In the event of a medical emergency, health comes first. Emergency therapies should be administered immediately, even if this involves using prohibited substances or methods according to the Prohibited List. Any necessary TUE application should be submitted as soon as the health situation allows. This applies at both national and international levels.
An Emergency TUE application is necessary for those athletes who require a prospective TUE in accordance with the applicable regulations. For them, the Emergency TUE application is an exception, which consists in the fact that the application and its evaluation are only made after the start of therapy. The TUE Wizard will provide helpful information if there are uncertainties about which athletes need a prospective TUE.
The following also applies to Emergency TUE applications:
- In addition to the fully completed TUE application form, a comprehensive medical documentation is required. Despite the circumstances, it is therefore important that the emergency therapy and the associated diagnosis are documented as well as possible by a doctor.
- An Emergency TUE application may be announced at the responsible Anti-Doping Organization, for example, if the necessary medical documents such as a hospital discharge report are not immediately available. This can also be done by the support personnel. At the same time, it can be clarified which medical documents must be submitted.
Athletes who, according to the applicable regulations, can submit a retroactive TUE application, i.e. after a possible doping test, do not have to submit an Emergency TUE application. The usual procedure therefore applies to them, regardless of whether an emergency therapy or other prohibited therapy for health reasons is used.
Emergency kit and adrenaline (epinephrine) auto-injector pen
It may be essential for allergy sufferers to carry an emergency kit (containing antihistamines and glucocorticoids in tablet form) or an adrenaline pen (e.g. EpiPen® or Jext®). Being in possession of this emergency medication, which is prohibited in competitions, does not require a TUE, even when brought to a competition. In the event of emergency use of this medication during a competition, the aforementioned procedure applies. If glucocorticoid tablets or injections are used before a competition, the appropriate washout periods should be observed: