Hello To All Members,

Recently the Executive and Anti-Doping Committee have been receiving questions surrounding ‘Prohibited Association’ anti-doping rules. We would like to explain and remind all members about rules regarding association with persons who are under CPU suspension. Simply put, CPU athletes who are subject to anti-doping rules are not have any sport-related contact with a suspended athlete. But further explanation is needed to clarify what this means, and how the rules are applied.

Globally, all anti-doping rules have been harmonized with the WADA Code. These rules are applied through the individual National Sport Organizations (NSO’s) and National Anti-Doping Organizations (NADO’s) around the world.

Our National Anti-Doping Agency is the CCES, and the anti-doping rules we follow in the CPU are those of the Canadian Anti-Doping Program (CADP). The CADP rules are 100% harmonized with the WADA Code (as mentioned). All CPU members are expected to follow the harmonized rules of the Canadian Anti-Doping Program, IPF Anti-Doping rules, and the WADA Code – which all carry the ‘Prohibited Association’ clauses.

The Prohibited Association rules can be found on the CPU website at –http://www.powerlifting.ca/prohibited.html

But, here is a further explanation from CCES General Counsel (for clarity and accuracy, after each mention of the ‘CADP’ below, you should add ‘IPF Anti-Doping Rules’, and ‘WADA Code’):

“If an athlete is currently sanctioned under the CADP, they are not allowed to participate in any official competitions, training events, or other activities of their National sport governing body (or any other sport governing body that has adopted the CADP). This includes coaching or assisting or “working with” other athletes in any sport who may be subject to the CADP.

Athletes who are subject to the CADP should be mindful to not train with and, further, must not “work with” a sanctioned individual if the sanctioned individual could, through the association, be seen to be assisting the athlete in a professional or sport-related capacity. The result could be that an anti-doping rule violation is pursued against an athlete who receives such assistance from a sanctioned individual. Sanctioned individuals are not permitted to use training facilities that are officially affiliated with the national sport governing body (ex: national training centres).”

To re-state, CPU members should avoid receiving coaching or sport-related assistance from a sanctioned athlete. CPU members are subject to these rules by way of the WADA Code, IPF Anti-Doping Rules and the Canadian Anti-Doping Program.

I hope this will help in understanding the association rules.

If anyone is still unsure, please contact me – crobb@powerlifting.ca

Best Regards,

Chris Robb, Chair
CPU Anti-Doping Committee