IRL represented at WADA Symposium in South Korea
IRL Anti-Doping Manager, Professor Nenad Dikic, was among more than 250 physicians, administrators and experts from international sporting organisations to attend the WADA Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUE) Symposium in South Korea.
Therapeutic Use Exemptions are a critical part of the global anti-doping system and allow athletes with medical conditions to compete in high-level sport.
However, a small number of players participating at the 2021 Rugby League World Cup staged in England last October and November arrived without appropriate Therapeutic Use Exemptions.
Professor Dikic will host a workshop later in the year for IRL member nations about the importance of TUE, and drugs and supplements used at RLWC2021.
The theme of this year’s WADA TUE Symposium was ‘Balancing Medical Care with Fair Play’ and focused on the role of the TUE process in equalising the playing field and ensuring the health of all athletes.
Professor Dikic said IRL was keen to invite members to use the TUE system more actively.
“The primary objective of the TUE Symposium was to harmonise the approach to TUEs, which ensures that athletes with legitimate medical conditions may participate in sports despite their need for medication or treatment that may otherwise be prohibited,” Professor Dikic said.
“The Symposium engaged with interactive discussions on medical cases, medico-legal issues, and retroactive TUEs.
“Participants discussed challenges regarding the global harmonization of practices, with the goal of ensuring that fairness is maintained; and that athletes are afforded similar opportunities, regardless of their sport, geographical location, or specific medical issues.
“At the last Rugby League World Cup, seven players came without valid TUEs, which increases the possibility of see doping positive results.
“Thus, IRL will organise a workshop for all members about drugs and supplements used in World Cup 2021 and especially stress the importance of TUE in the last quarter of the year.”
