Rights and obligations of athletes in respect of TUEs
Every athlete with a documented medical condition has the right to apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) – a special certificate testifying that the athlete concerned has the right to use a prohibited substance or prohibited method in order to treat an illness over a fixed period of time.
Athletes should submit their TUE application to their international federation:
• in case they have been included in that international federation’s Registered Testing Pool; or
• in case they are participating in an international event for which a TUE granted pursuant to the international federation’s specific anti-doping rules is required.
In all other cases, athletes should apply for TUEs by submission of a standard TUE application form to the Anti-Doping Centre either in person, or by email (TUE@anti-doping.government.bg) or fax (+359 2 862 60 54).
For a TUE to be considered, the athlete must:
• submit an accurately completed TUE application form;
• attach all evidence confirming the diagnosis including a comprehensive medical history and the results of all relevant examinations, laboratory investigations and imaging studies, to the TUE application;
• apply for a TUE no less than 21 days before he/she needs the approval (for instance, an event for which the athlete is entered to compete).
The arguments related to the diagnosis and treatment, as well as to the duration of validity of the TUE, should be guided by the World Anti-Doping Agency’s Medical Information to Support the Decisions of Therapeutic Use Exemption Committees.
An athlete not included the Anti-Doping Centre Registered Testing Pool who has been denied a TUE has the right:
• to appeal such denial to the Bulgarian Sports Arbitration with the Bulgarian Olympic Committee within three days.
An athlete included the Anti-Doping Centre’s Registered Testing Pool and/or their international federation’s Registered Testing Pool who has been denied a TUE has the right:
• to appeal the denial to the World Anti-Doping Agency’s Therapeutic Use Exemptions Committee at his/her own expense.
It is important to keep in mind that the World Anti-Doping Agency has the right to review the granting of a TUE to any athlete who is included in a Registered Testing Pool or entered to compete in an international event for which a TUE granted pursuant to the international federation’s specific anti-doping rules is required, at any time and on its own initiative. In such cases, the athlete concerned has the right:
• to appeal a possible denial to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland.
General rights and obligations
Rights and obligations during testing
Rights and obligations in case of a positive A-sample
Rights and obligations of athletes included in the Anti-Doping Centre Registered Testing Pool
