Anti-Doping Agency Of Armenia
“ARM-NADO” SNCO was established by the Government of Armenia with the 2020 July 9 N1156 decision as the legal successor of the “Republican Center for Sports Medicine and Anti-Doping Service”.
THE SPIRIT OF SPORT
Our programs are founded on the intrinsic value of sport. This intrinsic value is often referred to as ‘the spirit of sport’: the ethical pursuit of human excellence through the dedicated perfection of each Athlete’s natural talents. Anti-doping programs seek to protect the health of Athletes and to provide the opportunity for Athletes to pursue human excellence without the use of Prohibited Substances and Prohibited Methods.
Anti-doping programs seek to maintain the integrity of sport in terms of respect for rules, other competitors, fair competition, a level playing field, and the value of clean sport to the world. The spirit of sport is the celebration of the human spirit, body and mind. It is the essence of Olympism and is reflected in the values we find in and through sport, including:
-Health
-Ethics, fair play and honesty
-Athletes’ rights as set forth in the World Anti-Doping Code
-Excellence in performance
-Character and education
-Fun and joy
-Teamwork
-Dedication and commitment
-Respect for rules and laws
-Respect for self and other participants
-Courage
-Community and solidarity.
The spirit of sport is expressed in how we play true. Doping is fundamentally contrary to the spirit of sport.
Athletes play an important role in preserving sport clean and true. Not taking their responsibilities seriously can lead to anti-doping rule violations, such as a positive test or Whereabouts failure. It is very important for athletes to remember that failing to comply with sample collection procedures can also lead to violations with such serious consequences.
Here’s what athletes and their support personnel need to know about their responsibilities during sample collection, what behaviors may be considered failures to comply, and the consequences for such violations.
Athlete Responsibilities During Sample Collection
While athletes have many rights during the sample collection process, they also have responsibilities under the International Standard for Testing and Investigations (ISTI). During sample collection, athletes are RESPONSIBLE for:
- Complying with the sample collection procedures and instructions from ALL
sample collection personnel - Reporting immediately to the doping control station unless there are approved
reasons for delay - Presenting government issued photo identification at the time of notification
- Staying in direct observation of the DCO or notifying chaperone from the time of
notification until the sample collection session is complete - Keeping the collection vessel in their possession and in view of the DCO at all
times - Having control of the sample until it is sealed in the sample collection bottles (the
DCO may assist upon request) - Ensuring the sample code number is correctly documented on the sample
collection documentation - Completing and signing all appropriate sample collection documentation
Athletes must remember that under the World Anti-Doping Code (the Code), they may be
required to provide a sample at any time and at any place. It is an athlete’s responsibility to be
available for testing and comply with the relevant rules. - Complying with the sample collection procedures and instructions from ALL
sample collection personnel - Reporting immediately to the doping control station unless there are approved
reasons for delay - Presenting government issued photo identification at the time of notification
∙Staying in direct observation of the DCO or notifying chaperone from the time of
notification until the sample collection session is complete - Keeping the collection vessel in their possession and in view of the DCO at all
times - Having control of the sample until it is sealed in the sample collection bottles (the
DCO may assist upon request) - Ensuring the sample code number is correctly documented on the sample
collection documentation - Completing and signing all appropriate sample collection documentation
Athletes must remember that under the World Anti-Doping Code (the Code), they may be required to provide a sample at any time and at any place. It is an athlete’s responsibility to be available for testing and comply with the relevant rules.
Failures to Comply with Sample Collection
The Code defines several violations that may result if athletes fail to uphold their responsibilities and comply with sample collection protocols. Under the Code, ARM-NADO is obligated to investigate every report of athlete non-compliance from a Doping Control Officer (DCO).
Under section 2.3 of the Code, it is an anti-doping rule violation to evade, refuse, or fail to submit to sample collection after the athlete is notified that they have been selected for testing.
- Examples of these violations include:
Refusing a test because it doesn’t fall within the athlete’s designated 60-minute
window, or because it is earlier or later in the day than the athlete would prefer.
Athletes may be tested at any time and location, even if it’s outside of their
preferred 60-minute window. - Failing to provide a sample and leaving the sight of a DCO/chaperone due to
another commitment, such as practice, work, or school. If reasonable, the DCO
should accompany the athlete until they are available to provide a sample. - Evading sample collection personnel by making it hard for them to notify the
athlete and/or keep the athlete in view.
Under section 2.5 of the Code, it is a violation to tamper or attempt to tamper with any part of the doping control process.
Examples of tampering violations, which are separate from prohibited methods, include:
- Intentionally interfering with a DCO or doping control protocol, such as
discarding a partial sample, refusing to complete paperwork, and/or manipulating
the process/paperwork. - Providing fraudulent receipts, medical statements, or other documents to an anti-
doping organization - Intimidating a potential witness who has information that’s critical to the ARM-
NADO investigation
It is also unacceptable for athletes to verbally abuse, threaten, or otherwise mistreat a DCO. ARM-NADO will review to determine if such behavior constitutes a failure to comply ADRV.
These rules and consequences may apply to athlete support personnel (i.e., coach, parent, agent, etc.). Interfering with the doping control process and/or encouraging the athlete to evade, refuse, and fail to comply with any part of the process could put the athlete’s future in jeopardy and
result in an anti-doping rule violation for support personnel and the athlete.
