Doping constitutes a violation of anti-doping rules.

Athletes and other persons are responsible for understanding what constitutes an anti-doping rule violation, as well as the substances and methods included in the Prohibited List.

Athletes are responsible for maintaining strict control over any substances that enter their bodies and/or the methods they use.

IMPORTANT!

Athletes are personally responsible for preventing any prohibited substance from entering their bodies.

If doping is detected, the athlete is personally responsible for any prohibited substance, its metabolites, or markers found in their samples.

An anti-doping organization is not required to prove intent, fault, bad faith, negligence, or knowing use of a prohibited substance or method.

It is irrelevant whether the use or attempted use of a prohibited substance or method resulted in sporting success.

Failure or refusal to submit to sample collection, evading sample collection, or failing to provide a sample constitutes a separate anti-doping rule violation.

Athletes, coaches, and all other athlete support personnel are required to cooperate fully and provide complete assistance to anti-doping officials.

Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE)

Athletes, like all people, may have illnesses or medical conditions that require them to take certain medications or undergo specific medical procedures. If a medication or method required to treat a medical condition appears on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List, a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) may grant the athlete the right to use a prohibited substance or method.

TUEs are reviewed and approved by the Therapeutic Use Exemption Committee (TUE).

TUEs granted by the National Anti-Doping Agency (ANAD) are valid only at the national level, for both in-competition and out-of-competition testing.

More information on TUEs: anad.gov.md

TUE application form: anad.gov.md

IMPORTANT! A Therapeutic Use Authorization (TUE) must be obtained before using the medication, except in cases of emergency medical treatment or other situations specified by special regulations.

Criteria for Granting a TUE

A TUE may be granted only if all the following criteria are met:

a) The prohibited substance or method is necessary to treat a diagnosed medical condition supported by relevant clinical evidence. Use of the prohibited substance or method may be part of a required diagnostic investigation rather than the treatment itself.

b) The therapeutic use of the prohibited substance or method will not, on the balance of probabilities, enhance performance beyond the athlete’s return to normal health following treatment of the acute or chronic medical condition. “Normal health” must be determined individually.

c) The prohibited substance or method is the only appropriate treatment, and no permitted therapeutic alternative exists. The physician must explain why the chosen treatment is most appropriate, based on medical experience, side-effect profiles, or other medical justifications, including, where relevant, regional medical practice and access to medications. Athletes are not always required to exhaust all alternatives before using a prohibited substance or method.

d) The need to use the prohibited substance or method is not the result, wholly or partially, of prior use (without a TUE) of a substance or method that was prohibited at the time.

Who Should Apply for a TUE, Where, and When?

First, verify whether the medication or method you intend to use is included in the Prohibited List.

You are responsible for informing your physicians that you are an athlete subject to doping control. Physicians must check the Prohibited List whenever prescribing medication or treatment. If the substance or method is prohibited, ask whether permitted alternatives exist. If no alternatives are available, you must apply for a TUE.

Second, determine your competition level (national or international) to identify the organization or International Federation to which you must submit your TUE application.

If you are a national-level athlete, as defined by national anti-doping regulations and the International Standard for Testing and Investigations, you must apply to ANAD as soon as the need arises, except in emergencies or exceptional circumstances.

For substances prohibited in competition only, the TUE application must be submitted at least 30 days before the competition.

If your competition level is below national level, you may apply for a retroactive TUE if you are tested by ANAD or another Anti-Doping Organization.

IMPORTANT!

A TUE granted by ANAD’s TUE Committee is valid only at national level. If you become an international-level athlete or participate in Major Games, the TUE will be valid only if recognized by the relevant International Federation (IF) or Major Event Organizer (MEO).

It is your responsibility to verify recognition of the TUE. ANAD may assist in determining your competition level and, if necessary, in requesting recognition by an IF or MEO.

Can I Obtain a Retroactive TUE?

