Coach's Section

Anti-doping and coaches?


Coaches are regarded as being in the front line of anti-doping work. Coaches are viewed as role models and often have a big influence on the athletes they train. The information you give your athletes about drugs in sport is critical.


What role can a coach play in anti-doping?

Drug Free Sport NZ believes that the following can reasonably be expected of coaches:

• All coaches should demonstrate a clear, rational and unequivocal attitude rejecting drugs, which cannot be misinterpreted by athletes.
• All coaches should be prepared to discuss the issue with their athletes and provide sound advice and guidance.

The coach approach...

It is important that in discussing issues with athletes you understand the pressures they may feel to try some substances and address those pressures rather than just dismissing them. It is unrealistic to expect coaches to be able to debate all the details relating to the use of drugs with their athletes, many of the issues are very technical and some of the pragmatic arguments supporting use may be quite compelling within their own narrow context (though coaches at the elite level should be able to manage such debates). You therefore need to know where to go to get more information if it is needed.

• Make sure you are aware of the methods of checking whether a substance is permitted, restricted or banned. If in doubt check it out by using our hotline 0800 Drug Free (0800 378 437).
• Ensure athletes understand they need to check anything they put into their bodies, before they take it.
• Request a Drugs in Sport presentation. Drug Free Sport NZ may be able to organise a speaker to talk to your team about drugs in sport. For more information see the Anti-Doping Education Programme page on this site.
• Ensure that annually (also check our website regularly for any news/updates) you provide athlete with the current information resources such as wallet guides etc. These can be obtained from Drug Free Sport NZ, at no charge, by calling 0800 Drug Free.

How is a coach involved in drug testing procedures?

Frequently a coach may be the only person in a position to support an athlete during a drug test. For experienced athletes this may not be regarded as necessary but for inexperienced ones or those who are severely fatigued a friendly and helpful presence can be very important. Consequently it is important that coaches understand the testing process and the rights and responsibilities that athletes have.

What not to do...

It is unusual for Drug Free Sport NZ Officials to get into confrontational situations while testing but when it does happen it is more often with coaches than with athletes. For the most part this results from coaches wishing to be protective of their athletes but our experience shows that it simply creates an unpleasant environment for all and does nothing to ease the process for the athlete, which is presumably the objective.

Our suggestions...

If you have a problem with the way things are being conducted - seek a   discussion with the DCO, away from the players/athletes, and approach it in a constructive manner, if they can accommodate reasonable requests they will.

If there is not agreement, consider the nature of the issue.

• If it is one you believe fundamentally undermines the integrity of the process being applied then you should seek to speak to a senior Agency Officer, one of whom is almost always available on cell phone (the DCO can supply numbers).

• If the problem is more related to; inconvenience, a disagreement over a procedure, the attitude of the DCO etc. the process is normally best served by registering your disapproval, but taking it up with Drug Free Sport NZ subsequently so that the testing is not marred (as happens from time to time) by a constant running battle between a Manager/Coach and a DCO who is following instructions - leaving the athletes as the meat in the sandwich.