Consequences for Failures to Comply
Failure to comply with the doping control process may subject athletes to a four-year suspension and other consequences, including but not limited to, loss of competitive results, access to facilities and funding, and a public announcement of the violation.
An athlete’s period of ineligibility for a failure to comply may be reduced based on the circumstances of the matter.
Options for Athletes
If an athlete has concerns during a testing session, there are a few things they can do to feel more comfortable about complying with the test:
- Ask to see the DCO’s credentials and the letter of authority for testing.
- Ask the DCO to go slowly and review the process.
- Communicate and document your concerns with the DCO and/or ARM-NADO
using the contact information below.
To learn more about providing information about the process and location to doping testing, watch the following videos:
An anti-doping rule violation most often occurs as the result of a WADA accredited laboratory reporting to ARM-NADO an adverse analytical finding, i.e., a positive test. However, Anti– Doping rule violations can occur in the following cases too :
- The 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 sample collection: or refusing, or failing to submit to sample collection without compelling justification after notification by a duly authorized person.
- Violation of applicable requirements regarding athlete availability for out-of-competition testing. Any combination of three missed tests and/or filing failures within a twelve–month period as determined by anti-doping organizations with jurisdiction over the athlete shall constitute an anti-doping rule violation.
- Tampering or attempted tampering with any part of doping control.
- Possession of a prohibited substance or a prohibited method.
- Trafficking or attempted trafficking of any prohibited substance or prohibited method.
- Administration or attempted administration to any athlete in-competition of anyprohibited method or prohibited substance
- Administration or attempted administration to any athlete out-of-competition of anyprohibited method or any prohibited substance that is prohibited out-of-competition.
- Assisting, encouraging, aiding, abetting, conspiring, covering up or any other type of intention complicity or attempted complicity involving an anti-doping rule violation,attempted anti-doping rule violation or violation of a provisional suspension or period ofineligibility by another person.
- Associating with coaches, trainers, physicians, or other athlete support personnel who are sanctioned and/or criminally convicted of doping. Some examples of assistance include obtaining training, nutrition, or medical advice, and/or allowing the individual to serve as an agent or representative.
- Discouraging or retailing against someone from good-faith reporting of information that relates to an alleged anti-doping rule violation or alleged non-compliance with the Code.
All the information about the results management process for any alleged anti doping rule violation is shared with the athlete, the athlete’s sport national governing body, the athlete’s sport international federation and WADA.
Dietary supplements can be risky because they could contain prohibited substances that can lead to a positive anti-doping test or ingredients that cause other health problems.
This will help you to understand that:
- You can be harmed by supplements
- Laws and regulations cannot always protect you from dangerous products
- Doctors, coaches, and peers may not understand the risks of using supplements and couldrecommend an unsafe product to you
- Your reliance on dietary supplements may be unnecessary
Dietary supplements are regulated in a post-market fashion, which means that no regulatory body actually approves the accuracy of the label or safety of the contents before they are sold. So no
dietary supplement can be 100 percent risk-free. If athletes want to use supplements despite the
risks, ARM-NADO always recommends that athletes use only those that have been certified by a
third-party program that tests for substances prohibited in sport.
If you have any questions regarding the dietary supplements, you can call using the hotline
+374 94 28 20 18 , +374 99 17 22 88
There is a common misunderstanding that supplements can replace food or are even superior to
food. This is wrong. Supplements are not a shortcut to good nutrition. Supplements are
unnecessary, if you have a balanced diet and get the energy you need.
Before considering supplements, try to complete these steps first:
- Look at your diet and make any changes needed;
- If no results are achieved, speak to a medical professional and have a nutritionalassessment;
- If the medical professional has determined that a supplement is required for healthpurposes, research thoroughly and find a batch-tested product;
- Only buy a batch-tested product that has the same manufacturing reference or label as the batch certificate
If after completing the above steps you do decide to use a supplement:
- First, keep in mind that, whether you intended to cheat or not, if a prohibited substance is found in your system, even as a result of taking a supplement, or following the recommendation of a medical professional, you are responsible (strict liability);
- Keep a small amount of the supplement – if you test positive, you at least have the option of having your leftover sample scientifically tested to see if it was contaminated;
- Keep the batch-test certificate;
- Keep the proof of purchase, like a receipt;
- Keep a log of when and how much you take.
Doping Control is an effective tool – however anti-doping requires other tools to be as effective
as possible. The gathering of intelligence and subsequent investigations have proven to expose
serious cheating and systemic schemes to defraud sport. As an athlete, you may have unique
insights into your sport including clear indications of doping risks or problems that may warrant
investigation. The anti-doping system works best when you come forward with this information.
Nothing is more likely to get results for investigations than when a credible informant with hard
evidence makes the decision to do what is right and assist authorities. The ![]()
Speak Up! Platform
allows athletes, their support personnel and all others who may have information to share
regarding a possible Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) to provide the information to WADA
in a confidential manner if they choose. Speak Up! can also be used to report possible non–
compliance by an Anti-Doping Organization (ADO) under the World Anti-Doping Code (Code)
or any act or deed that could undermine global efforts for sport.