International Sports Federations define who is considered an International-Level Athlete and therefore also requires a TUE in advance. Each International Sports Federation has its own definition, which is based, for example, on the world rankings, license or participation in certain international competitions.
References to various International Sports Federations
The respective definitions can be found on the websites and in the anti-doping regulations of the International Sports Federations. Below are links to the websites of various International Sports Federations. This is a help provided by Swiss Sport Integrity and does not claim to be exhaustive.
FIS: Fédération International de Ski
IFAF: International Federation of American Football
IFF: International Floorball Federation
IIHF: International Ice Hockey Federation
IPC: International Paralympic Committee
ISU: International Skating Union
ITF: International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA)
UEFA: Union of European Football Associations / FIFA: Fédération Internationale de Football Association
World Athletics: Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU)
Various International Sports Federations have transferred the processing of TUE applications to the International Testing Agency (ITA). It provides an overview of the International-Level Athlete definitions for the affiliated sports federations.
The following federations, for example, are affiliated with the ITA:
- FEI: Fédération Équestre Internationale
- FIE: Fédération Internationale d’Escrime
- FIG: Fédération Internationale Gymnastique
- FIVB: Fédération Internationale Volleyball
- IFSC: International Federation Sport Climbing
- IHF: International Handball Federation
- IJF: International Judo Federation
- IOF: International Orienteering Federation
- ISSF: International Shooting Sport Federation
- UCI: Union Cycliste Internationale
- WKF: World Karate Federation
- World Aquatics
- World Triathlon
Definitions of the international level athletes of all federations affiliated to the ITA can be found in the ITA TUE Assistant. The definition is displayed after selecting the international sports federation.
Other forms of help
If you cannot find your International Sports Federation among the listed examples, a link does not work or the website does not contain the expected information, the following tips may help:
- Use an online search engine to search for “Name of International Sport Federation Anti-Doping TUE” or search for the keywords anti-doping and TUE (Therapeutic Use Exemption) on the website of your International Sports Federation.
- If you cannot find a website on the subject, search for the current anti-doping regulations of your International Sports Federation (also called Anti-Doping Regulations or Anti-Doping Code).
- The definition of International-Level Athletes is usually listed in the introduction (Scope), i.e. on the first pages, of the anti-doping regulations of an International Sports Federation.
- Depending on the sport, International-Level Player or International-Level Rider can be synonymous with International-Level Athlete.
Principles
International-level Athletes submit their TUE application to the relevant International Sports Federation or the ITA respectively. For athletes who are both in the TUE pool and meet the International-level Athlete definition, the regulations of the International Sports Federation take precedence, and the application must be submitted to the International Sports Federation or the ITA.
The TUE application form and further information on the application process of the International Sports Federation can be found on its website.
Duration of applicability of the International-Level Athlete definition
If it is not clear from the definition how long it applies, the responsible international sports federation should be contacted.
Most definitions of International-Level Athletes do not only apply directly to international competitions but may exist independently of them or may apply for a period of time before or several years after participation in international competitions. It is therefore possible for an athlete to continue to be considered an International-Level Athlete due to the last participation in an international competition a year ago, even though only national or regional competitions have been competed in since then.
International-Level Athletes also require a prospective TUE at national level (e.g. participation in national or regional competitions). This must also be observed if no international competitions have been competed in for a longer period of time.