International Sport Federations, or simply International Federations (IFs), are responsible for a given sport globally. Under the World Anti-Doping Code (Code), IFs are required to carry out the following non exhaustive anti-doping activities:
- To adopt and implement anti-doping policies and rules which conform with the Code and International Standards.
- To require, as a condition of membership, that the policies, rules and programs of their National Federations and other members are in compliance with the Code and the International Standards
- To require all Athletes preparing for or participating in a Competition or activity authorized or organized by the International Federation or one of its member organizations, and all Athlete Support Personnel associated with such Athletes, to agree to and be bound by antidoping rules in conformity with the Code as a condition of such participation or involvement.
- To take appropriate action to discourage non-compliance with the Code and the International Standards (a) by Signatories, in accordance with Code Article 24.1 and the International Standard for Code Compliance by Signatories (ISCCS), and (b) by any other sporting body over which they have authority, in accordance with Article 12 of the ISCCS.
- To authorize and facilitate the Independent Observer Program at International Events.
- To vigorously pursue all potential anti-doping rule violations within their authority including investigation into whether Athlete Support Personnel or other Persons may have been involved in each case of doping, to ensure proper enforcement of Consequences, and to conduct an automatic investigation of Athlete Support Personnel in the case of any anti-doping rule violation involving a Protected Person or Athlete Support Person who has provided support to more than one Athlete found to have committed an anti-doping rule violation.
- To plan, implement, evaluate and promote antidoping Education in line with the requirements of the International Standard for Education (ISE), including requiring National Federations to conduct anti-doping Education in coordination with the applicable National Anti-Doping Organization.
- To accept bids for World Championships and other International Events only from countries where the government has ratified, accepted, approved or acceded to the UNESCO Convention, and (where required under Article 24.1.9) to not accept bids for Events from countries where the National Olympic Committee, the National Paralympic Committee and/or the National Anti-Doping Organization is not in compliance with the Code or the International Standards.
- To cooperate with relevant national organizations and agencies and other Anti-Doping Organizations.
- To cooperate fully with WADA in connection with investigations conducted by WADA pursuant to Code Article 20.7.14.
- To have disciplinary rules in place and require National Federations to have disciplinary rules in place to prevent Athlete Support Personnel who are Using Prohibited Substances or Prohibited Methods without valid justification from providing support to Athletes within the International Federation’s or National Federation’s authority.
The responsibilities listed above are taken from the World Anti-Doping Code. For a full list of IFs responsibilities, please consult the World Anti-Doping Code, specifically art. 20.3.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognizes IFs regrouped under the umbrella of four associations, namely the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF), the Winter Olympic Federations (WOF), the Association of IOC Recognized International Sports Federations (ARISF) and the Alliance of Independent recognised Members of Sport (AIMS).
The sports within the Paralympic Movement are governed either by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) serving as the IF, by an IF that also falls under the Olympic Movement (an IF that governs disciplines for both athletes with a disability and without) or an independent IF that governs the particular sport for athletes with a disability. The IPC also recognizes a number of IFs that are not part of the Paralympic Games but that are Code signatories.
Finally, there are a number of IFs that have not been formally recognized by the Olympic and Paralympic Movements but that are Code signatories.
In order to further promote independence and transparency of their anti-doping activities, several IFs have created anti-doping or integrity units that are governed independently of the IF, such as:
- Athletics Integrity Unit – responsible for anti-doping on behalf of World Athletics
- International Tennis Integrity Agency – responsible for anti-doping on behalf of the International Tennis Federation (ITF)
- Biathlon Integrity Unit – responsible for anti-doping on behalf of the International Biathlon Union (IBU)
Other IFs have opted to have all or parts of their anti-doping programs managed by a third-party organization or service provider. The IOC created the International Testing Agency (ITA) to help IFs, as well as Major Event Organizations (MEOs), manage their anti-doping programs.
More information about other providers of anti-doping services
