USADA approved only 275 TUEs for all sports, all ages in 2014
I wrote USADA last week, asking if the doping cops had a count of how many masters tracksters have applied for TUEs — therapeutic use exemptions. Friday, a spokesman named Ryan Madden responded. He couldn’t give me a breakdown by sport or age group. But the report he references was revealing. It said that in 2014, only 275 people in all sports and age groups had been granted TUEs. I suspect masters track might account for no more than a few dozen. When you see the chart, note that “IF” stands for International Federation. “Those are cases in which an application for a TUE was received by USADA, but USADA did not have jurisdiction, so the application was then sent to the appropriate International Federation for processing, after which the IF reported their decision to USADA,” Ryan writes. Meanwhile, a friend wrote me about a key website for checking ingredients: supplement411.org.
So here’s the USADA guy’s response:
Specific to your question, I think you may find page 20 of our annual report helpful, as we publish data on the number of TUE applications we receive annually, as well as the number granted or returned. There is also a breakdown of the substances and methods for which our TUE applications are applied for.
Due to the rules regarding athlete privacy concerns, however, we do not make public the breakdown of TUE applications by sport or individual athlete. The rules require confidential treatment of TUE applications and given that they involve an athlete’s private health and medical information, we cannot publicly discuss the details of any athletes’ TUE.
Lastly, in regard to the length of TUEs: It is important to know that there are varying types of TUEs. Some may be one-time use TUEs, for example if someone is having surgery and needs to take a prohibited substance for a short time during the course of that treatment, while other TUEs might be valid for several years as the medication or method is necessary for a chronic medical condition. USADA does not grant lifetime TUEs in any circumstance.
6 Responses
For any that have gone through this process ( I have not) … for those that need a particular medicine for health reasons and quality of life … waiting a long time for an answer or being denied … Does the reviewing party work with the applicants doctor to find an acceptable alternate “cure” ?
Old work phrase … don’t state the problem. But suggest the better solution …
Thirty (30) total for diuretics across all ages and sports. I will hazard a guess that the number of masters T&F athletes who are prescribed and using diuretics for high blood pressure control far exceeds that number. You figure out for yourself what that means. Potentially a lot of athletes who are gaining no competitive advantage (other than continuing to live by reducing the risk of cardiovascular and other problems) are competing illegally. For shame! (Please understand the sarcasm here)
Interesting that so few Masters athletes apply for a TUE. Given the level of complaining, in recent posts on this web site, I would have thought that more masters athletes had gone through the system.
I have applied, with clinical and lab support from three different physicians in different areas and was denied. They said my issue did not affect my daily life. My response was “DUMBASS, I went to the doctor to find out why I had internal bleeding, anemia and dizziness and this was the answer. OF COURSE it affects my daily living!”
Bubba, you reported this situation here a few years ago, and I remembered it when I was responding to the controversy that developed post-Arello. This is an example of why there needs to be different criteria for elite and open athletes who are in this for money and prestige, and the rest of us old guys and gals who are doing this for the social aspects and to hopefully hold the grim reaper beyond arms length. Many disagree with my opinion on this, but let’s get real. If the problem is that the Europeans in the WMA are insisting on this level of “purity”, I have an answer to that, but most readers here have delicate ears and it is not politically correct to remind people of history.
Diuretics –This issue has driven me crazy for 2 years as I research and research, complete then tear up a crazy TUE (the Qs a doc would have to answer for something as simple as a diuretic is insane). Any way — this is the USADA section that I think applies and why i do not need to submit a TUE. (I am not in a testing group) This is from the USADA site.
——————————-
Non-National Level Athlete TUE Information
I’m classified as a non-national level athlete. What if I get tested? According to USADA policy, athletes not currently in a registered testing pool are considered Non-National Level Athletes. This group of athletes may include recreational level, Master’s level, or even elite level athletes that do not presently meet the criteria for pool inclusion. Non-National Level Athletes are not required to submit a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) in advance of use in sport for certain prohibited substances. This is limited to the following substances:Â
1. Substances that are prohibited only in-competition or certain sportsÂ
2. Diuretics and other masking agentsÂ
3. Beta-2 agonistsÂ
4. Insulin- where the athlete can provide medical files demonstrating insulin-dependent diabetes.Â
Leave a Reply