Anti-doping

The Albanian Mixed Martial Arts Federation adheres to anti-doping regulations. You can train with us.

IMMAF actively promotes anti-doping education and awareness, particularly the principles and values ​​associated with CLEAN MMA.

In partnership with the IMMAF Medical Program and SAFE MMA, (https://safemma.org/) Our program includes preventive interventions against doping, information and education of medical support staff and trainers. IMMAF is firmly committed to doping-free MMA and will sanction those who cheat with doping, in accordance with the IMMAF Anti-Doping Rules.

IMMAF Member Federations are responsible for actively promoting education and information at the national level. All athletes and athlete support personnel under their jurisdiction must be aware of and comply with the Anti-Doping Rules and policies, in particular:

• Substances and methods included in the prohibited list;
• Risks of supplement use, safe weight control, good hydration practices;
• Safe use of medications and how to apply for a therapeutic use exemption (TUE), if necessary;
• Testing procedures (urine and blood, athlete biological passport), IMMAF registered testing pool requirements, including location;
• MMA SAFE & CLEAN, values ​​and principles, rights and responsibilities.

Information sessions can be organised at local, national and international levels. IMMAF organises workshops to assist National Federations with the planning and delivery of education and testing. Partnering with your National Anti-Doping Organisation (NADO) to create outreach programmes that promote anti-doping information at the events you organise is good practice.

IMMAF Athlete Support Personnel

has anti-doping obligations which include (but are not limited to):

• know and comply with all applicable anti-doping policies and rules, including the IMMAF Anti-Doping Rules (in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code) and
• to refrain from possession of a prohibited substance (or prohibited method)*, administration of such a substance or method to an athlete, trafficking, concealment of an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV) or other forms of collaboration and association with a person convicted of doping (Prohibited Association).

* unless Athlete Support Personnel can determine that possession is consistent with a TUE granted to an athlete or another acceptable justification.

Acceptable justification would include, for example, a team doctor carrying prohibited substances to deal with acute and emergency situations.

Rights of athlete support personnel

include (but not limited to):

• In the event that an ADRV is confirmed, athlete support personnel have the right to a fair trial and the right to appeal.

Doping complaint: whistleblowing

Help IMMAF protect the integrity of MMA and protect clean athletes.

IMMAF raises its voice and informs.

Athletes

Every MMA athlete has the right to clean up the sport and be protected from the harm caused by doping.

Athletes' rights

Athletes' rights include (but are not limited to):

• during doping control
• requesting additional information regarding the sample collection process
• Request accommodations for athletes with disabilities (if any)
• to request and participate in the analysis of the B sample (in the case of a negative analytical result)
• In the event of an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV) being asserted, the athlete has the right to a fair hearing and the right to appeal the hearing decision.

Athlete's obligations

Athletes' obligations include (but are not limited to):

• Know and comply with all applicable anti-doping policies and rules, including the IMMAF Anti-Doping Rules (in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code).
• Refrain from possession of a Prohibited Substance (or Prohibited Method)*, administration of a Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method, trafficking, concealment of an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) or other forms of collaboration and association with a person convicted of doping (Prohibited Association).

Consequences of doping

We know that the majority of IMMAF athletes, coaches, medical staff and officials comply with the IMMAF Anti-Doping Rules and IMMAF is working hard to provide information and education to support and remind everyone how to abide by the Anti-Doping Rules. IMMAF believes that everyone is responsible for achieving clean MMA, protecting the reputation of the sport and those who participate in it.

Some athletes (or others, e.g. coaches, medical staff, officials) may choose to cheat and IMMAF will work hard to uncover doping behaviour and remove those who do so from our sport. We know that some athletes may be more vulnerable to a doping ruling.

Remember, you are responsible for knowing the rules and enforcing them.

Ignorance is no excuse.

Your rights and responsibilities:

The principle of strict liability applies, meaning personal responsibility for your actions. You have the responsibility to inform and educate yourself on how to comply with anti-doping rules. Doping negatively affects all sports and negatively affects the physical and mental well-being of our members, as well as having social and economic effects.

• Athletes: Make sure you are up to date with anti-doping issues to avoid unintentional doping. Check medications and supplements before use for the presence of Prohibited Substances, do not use Prohibited Methods (except in cases of medical emergency).
• Keep a record of all the questions you ask about the medications and supplements you may be taking. Inform your doctor that you are subject to anti-doping rules. Where there is a permitted alternative, USE it!
• If you feel under pressure or unable to cope with the demands of training and competition, seek help. Do not damage your health, reputation and sporting career by using doping substances and methods.

IMMAF Anti-Doping Manual for Athletes and Support Personnel

A comprehensive Anti-Doping Manual is available to all participants in IMMAF Championships and Federations, which outlines the rules and procedures, provides guidance on how to test for medication, TUEs, the risks of supplements and where to reduce risks. PLEASE READ BEFORE ENTERING AND COMPETING!

Since the launch of the WADA ADEL e-learning programme, IMMAF has actively encouraged members to register and complete courses in their area of ​​interest. In 2021, completion of the ADEL course will be mandatory for coaches, officials and athletes attending IMMAF Championships. Going forward, IMMAF will work with National Federations to identify educators to lead educational campaigns.

adel.wada-ama.org/learn

What is forbidden?

IMMAF implements the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) list of prohibited substances and methods. Links to the list and supporting documents are below:

The Prohibited List identifies substances and methods that are prohibited in competition, at all times (i.e. in and out of competition) and in particular sports. The substances and methods are categorised (e.g. steroids, stimulants, masking agents). The List is updated annually following an extensive consultation process facilitated by WADA.

It is the responsibility of each athlete to ensure that no prohibited substances enter his or her body and that no prohibited methods are used.

Many of the substances on the Prohibited List do not have medical applications, but for those that do, the list contains only the generic names of the pharmaceutical substances; the list does not contain the brand names of the drugs, which vary from country to country.

Before taking any medication, be sure to check with your prescribing doctor that it does not contain a prohibited substance.

WADA Prohibited List

IMMAF allows an athlete to use a prohibited substance for medical reasons only if the athlete has a valid therapeutic use exemption for the substance that has been granted or recognized by IMMAF.

How to check your medications:

• Before taking any medication, be sure to check with your prescribing doctor that it does not contain a prohibited substance.
• Verify that the generic name or international non-proprietary name (INN) of any active ingredient is not prohibited on the Prohibited List ('in competition only' or 'at all times').
• Check that the medicine does not contain pharmaceutical substances that fall into a general prohibited category.
• Please note that intravenous infusions and/or injections of more than 50 ml over a 6-hour period are prohibited, regardless of the status of the substances.

If you have any questions, please contact IMMAF if you are an international-level athlete, or your NADO (National Anti-Doping Organization) if you are a national-level athlete.