The UK National Anti-doping Policy
Adult Competitions in any sport are subject to dope testing to ensure fair play.
In climbing, National (British) and International (IFSC) competitions regularly undertake anti-doping testing according to an agreed world wide code.
The MCofS has signed up to this initiative to ensure that the use of drugs does not affect Sport (Competition) Climbing. This does NOT relate to climbing non-competitively (indoors or outdoors!) although the MCofS encourages all climbers to be aware of the issues and not to use substances that can artifically enhance performance.
Currently, the only drug testing undertaken in Scotland is during international competitions held at EICA: Ratho, when the BMC and IFSC are required to do so. It is not currently the policy of the MCofS to undertake anti-doping tests on children or young adults competing in MCofS competitions such as the YCS, SYCC and SYBC.
Information for Competition Climbers:
The UK Anti-Doping website contains a lot of information for athletes about anti-doping. The 'Athlete Zone' gives information about the system, the anti-doping services, advice about what to expect when being tested via either blood or urine samples, how to go about getting exemptions for vital medication and finally, athletes rights and testing of disabled athletes.
The website has links to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the Global Drug Reference Online (Global DRO).
The WADA website gives athletes general information needed in relation to doping and includes the World Anti-Doping Code and the 'Prohibited List'. It is the responsibility of the climber to educate themselves about prohibited substances in sport. The Global DRO website allows climbers to search medication in order to check if there are any banned substances contained within the medication that are currently included in the WADA 'Prohibited List'.
