DownloadAustralian Sports Drug Medical Advisory Committee
Overview
Section 52 of the ASADA Act and Clause 5 of the National Anti-Doping (NAD) scheme outline the functions of the Australian Sports Drug Medical Advisory Committee (ASDMAC). These functions include:
- giving approval for classes of athletes to use prohibited medications for legitimate therapeutic purposes
- conducting investigations and providing additional medical and scientific expertise to help determine positive test results
- providing expert medical advice to drug testing laboratories
- providing expert medical advice to anti-doping tribunals
- advising athletes and NSOs about anti-doping issues and the wellbeing of athletes
- giving advice to ASADA and the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) on matters relating to anti-doping and athletes’ health and wellbeing
- providing advice to ASADA and ASADA’s clients about sports medicine issues.
A full statement of ASDMAC’s functions as prescribed in the ASADA Act and NAD scheme is included in appendix K.
ASDMAC functions are subject to compliance with relevant legislation and regulation. Regular audits highlight openness and transparency in decision-making, the highest standards of probity, integrity and a strong commitment to accountability. ASDMAC held five meetings during 2008–09.
ASDMAC complies with the World Anti-Doping Code and the International Standard for Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs).
Therapeutic approvals for prohibited substances
ASDMAC operates as the Australian Therapeutic Use Exemption Committee, providing approval for therapeutic use of prohibited substances to certain athletes if:
- their national sporting organisation’s anti-doping policy allows for, or permits, the athlete to seek approval to use a medication prohibited in sport for a legitimate therapeutic purpose
- there is no alternative and permitted therapeutic substance available that could be prescribed to treat the athlete’s medical condition
- there is no evidence that the athlete will gain a performance enhancement effect by using the substance.
ASDMAC provides approval for the therapeutic use of prohibited substances where applicable
ASDMAC members
ASDMAC members operate in accordance with the powers and functions under the ASADA Act, the ASADA Regulations and the NAD scheme.
| Position | Name | Date ending | Meetings eligible to attend | Meetings attended |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chair | Prof Ken Fitch AM | 28 November 2009 | 5 | 5 |
| Member | Dr Susan White | 24 September 2010 | 5 | 5 |
| Member | Dr Peter Harcourt OAM | 24 September 2010 | 5 | 5 |
| Member | Dr Hugh Hazard | 31 October 2010 | 5 | 5 |
| Member | Dr Grace Bryant | 30 June 2011 | 5 | 5 |
| Member | Dr Terry Farquharson | 22 September 2010 | 4 | 4 |
Prof Ken Fitch AM
MBBS, MD, DSc (Hon), FRACGP, FACRM, FACSM, FASMF, FACSP
- Adjunct Professor, School of Human Movement and Exercise Science, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Western Australia
- Member, International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Medical Commission
- Chairman, IOC Games Group
- Chairman, IOC’s Therapeutic Use Exemption Committee
- Chairman, IOC’s Independent Asthma Panel
- Member, Australian Doping Research Panel
- Chairman, Therapeutic Use Committee, Oceania Regional Anti-Doping Organisation
- Chairman, Therapeutic Use Committee, Commonwealth Games Federation
- Member, Therapeutic Use Committee, Professional Golfers Association European Tour
- Emeritus Consultant Physician, Sports Medicine, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Royal Perth Hospital.
Dr Susan White
MBBS (Hons), FACSP, FASMF
- Sports Physician, Olympic Park Sports Medicine Centre, Melbourne
- Member, Medical Commission, International Federation of Netball Associations
- Chief Medical Officer, Swimming Australia
- Editorial Board, Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine
- Editorial Board, British Journal of Sports Medicine
- Member, Anti-Doping Panel, Cricket Australia
- Member, Australian Football League Tribunal (anti-doping)
- Team Physician, Australian Swim Team
- Team Physician, Melbourne Vixens Netball Team.
Dr Peter Harcourt OAM
MBBS, FACSP, FASMF, Dip Obs
- Sports Physician Medical Director, Australian Commonwealth Games team, Delhi, India
- Medical Coordinator, Victorian Institute of Sport
- Executive Manager, Health Services Group (WorkSafe and Transport Accident Commission), Victoria
- Chief Medical Officer, Basketball Australia
- Medical Commissioner, Australian Football League
- Anti-Doping Medical Officer, Cricket Australia
- Chair, International Cricket Council Medical Committee and Therapeutic Use Exemption Committee
- Federation Internationale de Basketball Amateur Medical Council and Therapeutic Use Exemption Committee
- Team Physician, Melbourne Victory Football Club and Southern Dragons Basketball Club
- Senior Fellow, Faculty of Law, University of Melbourne.
Dr Hugh Hazard
MBBS, Grad Dip Sports Science, FACSP
- Sports Physician
- Team Medical Officer, Country Rugby League team
- Medical Consultant, Bulldogs Rugby League Club.
Dr Grace Bryant OAM
MBBS, Grad Dip Sports Science, FASMF, FACSP, FFESM (UK)
- Sports Physician
- Chief Medical Officer, Australian Women’s Water Polo
- Team Physician, National Netball Competition
- Member, Medical Commission, Australian Commonwealth Games Association
- Member, Education Committee, Sports Medicine Australia (NSW Branch)
- Member, International Netball Medical Panel.
Dr Terry Farquharson
B Pharm, MBBS, M App Sci, FASMF, FACSP
- Sports Physician
- SA Sports Medicine Centre Clinical Lecturer
- University of Adelaide Senior Visiting Medical Specialist
- Queen Elizabeth Hospital Medical Officer with Norwood Football Club and South Australian National Football League
- Medical Officer with South Australian Cricket Association and Cricket Australia.
Achievements
During the financial year ending 30 June 2009, ASDMAC:
- processed 86 applications for TUEs between July 2008 and December 2008
- processed 420 applications for TUEs between January 2009 (the implementation of the new World Anti-Doping Code and the International Standard for Therapeutic Use Exemptions) and June 2009
- developed guidelines for the approval of:
- Beta-2 agonists
- Non-Systemic Glucocorticosteroids
- advised ASADA on 27 testosterone/epitestosterone investigations
- provided advice to ASADA in relation to:
- the process of Beta-2 agonist TUEs
- ASADA’s TUE fact sheets
- developed and implemented new/updated procedures and forms in line with the Code
- welcomed a new member, Dr Terry Farquharson, on 23 September 2008
- was consulted during the preparation of the Australian Government’s submission to WADA’s 2010 list of prohibited substances and prohibited methods
- members prepared quarterly written advice for the Australasian College of Sports Physicians’ newsletter on various aspects of TUEs Prof Fitch presented at the Australasian College of Sports Physicians’ Annual Conference and the 2008 Football Medicine Conference on asthma and Beta-2 agonists, focusing on experiences in Beijing 2008 and the changes to be introduced by WADA in 2009.
ASDMAC’s TUE guidelines have been offered to responsible third parties such as TUE committees at the level of both the national anti-doping organisation and the International Federation.
Resources
ASDMAC is funded through the ASADA appropriation. A breakdown of the 2008–09 budget is as follows:
| Members’ and professional fees | $105,014 |
| Meetings and conferences | $45,964 |
| Administration and communication | $14,230 |
| TOTAL | $165,208 |