Strict Liability

 

The principle of strict liability requires a high degree of responsibility on the part of sportsmen and sportswomen, as they have to take responsibility for all prohibited substances found in their body.

The anti-doping provisions stipulate that anti-doping organizations have to prove that a violation of its rules has taken place. In the case of prohibited substances, it is usually considered sufficient proof if a recognised analysis laboratory demonstrates that banned substances that can be assigned to the athlete concerned are present.

 

The term strict liability has been more clearly defined in recent years. Anti-doping organisations are required to prove that a positive analysis result was caused by doping, not by natural causes. This is why in the case of high testosterone to epitestosterone ratios, additional tests are carried out to rule out natural causes.