UK Anti-Doping
The CASES-UKAD Partnership
CASES is committed to promoting clean sport and works in partnership with UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) to ensure that the integrity of sport is protected. The use of performance-enhancing drugs and doping behaviour severely damages the legitimacy of sport.
CASES and UKAD have developed a Strategic Partnership Agreement that defines the roles and responsibilities of each organisation in promoting clean sport and raising awareness of issues relating to doping and performance-enhancing drugs.
Who are UKAD?
UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) is the national anti-doping agency for the UK, dedicated to protecting a culture of clean sport – it achieves this through implementing education and testing programmes, gathering and developing intelligence and prosecuting those found to have committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation.
UKAD is responsible for ensuring sports bodies in the UK are compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code through the implementation and management of the UK’s National Anti-Doping Policy.
How can you get involved?
UKAD’s Introduction to Clean Sport eLearning is for anyone wishing to become more knowledgeable in the essentials of Clean Sport. All athlete support personnel (ASP) need to know the essential anti-doping practices and tools available, to help ensure athletes remain clean.
Click here to find out more or to take the online course
The CASES Integrity Advisory Group (IAG) is a forum to provide expert advice and opinion on behalf of the sector, on actions, policy development and activities that will protect the integrity of sport and the profession of sport an exercise science in the UK. The IAG includes representation from clean sport and the vision is that this group will support the Partnership with increasing knowledge and awareness of the roles and responsibilities of athlete support personnel (ASP) in relation to clean sport.
Where to find support and advice
‘Everyone has a duty to protect clean sport. Whilst UKAD’s dedicated webpage for Athlete Support Personnel (ASP) hosts a range of resources, here are some specific to the role of a sport and exercise scientist in terms of increasing awareness on how to uphold your own responsibilities to clean sport as well as your role in supporting and protecting athletes:’
2026 Prohibited List Update
A reminder to all practitioners working across the sports landscape that the 2026 Prohibited List is in effect from 1 January – UKAD have summarised the recent changes on their website. Remember to encourage athletes to re-check their medications and ensure any rationale for choosing a medication or supplement considers this revised guidance accordingly. Always seek the guidance of a medical professional and/or UKAD where necessary.
Checking Medications
Athletes with asthma often use inhalers to manage their symptoms. The anti-doping status of an inhaler depends on the medication it contains and the dose at which it is prescribed. In this video, Imperial Healthcare NHS Trust pharmacists, Dr Frances Akor (Consultant Pharmacist and UKAD Board member) and Hodo Yousuf (Lead Asthma Pharmacist) explain the different types of asthma inhalers available in the UK and the anti-doping status of the drugs they contain. Further information on how you can support athletes with their asthma inhalers is available on the UKAD webpage, including an asthma inhaler threshold calculator. If in doubt, athletes should always be advised to check medication ingredients on Global DRO and remember to Search, Check, Apply if a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) is required.
Anabolic Steroid Use
Anabolic agents remain a concern with many athletes continuing to be sanctioned for such substances. Practitioners working with athletes need to know the signs of steroid use so they can help the athlete and also uphold their clean sport responsibilities. UKAD developed this video to highlight the side effects of anabolic steroids in terms of damage to physical and psychological health. Please take time to watch the video and stay alert to any athletes showing signs of steroid use. Supporting and protecting athletes in the spirit of clean sport is a team effort.
Risks of Supplements
Many athletes fail tests because of the supplement products they use. Athlete Support Personnel, such as Sport and Exercise Scientists, can support athletes to make informed decisions around supplements by being aware of the recommended steps to take when considering or choosing a supplement. UKAD’s Supplement Hub contains lots of information for practitioners, including this useful video.
Protect Your Sport – Report Doping
It takes a team to stop a drug cheat. So if you think someone is cheating, you must report it and Protect Your Sport. UKAD gather information from many places to help build a picture and decide the best course of action. If you think something is going on, you will be doing the right thing by contacting UKAD through one of their reporting channels – come forward in confidence and without fear.
