[Translate to English:] Tasse und Arzneimittel vor Person im Bett

In case of disease

Of course, athletes are also sometimes affected by injuries and illnesses. Here we explain what you need to know if an athlete is ill and needs to take medication.

Are there permitted medications?
Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE)
NEW: To the TUE navigator
Important documents

The sick athlete

In the event of illness, athletes must bear in mind that the use of certain substances may constitute an anti-doping rule violation. They should therefore inform the doctors treating them that they are subject to the anti-doping regulations.

Are there permitted medications?

Many common pharmaceuticals are allowed and do not have any doping relevance. Your first step should always be to check your medication in NADAmed, NADA Germany’s drug database. For international medications, you can use databases like Global DRO, respectively. Please always check whether there are permitted treatment options for your condition. This is often the case, so that you do not have to use substances that are on WADA´s Prohibited List. A variety of permitted pharmaceuticals and substances can be found in NADA's "Beispielliste zulässiger Medikamente (sample list of permitted pharmaceuticals in German).

When there is no permitted alternative

The anti-doping regulations also recognise that the use of prohibited substances is medically necessary in certain cases of illness. If, after consultation with your attending physician, medical treatment with a prohibited substance or a prohibited method is necessary and there is no alternative, the further procedure depends on your test pool status or, in certain team sports, on your league affiliation.

Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE)

The test pool status decides

Athletes with certain medical conditions can apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption for the use of prohibited substances and methods. This authorisation is also known as a TUE (Therapeutic Use Exemption). The Therapeutic Use Exemption can be used to prove during a test that the use of a prohibited substance is necessary for medical reasons and not to enhance performance. The procedure is regulated for all athletes worldwide in the International Standard for Therapeutic Use Exemptions (ISTUE). In Germany, the NADA Germany Standard for Therapeutic Use Exemptions applies accordingly. The time of application depends on the test pool or league affiliation (see info boxes below).

Athletes, who are member of a NADA Germany testing pool or certain professional German sports leagues, may only use prohibited substances and methods with a valid Therapeutic Use Exemption. This must be applied for from NADA Germany before use. Further information can be found here: regulations for testing pool athletes

Athletes, who are not member of a testing pool or a league that is requiring a TUE may initially participate in national competitions in Germany without having to apply for and obtain authorisation for a Therapeutic Use Exemption in advance. After a doping test, however, non-test pool athletes must apply for a retroactive Therapeutic Use Exemption upon request by NADA Germany. Further information can be found here: regulations for non-testing-pool athletes

NEW: TUE-Navigator

Find out quickly whether you need a Therapeutic Use Exemption for your medicine. To do this, click on ‘Start TUE Navigator’.

Start TUE Navigator

NADA Germany testing pools

Certain high-level athletes are included in so-called testing pools. For testing pool athletes, the anti-doping rules of NADA Germany apply in its entirety. For example, they cannot only be tested during competitions, but also out-of-competition (e.g. during training or at home). Athletes are informed in writing about their admission to a testing pool.

You can find more information about testing pools here.

Sport leagues requiring a TUE

In the professional leagues listed below, players require a Therapeutic Use Exemption before using a prohibited substance or method:

Basketball: BBL (men)
Ice hockey: DEL, DEL2 (men)
Football: 1,2,3 BL, A- and B-Junior-BL (men); 1st Bl (women)
Handball: HBL1, HBL2 (men); HBF1 (women)
Volleyball: 1st VBL (men); 1st VBL (women)

Information sheets (only in german) for the individual sports can be found in the download area.

Note on handling permitted substances

As a general rule, an application for a Therapeutic Use Exemption is never submitted for permitted substances and methods, but only for prohibited ones. It should also be noted that the use of some substances is only prohibited in competitions, but permitted out of competitions.

During a doping test, all medications and medical treatments used should always be listed on the doping test form. Furthermore, athletes do not have to inform NADA Germany about the use of permitted substances and methods.