Yes, in the following situations:

a) Emergency treatment was required for a medical condition;

b) Insufficient time, opportunity, or exceptional circumstances prevented submission or review of a TUE application before sample collection;

c) Due to national priority rules, ANAD did not permit or require the athlete to apply for a TUE;

d) If an Anti-Doping Organization collects a sample from an athlete who is neither international- nor national-level, and that athlete used a prohibited substance or method for therapeutic reasons, a retroactive TUE may be requested;

e) The athlete used a prohibited substance out of competition for therapeutic purposes, and that substance is prohibited only in competition.

IMPORTANT!

Use of a prohibited substance before a TUE is granted may result in an adverse analytical finding and a potential anti-doping rule violation. If applying for a retroactive TUE after testing, it is recommended to prepare a complete medical file for evaluation.

How to Apply for a TUE at ANAD

A national-level athlete, together with the treating physician, must complete the TUE application form and submit a medical file including:

a) Detailed medical history;

b) Results of all specialist examinations;

c) Laboratory investigation results;

d) Relevant imaging studies (e.g., X-rays) supporting the request.

Athletes must retain copies of all submitted documents.

A TUE request will be considered only upon receipt of a properly completed application accompanied by all required documentation. Incomplete applications will be returned for completion.

When Will I Receive a Decision?

The TUE Committee’s decision will be communicated in writing within 21 days of receipt of a complete TUE application.

When Must a TUE Be Renewed?

Each TUE is granted for a defined period and expires automatically at the end of that period. If continued use is required, a new TUE a

pplication must be submitted before expiration, allowing sufficient time for review and decision.

IMPORTANT!

The presence, use, possession, or administration of a prohibited substance or method must strictly comply with the terms of the TUE. Any material change in dosage, frequency, route, or duration of administration requires contacting ANAD and may require submission of a new TUE. Some substances (e.g., insulin) may require dosage adjustments, which should be documented by the physician and are generally accepted by the TUE Committee.

What Happens If My TUE Application Is Denied?

Incomplete applications will be returned. Additional documentation (e.g., laboratory tests or diagnostic results) may be requested if deemed necessary by the TUE Committee.

What If My TUE Is Not Recognized by an IF or MEO?

You or ANAD have 21 days to submit the matter to WADA for review of an unfavorable decision by an IF or MEO TUE Committee.

The same documentation used in the original TUE application will be submitted to:

WADA Medical Director

World Anti-Doping Agency

800 Square Victoria

Montreal, QC H4Z 1B7

Canada

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Pending WADA’s decision, the ANAD-issued TUE remains valid only for national-level in-competition and out-of-competition testing.

Data Confidentiality

All information contained in a TUE application, including medical records and evaluation data, is treated as strictly confidential.

Athletes provide written consent for the use of personal data on doping control and TUE application forms.

Reference Links and Documents

World Anti-Doping Code – wada-ama.org

International Standard for Testing and Investigations (ISTI) wada-ama.org

International Standard for Laboratories (ISL) wada-ama.org

International Standard for Therapeutic Use Exemptions (ISTUE) wada-ama.org

Prohibited List – wada-ama.org

Law No. 24 of 16.02.2023 on the Prevention and Combating of Doping in Sport – legis.md

Law No. 174 of 27.06.2025 on Preventing and Combating Illegal Trafficking of Doping Substances – legis.md

ADAMS Control

adams.wada-ama.org

anad.gov.ro

Additional Resources

Use of Dietary Supplements in Sport

Guide to Permitted and Prohibited Pharmaceutical Products

Guide for Physicians on TUEs

Regulation on the Procedure for Granting TUEs

TUE information: anad.gov.md

TUE application form: anad.gov.md

ADAMS Version 3.0 User Guide – Athletes

ITA Tutorials - ADAMS

ITA webinar “Registered testing pool, whereabouts, ADAMS and the new Athlete Central”

Portal navigation guidelines ADAMS

National Anti-Doping Agency of Moldova anad.gov.md

Prohibited Substances and Methods List: anad.gov.ro

Pharmaceutical Products in Romania Containing Prohibited Substances: anad.gov.ro

Athlete Reference Guide under the 2015 World Anti-Doping Code: anad.gov.md