests for further details or clarification of Vision Sports Ireland’s Anti-Doping Policy should be directed to our office email: info@visionsports.ie

Anti-Doping Rule Violations

Vision Sports are required to take action if the anti-doping rules are contravened. This is called an anti-Doping Violation. An anti-doping violation is deemed to have occurred if there is evidence of:

  1. Use of a Prohibited Substance in your Sample
  2. Use of a Prohibited Doping Method in your Sample
  3. Attempted use of a Prohibited Substance or Method
  4. An athlete Refusing to Provide a Sample when requested
  5. Tampering or Attempted Tampering with any part of the drug testing procedures
  6. Possession of a Prohibited Substance or Method
  7. Trafficking, Administration or the Attempted Administration of any Prohibited Substances or Method
  8. An athlete having Committed 3 Whereabouts Failures within an eighteen month period.

Our Anti-Doping Officer

Fintan O’Donnell is the Vision Sports Ireland Anti-Doping Officer. You may contact Fintan through our office at 01 4056030.

For the most up to date Anti-Doping Information, please refer to

Sport Ireland, The Courtyard, Sport Ireland Campus, Snugborough Road, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, D15 PNON

Email: antidoping@sportsireland.ie
Web: http://www.sportireland.ie/Anti-Doping
Telephone: 01 8608800

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