Silambam Anti-Doping Rules
Anti-Doping Rules (based on the 2021 Code)
The Anti-Doping Rules of the World Silambam Association (WSA), as amended from time to time, and all Members must adhere to the Guidelines, Principles, and Practices contained therein.
Under the 2021 World Anti-Doping Code (the “Code”), there are eleven (11) possible Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRV):
- Presence of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites or Markers in an Athlete’s Sample;
- Use or Attempted Use by an Athlete of a Prohibited Substance or a Prohibited Method;
- Evading, Refusing or Failing to Submit to Sample Collection by an Athlete;
- Whereabouts failures by an Athlete: any combination of three (3) missed tests and/or filing failures, as defined in the applicable International Standard, within a twelve (12) month period by an Athlete in a Registered Testing Pool;
- Tampering or attempted tampering with any part of doping control by an Athlete or Other Person;
- Possession of a Prohibited Substance or a Prohibited Method by an Athlete or Athlete Support Person;
- Trafficking or Attempted Trafficking in any Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method by an Athlete or Other Person;
- Administration or Attempted Administration by an Athlete or Other Person to any Athlete of any Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method, either In-Competition or Out-of-Competition where the substance/method is prohibited Out-of-Competition;
- Complicity or Attempted Complicity by an Athlete or Other Person: assisting, encouraging, aiding, abetting, conspiring, covering up or any other type of intentional complicity involving an ADRV;
- Prohibited Association by an Athlete or Other Person: association in a professional or sport-related capacity with any Athlete Support Person who has been found guilty of a criminal or disciplinary offence equivalent to a doping violation;
- Acts by an Athlete or Other Person to discourage or retaliate against reporting to authorities or anti-doping organisations.
Doping Control Requirements
An Anti-Doping Testing Unit (Doping Control Station) conforming to WSA’s Anti-Doping Rules must be provided and fully operational, with the costs borne by the Host National Federation (NF) or Organising Committee, unless otherwise specified. The WSA Organising Committee must ensure doping control is conducted in full compliance with the Code and applicable International Standards (e.g., International Standard for Testing & Investigations — ISTI) including both urine and blood testing and meeting minimum levels of analysis.
The Doping Control Station shall have as its sole function the collection of samples. It must not be used for other activities (e.g., weight-control, medical/emergency room, dressing room). It must be secure, guarded, locked, separated from the competition area, clearly sign-posted, and closed to filming and photography.
Doping Control Selection Procedure
Athletes may be selected for testing according to criteria defined in each event’s outline or selection policy. The selection or draw will be conducted by the WSA Medical Committee delegate, together with a WSA Official and a representative of the authorised Sample Collection Authority. All selected athletes must sign the draw/selection protocol. Additional tests may be conducted at the discretion of WSA or authorised Testing Authority (in-competition or out-of-competition). Selection criteria include previous violations, atypical findings, weight-division balance, gender and continental allocation.
Event Testing
At WSA-sanctioned events, athletes may be required to provide samples either In-Competition or Out-of-Competition. In-Competition testing will be overseen by the WSA Medical Committee or its designated representative; Out-of-Competition testing will be conducted by the authorised Sample Collection Authority with full cooperation of the athlete and their National Federation.
Exclusion: For Silambam Pattern events (Tani Tiramai – Sala Varisai) and Veteran tournaments, unless otherwise specified in the event outline, doping control may not be mandatory. (WSA reserves the right to amend this for specific events.)
Athlete Notification
Athletes selected for In-Competition testing will be notified according to procedures established by WSA. Notification is typically done after the athlete’s last match on the day of competition. For Out-of-Competition testing, athletes may be notified by the authorised Testing Authority as per applicable rules.
Modification for Minor Athletes
When a Minor athlete (under the age of majority) is selected for testing, notification and testing must take place in the presence of an adult accompanying person chosen by the Minor (for example parent or legal guardian) to ensure compliance with athlete protection provisions of the Code and relevant International Standards.
