Following a three-year consultation process, revised versions of the World Anti-Doping Code (Code) and its related International Standards will come into effect on 1 January 2021. 
As a Code Signatory¹ , the FEI must now amend its rules and policies to ensure their compliance with the new Code and International Standards. The FEI Anti-Doping Rules for Human Athletes (ADRHA) is the rule book which implements the Code and International Standards in FEI sports as an essential part of the FEI’s fight against doping.

¹Code Signatory: Code Signatories are those entities signing the Code and agreeing to comply with the Code. Sport organisations within the following categories have accepted the Code:
♦  Olympic Movement
♦  National Anti-Doping Organisations (NADOs)
♦  Outside the Olympic Movement

The list of Code Signatories is available here.

The World Anti-Doping Code (Code) is the core document that harmonises anti-doping policies, rules and regulations within sport organisations and among public authorities around the world.
The Code works in conjunction with six International Standards which aim to foster consistency among anti-doping organisations in various areas: testing; laboratories; Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs); the List of Prohibited Substances and Methods; the protection of privacy and personal information; and Code Compliance by Signatories.

Click here for more information about the International Standards.

The Code is subject to regular reviews, and the International Standards are revised accordingly. The 2021 Code Review Process aims at ensuring that the Code remains fit for purpose within the evolving environment in which Anti-Doping Organisations (ADOs¹) must pursue their mission. Further information about the Code revision process is available on WADA’s website.
 

¹ ADO (Anti-Doping Organization): WADA or a Signatory that is responsible for adopting rules for initiating, implementing or enforcing any part of the Doping Control process. This includes, for example, the International Olympic Committee, the International Paralympic Committee, other Major Event Organizations that conduct Testing at their Events, International Federations, and National Anti-Doping Organizations.

The changes cover almost all areas of anti-doping such as for example the list of anti-doping rule violations, prohibited substances, education, Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs²), results managements, sanctions, etc.
As a result of the changes in the Code, the corresponding Standards had to be revised too.
In addition, two new Standards will come into force: the International Standard for Education (ISE) and the International Standard for Results Management (ISRM).
All the International Standards in force on 1 January 2021 are available on WADA’s website. 

²Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE): a Therapeutic Use Exemption allows an Athlete with a medical condition to use a Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method, but only if the conditions set out in Code Article 4.4 and the International Standard for Therapeutic Use Exemptions are met.

A first draft of the revised ADRHA will be submitted to the National Federations as part of the Rule Revision process for the 2020 General Assembly on 13 July 2020 (click here). National Federations and stakeholders will have until 31 August 2020 to submit comments to the FEI.
The extent of the consultation will however be limited. This is because most of the Code provisions must be incorporated without changes in the Signatories’ anti-doping rules. For example, the FEI cannot make any modifications to the list and definition of anti-doping rules violations in article 2.   
Those provisions for which the FEI has a level of flexibility will be flagged as such in the draft so that National Federations can submit comments on them if they so wish.
The final draft ADRHA will be available by 19 October 2020 and will be submitted to the General Assembly for approval on 17 November 2020.

As a Code Signatory, the FEI will enforce its amended rules and policies and ensure that National Federations are in compliance with the ADRHA. 
Compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code is mandatory for the whole Olympic Movement (article 43, Olympic Charter). WADA monitors implementation of and compliance with the Code by its Signatories. The FEI’s compliance to the Code depends to some extent on National Federations compliance with the ADRHA.

The changes cover all areas of anti-doping, from the definition of anti-doping rule violations to the publication of decisions. New categories of persons will be bound by the rules. New questions are addressed related to the protection of whistle blowers, retesting of samples, compliance, education, the increase in cases arising due to the use of social drugs and issues identified as a result of the Russian doping crisis, etc. A comprehensive summary of the substantial changes to the Code and International Standards is available in the “Resource Library – ADRHA Rule Changes”. 

In “Understand the Key Changes for 2021” we highlight rule changes to which National Federations must pay particular attention as they will require operational measures and must be known and understood by all persons subject to the Code and ADHRA. They fall under the following categories:
•    Education requirements
•    Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs)
•    Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs)
•    Persons bound by the Code and ADRHA
•    Prohibited Substances
•    Common Contaminants in Supplements and Other Products 
•    Dealing with Cases
•    Sanctions

For National Federations, the now mandatory education requirements are an important task. Working together with your NADO/RADO will be essential. It is important to start now. Please refer to sections 4 “Adjusting Your Education Plan to the 2021 ADRHA” and 5 “Developing a partnership with your NADO/RADO”.