ANTI-DOPING AND SUPPLEMENTS

Australian Football International (AFI) subscribes to a philosophy and adopts a stance that:

1. ensures that Australian Football competitions are conducted upon the basis of athletic prowess and natural levels of fitness and development and not on any pharmacologically enhanced performance;

2. protects participants from using substances which may cause acute or long-term harm to their bodies;

3. educates the participants to understand the dangers and consequences of the use of performance enhancing substances; and

4. sets an example for all participants in the sport of Australian Football by condemning the use of performance enhancing substances.

AFI acknowledges that Supplements are used by athletes including Players of Australian Football. The Supplement industry is largely unregulated, and some Supplements may contain substances that are prohibited in sport and may lead to a potential anti-doping rule violation along with health and reputational risks.

Anti-doping rules are based upon ‘strict liability and Players are responsible for any prohibited substances found in their body or their possession.

Supplements – Player Responsibility

Players are encouraged to adopt a “food first” philosophy, whereby an individualised nutrition plan should be adequate for most Players. Supplements may be required in cases where diet does not meet the nutritional needs of a Player, or in the context of a specific training regime.

Where Players consider Supplement use, they:

1. Must ensure compliance with the Australian Football Anti-Doping Code;

2. Should only consider use on an individual basis and as part of a comprehensive nutrition and training program;

3. Should ensure that any use is safe and effective based on evidence including by using the AIS Sports Supplement Framework which categorises Supplement use into four groups according to scientific evidence and other practical considerations that determine whether a product is safe, permitted and effective in improving sports performance:

  • A – Strong scientific evidence for the use in specific situations in sport using evidence-based protocols. May include sports foods, medical supplements, and performance supplements.

  • B – Emerging scientific support, deserving of further research. Considered for use by athletes under research protocol or case-managed monitoring situation.

  • C– Scientific evidence not supportive of benefit amongst athletes or no research undertaken to guide an informed opinion.

  • D – Banned or high risk of contamination with substances that could lead to a positive doping test and should not be taken by any Player.