Coach Overview

Sport Ireland strongly supports and recognises the role of the coach, in the Anti-Doping movement. From an early stage the coach has a role in providing support to athletes for ethical decision making in sport. Coaches interact with athletes on a regular basis, and often at a time when athletes are ill or experiencing injury.

In an Irish Sports Council Survey of national level athletes in 2008, it was found that 20% of athletes would check the status of an 'over-the-counter' product with their coach and 35% said the coach was their main source of information on supplements.

Sport Ireland believes that the coach plays an important role in informing and advising athletes on their medication use and athletes general awareness of the Anti-Doping programme.

To assist your athletes, it is important that you familiarise yourself with the different aspects of Anti-Doping as outlined on this website.

• To understand what happens in a drug test and the potential role for coaches to act as a representative for an athlete at the athletes request - view the section "What happens in a drug test?"

• You should remind athletes of all levels to check their medications - read "How to check your medications". If an athlete needed to use a prohibited substance - read "Therapeutic Use Exemptions".

• If you coach athletes on the Registered Testing Pool you should be aware of, and understand their responsibilities for complying with whereabouts requirements, and the serious consequences for non-compliance - read "Registered Testing Pool".

Coach True developed by WADA is an e-learning programmedeveloped by WADA, with tailored information for coaches addressing key areas in Anti-Doping. Sport Ireland encourages coaches to undertake this e-learning programme.