• ASDA Homepage | Table of Contents |
• Glossary |
• Previous page |
• Next page

Australian Sports Drug Medical Advisory Committee

• ASDMAC
• Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE)
• ASDMAC members
• ASDMAC’s achievements
• The TUE approval process
• International TUE trends
• ASDMAC resources

ASDMAC

Under ASDA’s legislation ASDMAC provides the following functions to Australian Sport:

• Approval for the use of prohibited medications for legitimate therapeutic purposes
• Conduct investigations and provide additional medical and scientific expertise in relation to the determination of positive test results
• Provide sporting administration bodies additional medical and scientific information arising from positive test results.

A full statement of ASDMAC’s functions as prescribed in the ASDA Act 1990 appears at Appendix M. ASDMAC functions are subject to compliance with relevant legislation and regulation.

Regular audits highlight openness and transparency in decision-making, the highest standards of probity, integrity and a strong commitment to accountability. ASDMAC held four meetings during 2003-04.

Top of page

Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) approvals for the legitimate use of prohibited substances

ASDMAC provides TUE approvals for athletes where:

• The relevant NF’s anti-doping policy allows for, or permits the athlete to seek, approval to use a prohibited substance for a legitimate therapeutic purpose
• There is no other (permitted) therapeutic substance available for prescription that will enable treatment of the athlete’s condition
• There is evidence that a performance enhancement effect will not be gained by the athlete through the use of the substance.

Top of page

ASDMAC members

– Chairperson

Prof. Ken Fitch, AM

Sports Physician, Mount Hospital Medical Centre; Adjunct Professor, Dept of Human Movement, University of Western Australia; Secretary, Medication Advisory Committee, International Olympic Committee (IOC) Medical Commission Deputy Chair, WADA’s Health Medical and Research Committee; Member of WADA’s TUE Committee; Emeritus Physician, Sports and Soft Tissue Injury Clinic, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Royal Perth Hospital.

– Members

Prof. Peter Fricker, OAM

Director of Medical Service, Australian Institute of Sport; Head of Sports Sciences and Sports Medicine, Australian Institute of Sport; Adjunct Professor of Sports Faculty of Science and Design, University of Canberra; Chair Medical Commission, Australian Commonwealth Games Association; Member Medical Commission, AOC.

Dr. Susan White

Chief Medical Officer, Netball Australia; Medical Officer Anti-Doping Committee, Cricket Australia; Medical Commission, International Federation of Netball Associations; Vice President, Australian College of Sports Physicians; Sports Physician, Olympic Park Sports Medicine Centre, Melbourne; Editorial Board, United Tutorial of Sports Medicine “Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine”; Book Review Editor, British Journal of Sports Medicine.

Dr. Peter Harcourt

Sports Physician; Medical Coordinator, Victorian Institute of Sport, Australian Institute of Sport (Victoria); Medical Convenor, Transport Accident Commission, Victoria; Chief Medical Officer, Basketball Australia; Medical Officer, Australian Football League; Anti-Doping Medical Officer, Australian Cricket Board; Member, FIBA (Basketball) Medical Council; Member, Medical Commission, Australian Commonwealth Games Association.

Dr. Hugh Hazard

Sports Physician; Chief Medical Officer and Team Physician – National Rugby League; Team Physician – National Australian Rugby League Touring Squad.

Top Left: Chairman Prof Ken Fitch – AM, Prof Peter Fricker – OAM, Front Left: Dr Hugh Hazard, Dr Susan White, Dr Peter Harcourt

Top of page

ASDMAC’s achievements

During 2003-04 ASDMAC:

• Processed 141 TUE applications for 23 prohibited substances, the details of which are at Appendix N
• Further developed guidelines for the approval of stimulant medication for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder sufferers
• Advised ASDA in relation to six Testosterone: Epitestosterone investigations
• Provided input to the Australian submission to WADA regarding the International Olympic Committee (IOC)/WADA Lists of Prohibited Substances
• Submitted written opinion to the Minister for the Arts and Sport regarding anti-doping tribunals.

Top of page

The TUE approval process

ASDMAC’s TUE approval process examined applications by athletes in a variety of circumstances.

Each application was handled on a case-by-case basis. Some matters were complex and necessitated referral to an independent referee, while others were relatively simple.

Athletes seeking TUEs are advised to apply through their sport’s medical officer. An athlete that applies directly to ASDMAC is advised that the committee will contact and inform their NF of the application.

The application is registered on ASDMAC’s database and provided a reference number.

The application is then faxed to ASDMAC’s Chairperson to ensure that sufficient information is available in order for the TUE application to be processed.

If ASDMAC determines that the application fulfils the criteria, an Approval for Therapeutic Use of a Prohibited Medication is prepared.

ASDMAC is able to attach conditions or constraints to the TUE approval e.g. if the approval is not recognised by the athlete’s IF, and if tested under their IF’s policy, they could be sanctioned. Where conditions are provided with the TUE approval the athlete must comply with those conditions or ASDMAC may withdraw the approval.

If ASDMAC requires further information regarding an athlete’s TUE application, the committee will contact the applicant to request the required information. ASDMAC will also inform the athlete that their application will not be processed until the requested information is supplied.

If the request does not fall within specified TUE guidelines, the athlete will be advised that either:

• ASDMAC has requested expert advice and that they will be notified as soon as a decision is made
• Their application does not fulfil the strict criteria for granting TUEs and consequently the application has been unsuccessful.

Once the outcome of the application is determined, the athlete and the NF are advised. Details of athletes who receive TUEs are transferred to a TUE Register from which ASDA may seek information for decision-making purposes in relation to the outcome of drug tests.

Top of page

International TUE trends

ASDMAC operates in line with Code requirements.

The Code’s TUE provisions, which came into effect on 1 January 2004, enable TUE systems to operate within national and international sporting environments subject to appropriate checks and balances.

WADA sought ASDMAC’s advice and input regarding TUE guidelines and protocols. WADA also sought and received ASDA approval to use ASDMAC’s protocols for its TUE decision making processes. WADA has since adopted and implemented all but one of ASDMAC’s TUE protocols.

WADA sought ASDMAC’s advice and input regarding TUE guidelines and protocols.

WADA established a Therapeutic Use Exemption Committee (TUEC) similar to ASDMAC.

ASDMAC’s Chairperson was appointed as WADA’s TUEC Chairperson and also the IOC’s TUEC Chairperson for the Athens 2004 Olympics.

ASDMAC remains confident that ASDA’s legislation provides for accountability, transparency and the independence for ASDMAC’s functions. Leading sports medicine practitioners regard ASDMAC’s framework as world’s best practice.

Top of page

ASDMAC resources

ASDMAC is funded through ASDA appropriation. Secretariat staff are employed by ASDA.

Figure 12: ASDMAC’s budget 2003-04.

Top of page