The Australian Sports Drug Medical Advisory Committee
(ASDMAC) is a specialist medical advisory body consisting of experienced
medical professionals that provides:
-
consideration of applications for Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) applications from athletes for the legitimate therapeutic use of (a) prohibited substance(s) and/or methods;
-
expert medical advice to drug testing laboratories;
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expert medical advice to anti-doping tribunals;
-
advice to National Sporting Organisations (NSOs)
regarding anti-doping issues e.g. athletes use of asthma medications;
-
advice to the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA)
and the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) on matters relating to anti-doping, including
the safety of athletes; and
-
advice to ASADA’s clients relating to sports medicine
issues.
ASDMAC is a recognised Therapeutic Use Exemption
Committee under the World Anti-Doping Code (the Code).
WADA has more information regarding international standards and definitions of TUEs.
ASDMAC was established under the Australian Sports Drug Agency (ASDA) Amendment Bill 1998 as
a result of the Australian Government’s Tough on Drugs in Sport Strategy.
ASDMAC now operates under the ASADA Act 2006.
ASDMAC members are appointed by and are accountable to the Minister for Sport, within the portfolio of the Department of Health and Ageing.
Therapeutic approval for using prohibited substances
ASADA
recognises approved therapeutic use of prohibited substances where:
- an International Federation’s (IF's) or NSO’s
rules allow for approved therapeutic use of prohibited substances; and
- there is an ASDMAC or another TUE
Committee approval (recognised under the Code)
held
by the relevant athlete.
ASDMAC is an independent body that operates in a secure environment. ASDMAC offers athletes privacy and protection in line with the WADA code. ASDMAC’s approval process is independent and any information submitted to it is treated as private and highly confidential. Only limited information of approvals granted may be forwarded to ASADA and the relevant NSO.
ASDMAC will not provide a therapeutic use approval to an athlete
where that athlete's IF or NSO does not recognise the therapeutic
use of prohibited substances under its anti-doping policy.
Almost all national and international sporting organisations recognise the use of prohibited substances for legitimate therapeutic purposes under their anti-doping policies. All sports that adopt the Code must recognise TUEs.
Further ASDMAC information
Further information regarding ASDMAC, its role and achievements
can be accessed via its entry in ASADA (previously ASDA) Annual
Reports.
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