Know The Rules
As the global governing body, the IAAF sets the rules for the sport of athletics. The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) is responsible for ensuring that athletes respect those rules and for encouraging athletes to play their part in protecting a level playing field for all. The AIU team is on-hand to help athletes across the world gain knowledge and abide by the rules of the sport they love.
Every athletes is responsible for knowing the rules of their sport.
Knowing your rights and responsibilities when it comes to integrity matters, and respecting the World Anti-Doping Code is just as important as knowing the rules of your individual discipline.
Under IAAF Anti-Doping Regulations, athletes are responsible for knowing what substances and methods are prohibited, and are personally liable for any prohibited substance found in their system. In anti-doping language, this is called ‘strict liability’.
It is important to know that the presence of prohibited substance in an athlete’s sample, or the use of a prohibited substance or method, is a doping offence under IAAF rules.
The World Anti-Doping Code
The World Anti-Doping Code (Code) is the fundamental document upon which the World Anti-Doping Program in sport is based. The Code harmonises anti-doping elements.
Gain knowledge and understand the rules so that you can avoid violations.
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) was at the heart of the IAAF’s integrity reforms, and has been operational since April 2017. Under rules set by IAAF Council, the AIU is responsible for ensuring that athletes respect those rules and for upholding the principles of fair play and equality across the global athletics community.
The AIU has a clearly defined remit and structure that is fully independent of the IAAF. The processes the AIU uses during the investigations and testing it conducts are important for everyone in the athletics family to understand.
Learn about the rules surrounding the creation and running of the Athletics Integrity Unit.
Understand what behaviours and practices constitute an ethical breach of the Integrity Code of Conduct.