ITA Webinar – Therapeutic Use Exemptions: An Athlete Guide

Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs) are an important aspect of anti-doping that athletes and Athlete Support Personnel need to be familiar with, and understand. TUEs give athletes the authorisation to participate in sport while using a medication or method of treatment that is prohibited as per the World Anti-Doping Agency’s Prohibited List.

Dr Margo Mountjoy, TUE Chair Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and Pedro Gonçalves, ITA Science & Medical Project Manager, were our guest experts for the July edition. They provided answers to our most frequently asked questions on the subject, including:

• Who should apply for a TUE?
• Where and when can athletes apply?
• What are the criteria for granting a TUE, and how long does it take?
• Can I get a retroactive TUE?
• What if I need to renew a TUE?

[magnemmar]

The four step process and general commentary here is far too "best case".

You only receive approximately 3000 a year because the process is expensive (depending on your country and medical system), unclear, time consuming, and each sport has rules that can outright forbid specific treatments. You're absolutely correct that true amateurs don't strictly need a TUE until they get to championship races at the national or international level. At the local and regional level, I agree, it is extremely unlikely for testing to occur.

Obtaining a TUE isn't as simple as presented here, at least, not in every case.

It is:
1. Primary care.
2. If you need a specialist, get a referral and wait. Potentially months.
3. Get whatever tests you need at this stage. It is probable that they won't be done per the TUE requirements because at this point, you don't know what condition you may have.
4. Get a diagnosis, prescription, etc.
5. Then check the WADA and go, "well.... Um..."
6. Decide if you will continue to compete knowing you have a banned substance for treatment.
7. Go back to you doctor and/or specialist, after making new appointments and waiting, again, possibly months, but hopefully less this time.
8. Rerun the tests because the guidance specifies specific test conditions that are not part of the normal process for diagnosis. Possibly need additional tests, historical medical records as well.
9. Potentially need new specialists based on the guidance if a specific type of medical professional is required to provide input. If so, make an appointment and wait. Then, more tests (or repeats of tests already run)
10. Submit the TUE.
11. Maybe get it, or not, if your sport doesn't permit that treatment.
12. Repeat, even for conditions that are lifelong and should have a permanent TUE option.