Therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs) are available for pétanque and boule sports, but must be requested in advance.
The WPBF-FMBP TUE application form can be downloaded here: (click on the logo)
* format Word and pdf
Athlete Therapeutic Use Exemption process for the WPBF
What is a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) ?
Athletes may have a medical condition that requires them to take medication or undergo certain procedures prohibited by Anti-Doping policies.
If the drug or method an athlete must use to treat a particular condition is prohibited under the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) Prohibited List, a TUE may allow the athlete to use that substance or method while participating in athletic competition, without committing an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV) or incurring any applicable sanction.
After review by a committee of physicians, the Therapeutic Use Exemption Committee (TUEC), TUEs may be granted if they meet the relevant criteria.
The TUE also specifies the duration for which it is granted.
Which athletes need to apply for a TUE ?
Only international-level athletes are required to submit their application to the International Federation, WPBF-FMBP.
Other athletes submit their application to their national anti-doping organization (NADO).
WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA FOR GRANTING A TUE ?
All four of the following criteria must be met (for more information, please refer to article 4.2 of WADA's International Standard for Therapeutic Use Exemptions (ISTUE)):
- The athlete has been diagnosed with a medical condition that requires treatment with a prohibited substance or method.
- The use of the substance for therapeutic purposes will not, on a balance of probabilities, produce a significant improvement in performance beyond that attributable to the athlete's return to a state of normal health.
- The Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method is an indicated treatment for the medical condition, and there is no reasonable, authorized therapeutic alternative.
- The need to use this substance or method is not a consequence of the previous use (without a TUE) of a substance or method which was prohibited at the time of its use.
Who should apply for a TUE? Where and when to request one ?
Athletes who are subject to anti-doping rules need a TUE to use a prohibited substance or prohibited method. You need to check with the WPBF-FMBP to find out who to send the request to and whether it is possible to apply for a retroactive TUE.
First of all, check whether the drug or method you intend to take or use is prohibited according to the WADA Prohibited List. You can also consult an online drug database, or ask your National Anti-Doping Organization (NADO) if they have one.
It is your responsibility to inform your doctor that you are an athlete subject to anti-doping rules. You and your doctor must check whether the substance or method prescribed is on the Prohibited List. If it is, consider options that are not prohibited; if there are none, submit a TUE application. Remember, this is ultimately the athlete's responsibility. Contact your NADO or the WPBF-FMBP if you have any specific questions, or if you have any difficulties interpreting the regulations in force.
Then contact the WPBF-FMBP to determine your level of competition and TUE application requirements.
- If it is determined that you are an international-level athlete (competing in Continental or Intercontinental competitions) you must submit your TUE application to the WPBF-FMBP in advance, as soon as the need arises, unless there is an emergency or exceptional circumstances.
In the case of substances banned only in competition, you must apply for a TUE at least 30 days before your next competition, unless one of the exceptions on retroactive TUEs (see below) applies. Please see “How to apply for a TUE from WPBF-FMBP” below.
If you already hold a TUE issued by your NADO that is still in force, the WPBF-FMBP will recognize this valid TUEs granted by your NADO.
- If you are NOT an international-level athlete and have been tested by the WPBF-FMBP, the WPBF-FMBP will recognize a valid TUE granted by your NADO (i.e. it meets the SITUE criterion for granting a TUE), unless you are required to apply for TUE recognition to compete in an international event.
- Reminder: If you are NOT a national-level athlete as defined by your NADO and have been tested by the WPBF-FMBP, you must apply to your NADO or to the WPBF-FMBP for a retroactive TUE.
CAN I OBTAIN A RETROACTIVE TUE ?
You can apply to your NADO or to WPBF-FMBP for a retroactive TUE only in the following cases:
- You needed emergency treatment for a medical condition.
- There was insufficient time to submit a TUE application, you did not have the opportunity to do so or other exceptional circumstances prevented you from submitting a TUE application or having it assessed before being tested.
- You are a lower-level athlete who does not fall under the jurisdiction of the WPBF-FMBP or a NADO and have been tested.
- You have tested positive for the use of an out-of-competition substance that is prohibited only in competition (e.g. glucocorticoids).
In rare and exceptional cases, and notwithstanding any other provision of the ISTUE, you may apply for and obtain retroactive approval for the therapeutic use of a prohibited substance or method if, given the purpose of the Code, it would be manifestly unfair if retroactive TUE were not granted.
This one-off retroactive TUE will only be granted with the prior approval of WADA (and WADA may, at its free and sole discretion, accept or reject the decision of the NADO or WPBF-FMBP).
Important note:
The use of a prohibited substance or method without a TUE could result in a AVRD.
If a retroactive TUE is required following sample collection, we strongly advise you to prepare a medical file to submit for evaluation.
How do I apply for a TUE with the WPBF-FMBP ?
Please download the WPBF-FMBP TUE application form and, after completing and signing it, send it with the required medical file to
Your TUE request must be written in legible capital letters or block letters.
