TUE and Whereabouts Rules

Many of the new doping control requirements are specific to your status with USADA and ISU (i.e. whether your are in one of the registered testing pools, or RTPs) and your level of competition.


RTP skaters and skaters competing in ISU and other international events must have an approval certificate on file for all prohibited medications PRIOR to taking the medication and PRIOR to competition. This includes beta-2 agonist inhalers and intravenous and intramuscular glucocorticosteroids. An approval certificate can only be obtained by filing a complete TUE application. Locally injected and inhaled glucocorticosteroids must be "declared" by these skaters via the USADA online account or the Declaration of Use Form AND on the DCOR (Doping Control Official Record) at the time of drug testing.


Non-RTP skaters and skaters not competing in ISU and other international events are only required to file advance TUE applications for substances that are prohibited at all times, such as anabolic agents, hormones, hormone modulators and prohibited methods. Non-RTP skaters must "declare" all other prohibited and "declaration" medications using the Declaration of Use Form AND on the DCOR (Doping Control Official Record) at the time of testing. If drug testing does occur, a TUE application, including all supporting documentation, should be filed immediately (no more than 14 days) following the test.


All TUE applications must be filed at least 21 days in advance of USING the medication, regardless of RTP status. See notes below regarding Emergency TUEs.


All skaters with asthma should confirm that diagnostic evidence of their asthma is on file with the treating physician. This includes complete results of pulmonary function tests, methacholine challenge tests or other appropriate diagnostic results. This information must accompany all asthma-related TUE applications, regardless of timing or RTP status.


Missed Tests and Filing Failures are both considered Whereabouts Failures. A FILING FAILURE can come about by not submitting your whereabouts info on time, not declaring your 60-minute window or not completing your whereabouts info accurately. A MISSED TEST can come about if you are not available for testing during your declared 60-minute window. All Filing Failures and Missed Tests will be shared with WADA and ISU. Any combination of three Whereabouts Failures (filing failures, missed tests, etc.) declared by any combination of USADA, WADA and ISU within any 18-month period constitutes a Doping Rule Violation subject to a 1-2 year sanctioning. Any suspension longer than six months makes a skater ineligible to compete in the next two Olympic Games.


Emergency TUE applications should ONLY be completed for true emergency situations, such as emergency room visits and emergency medical treatment at competition. Inappropriately used Emergency TUE applications will be denied! In the case of emergency, undergo all appropriate care by the providers and submit an Emergency TUE form as soon as possible after treatment. Medical documentation for all treatment, medications, and substances used must accompany the application.