USADA DRUG TESTING

Boston Athletic Association is pleased to support integrity in competition, and to announce it has contracted with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (“USADA”) to provide an anti-doping program during the B.A.A. Half Marathon (the “Event”), to be held in Boston, Massachusetts, a USATF (“Sanctioning Body”) sanctioned event. USADA is the independent national anti-doping organization in the United States, and runs the U.S. anti-doping program for Olympic, Paralympic, Pan-American and Parapan American movement sports, in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code (“Code”). Boston Athletic Association has contracted with USADA to demonstrate a commitment to fair, drug-free, and safe competition. Doping, as defined in the USADA Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing and its Annexes (the “USADA Protocol”), is against the rules of the Event, and will not be tolerated. The anti-doping rules for the Event are set forth in the USADA Protocol and are fully applicable to each competitor, each member of the competitor’s team, and all athlete support personnel involved in the Event. Any violation of the anti-doping rules may result in disqualification and loss of results achieved during the Event, in addition to all consequences that arise in accordance with the USADA Protocol and the Code. 

Athletes competing in the Event are subject to blood and/or urine testing for any substance or method on the World Anti-Doping Agency (“WADA”) Prohibited List: www.usada.org/prohibited-list/. In addition to testing, USADA is a resource for educational information and will have jurisdiction to handle the results management process of any potential anti-doping rule violation. All Event participants (including competitors, each member of the competitor’s team, and all athlete support personnel involved in the Event) acknowledge and agree that they are subject to the Code and the USADA Protocol, and that they are required to abide by all such rules and by the anti-doping rules of the Boston Athletic Association and the Sanctioning Body. Anti-doping rule violations will be adjudicated in accordance with the USADA Protocol and each participant agrees that their sole, exclusive, final and binding remedy in relation to any potential anti-doping rule violation alleged by USADA and/or in response to any matter relating to anti-doping, sample collection, drug testing, doping control, results management and/or USADA shall be arbitration in accordance with the USADA Protocol.

As USADA is an independent entity, all athlete questions or concerns regarding details of the anti-doping program at the Event should be directed to USADA.  In an effort to aid athletes, as well as all support team members such as parents, coaches, managers and paramedical personnel, in understanding the rules applicable to them, USADA provides comprehensive information on its website regarding the testing process and prohibited substances, how to obtain permission to use a necessary medication, and the risks and dangers of taking supplements as well as performance-enhancing and recreational drugs. Athletes looking for information about the testing process can start at www.usada.org/athletes. In addition, USADA manages an athlete hotline which may be used to find answers to drug reference questions at (719) 785-2000, toll-free at (866) 601-2632, and by email at athleteexpress@usada.org. Athletes may also access this information online at www.GlobalDRO.com. For information about dietary supplements, please visit USADA’s Supplement 411 resource at www.Supplement411.org. 

For more general anti-doping program information, please visit www.usada.org.