The anti-doping rules

New Zealand’s Sports Anti-Doping Rules reflect those of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and its World Anti-Doping Code.  WADA’s Code and Standards are recognised throughout the world.

Most International Federations, sporting organisations in New Zealand, and international anti-doping agencies are signatories to the World Anti-Doping Code so must abide by and enforce these rules.

There are eleven key anti-doping rule violations.  These apply to athletes, but can also apply to coaches and support personnel, including medical professionals. 

We’ve summarised the rules below.

You should not:

• test positive for a prohibited substance
• use or attempt to use a prohibited substance or method
• evade testing or refuse to provide a sample for drug testing
• fail on three occasions within twelve months to provide whereabouts information or miss a test
• tamper or attempt to tamper with any part of the doping control process
• possess prohibited substances or methods
• traffick or attempt to traffick a prohibited substance or method
• administer a prohibited substance or method
• cover up an anti-doping rule violation
• associate with someone, such as a coach or medical professional, who has been found guilty of an anti-doping rule violation or equivalent
• intimidating or threating somebody from reporting anti-doping information; or retaliating in a threatening manner after somebody has reported.

You can read the full text of New Zealand’s 2021 Sports Anti-Doping Rules here.