Accredited Laboratory
Only laboratories accredited by WADA may analyse samples collected under WSA-sanctioned competitions. The Doping Control Coordinator must inform the WSA Medical Committee of the laboratory to be used in advance. In the event of an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) or other anti-doping rule violation, WSA will follow its Anti-Doping Rules and applicable procedures for Results Management and Sanctions. The WSA Medical Committee has the right to suspend or cancel a test if medically justified.
Registered Testing Pool & Whereabouts
WSA may designate a Registered Testing Pool (RTP) of athletes who are required to provide whereabouts information, enabling out-of-competition testing at any time. Athletes in the RTP must comply with filing requirements and may be subject to missed tests and/or filing failures. Whereabouts failures constitute an ADRV. (See Code Article 2.4)
Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs)
An athlete who needs to use a Prohibited Substance or Method for legitimate therapeutic reasons must obtain a valid Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) in advance (or, in exceptional cases, apply for a retroactive TUE). Failure to hold a valid TUE when using a prohibited substance or method may lead to an ADRV.
Results Management, Sanctions & Disqualification of Results
When a potential anti-doping rule violation is found, WSA will manage the case in accordance with the Code and applicable International Standards (e.g., International Standard for Results Management — ISRM). WSA will determine provisional suspension, hearing, sanction (period of ineligibility), disqualification of results (including forfeiture of medals and prize money) and reinstatement conditions. WSA indicates that sanctions may range from warnings to lifetime bans.
Athlete Support Personnel Responsibilities
All Athlete Support Personnel (coaches, doctors, physiotherapists, nutritionists, etc) are bound by these anti-doping rules. They may commit an ADRV (e.g., possession, administration, complicity, prohibited association) and may face sanctions including suspension from involvement in sport.
Storage & Re-analysis of Samples
Samples collected during doping control may be stored and re-analysed at any time up to the period of statute of limitations under the Code. Athletes agree that their samples may be used for future analysis and that storage periods and re-analysis procedures will be compliant with the International Standard for Laboratories (ISL) and applicable WADA requirements.
The Prohibited List
The 2025 Prohibited List of Substances and Methods published by WADA and valid as of 1 January 2025 is applicable to WSA and its athletes. The List is updated annually (with publication typically on 1 October each year and effective from 1 January of the following year). Athletes and athlete support personnel must consult the latest version of the List and any sport-specific rules. (wada-ama.org/en/resources/science-medicine/prohibited-list-documents)
Medical
All medical affairs in relation to anti-doping are the responsibility of the WSA Medical Committee.
The Medical Committee shall consist of suitably qualified medical and anti-doping experts. The Committee is responsible for formulation and updating of medical supervision rules (including anti-doping code), oversight of implementation, and ensuring athlete health and safety.
Specifically, the Medical Committee shall:
- Review and handle medical and anti-doping-related proposals submitted by National Federations (NFs) or Continental Federations;
- Support the organisation and execution of anti-doping controls in WSA-sanctioned competitions in compliance with WADA and relevant International Standards;
- Perform pre-competition physical/medical screening of athletes as required;
- Make recommendations to the Technical Committee regarding disqualification of athletes who fail to meet medical/anti-doping requirements;
- Organise lectures and education programmes on medical supervision, anti-doping and athlete health for the membership;
- Provide advanced medical supervision guidance, methods and educational materials to National Federations, Continental Federations and athletes’ support teams.
Anti-Doping Education
The Athlete Learning Programme about Health and Anti-Doping (ALPHA) — or an equivalent education programme — has been developed with input from e-learning specialists, athletes, anti-doping experts and social scientists. Its objective is to change attitudes, influence behaviour and reduce the incidence of doping.
The education tool emphasises positive solutions for clean sport and supports athletes in performance-related areas (training, recovery, nutrition, avoiding prohibited substances/methods) rather than only focusing on what athletes must not do.
For any questions related to anti-doping within WSA, please contact us at [email protected]