The medical file must include :
- A complete medical history, including documentation from the physician(s) who made the original diagnosis (if available);
- Results of all examinations, laboratory tests and imaging studies relevant to the application.
The costs of applying for a TUE, including any medical examination, additional tests or imaging studies, etc., are borne by the athlete.
Incomplete or illegible TUE applications will not be processed and will be returned for completion and resubmission.
To assist you and your physician in providing the appropriate medical documentation, we suggest that you consult WADA's TUE Checklists for advice and assistance, and the TUE Guidelines for Physicians for advice on common medical conditions, certain treatments and substances, etc.
Keep a copy of the TUE application form and all medical information submitted in support of your application, as well as proof of submission.
HOW DO I SUBMIT A REQUEST FOR RECOGNITION OF MY NADO'S TUE TO THE WPBF-FMBP ?
Your request for recognition must be submitted to the WPBF-FMBP in writing, indicating the TUE reference number in ADAMS. (
Keep a copy of the proof of submission to WPBF-FMBP.
WHAT HAPPENS AT MAJOR EVENTS ?
An organization responsible for major events requires athletes to apply for recognition of their TUE if they wish to use a prohibited substance or method at the event in question.
If you have a TUE granted by the WPBF-FMBP or by your NADO and will be competing at a major event, such as the World Championships, you should contact the organization responsible for major events for information on their TUE recognition process.
WHEN WILL I RECEIVE A DECISION ON MY TUE [OR RECOGNITION] APPLICATION ?
The TUEC of WPBF-FMBP or the TUEC of the NADO in the organizing country must render a decision as soon as possible, usually within 21 days from the date of receipt of the completed TUE application [or application for recognition].
If the application file is incomplete, missing or additional documents will be requested. The response time is then suspended until the requested documents are received or the deadline for the interested party to submit the documents has elapsed.
WHAT IF I NEED TO RENEW MY TUE ?
The duration of each TUE varies, after which it expires automatically. If you need to continue using the prohibited substance or method, it is your responsibility to submit a new TUE application with updated medical information before the expiry date, so that a decision can be made before the current TUE expires.
Important note:
The presence (as a result of sampling), use, possession or administration of the prohibited substance or method must be in accordance with the terms of your TUE. Therefore, if you require a dosage, frequency, route or duration of administration that differs significantly from that indicated in your TUE, you must contact your NADO or the WPBF-FMBP, as you may be required to submit a new TUE application. As an example, certain dosages and substances, such as insulin, are often subject to change during treatment; any such changes must be mentioned by the treating physician in the TUE application, and will generally be accepted by the TUEC of the anti-doping organization.
WHAT IF MY TUE REQUEST TO MY NADO OR TO THE WPBF-FMBP IS REFUSED ?
Any refusal of a TUE application is accompanied by a written explanation of the reasons for the decision. If the explanation is not clear to you, please contact the WPBF-FMBP to understand exactly why the TUE was refused. Sometimes an important piece of information, a diagnostic test, laboratory results, etc., is missing. In these cases, the application must be resubmitted.
You or your NADO may submit the file to WADA for review within a maximum of 21 days following notification of the decision rendered by the TUEC of the WPBF-FMBP or the NADO in the organizing country. You must send the same information that you submitted to us and that led to the TUE refusal, via a secure online method or by registered mail to the following address:
Agence mondiale antidopage
The email address to use for questions or to send the review request is:
Please note that WADA is not obliged to accept a request for review. If the request is refused, you or your NADO may appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Will my medical information be treated confidentially ?
All content of a TUE application, including supporting medical information and any other information associated with the evaluation of your TUE application, remains strictly confidential and is treated in accordance with the athlete declaration contained in the ADAMS TUE process, and in the WPBF-FMBP TUE application form. All members of the TUEC and other authorized recipients of your TUE application and related information (as specified in the athlete declaration) are subject to professional secrecy or a contractual obligation of confidentiality.
Please read the terms of the Athlete Declaration carefully. In particular, please note that if you wish to revoke the right of the WPBF-FMBP TUEC to obtain the information associated with your TUE, in accordance with the Athlete Declaration, WADA will consider your TUE application to be withdrawn without an approval [or acknowledgement] having been issued.
WPBF-FMBP and any other authorized recipient will not retain information related to your TUE application longer than is necessary for the purposes described in the Athlete Declaration, in accordance with the International Standard for the Protection of Personal Information.
CONTACT
If you have any questions or require further information about WPBF-FMBP’s personal information management practices, please contact
If you are unsure about which organization to apply to for a TUE or about the recognition process, or if you have any other questions about TUEs, please contact
Other useful links
WADA International Standard for Therapeutic Use Exemptions (ISTEU)
WADA Guidelines for the International Standard for Therapeutic Use Exemptions (ISTUE)
WADA's Anti-Doping Education and Learning Platform (ADEL)
