An athlete, like any other person, may have illnesses or conditions that require use of particular medications as treatment, but substances he/she might take as treatment can fall under Prohibited list. In  such case therapeutic use exemption (TUE) under strict conditions may provide an athlete authorisation to take needed medicine while competing in sport with no resulting doping offence.

Any athlete including those with disabilities with a documented, legitimate medical condition may apply for TUE.

An exemption will be granted only in strict accordance with Code criteria. Under the World antidoping Code WADA has issued an International Standard for granting TUE.

The route of TUE process can be in both ways depending on the international or national level of athlete. The athlete must establish whether he or she is classified and send the application form to NADO or IF (International federation). TUE request can be submitted to one body at the time. The list of athletes included in Testing pool shall be shared between various ADOs and should be regurarly updated. IF should communicate with NADOs regading testing pool. Cooperation between those institutions is needed to prevent duplication, but in practise that process of mutual recognition could be very difficult.

There are two application forms - the standard form (TUE) and simplified (ATUE). ATUE is an easier administrative means of obtaining an authorisation to take prohibited substances. Standard TUE is required for any treatment involiving a substance or method on the Prohibited List for which an ATUE cannot be obtained. ATUE may only be used in the respect of the following prohibited substances: β-2 agonists (formoterol, salbutamol, salmeterol and terbutaline) by inhalation and glucocorticosteroids by non systemic routes.
Administration by systemic route glucocorticosteroids parenterally, orally, rectally or by intramuscular injection is indication for standard TUE aplication.

All International federations and National antidoping organizations must have process in place whereby athletes with documented medical conditions can request a TUE.
TUE committee may ask for additional investigations and diagnostic procedures and should include at least three physicians with a experience in the care and treatment of athletes. At least one expert should have a knowledge in the specific medical area of the request.
It is very important that all the applications for TUE, submitted and send via fax or email on time could be evaluated properly. Based upon International standard for granting TUE, according to the new Code there is deadline  and it is 30 day before competition.
There are some situations when retroactive approval can be accepted like for example:
-Emergency treatment
-Exeptional circumstances
-There was not enough time for an applicant to submit.

1. Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
2. Chronic inflammatory bowel disease
3. Musculo-scelettal affections
4. Male hypogonadism
5. Asthma
6. Renal transplatation
7. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
8. Adult growth hormone deficiency
9. Childhood and adolescence growth hormone deficiency
10. Arterial hypertension
11. Narcolepsy-cataplexy

For all this mentioned above medical conditions there are guidelines. TUE can be granted for limited period of time.

Before entering in process of TUE every athlete should advice his/hers psysician and following exact rules and guidelines exemption will be provided.

For any additional information you can contact our TUE Coordinator Dr. Valentina Stulic.