Global DRO says my medication is “Not Prohibited”. I can go ahead and take it, right?

Correct, but be sure to take note of any conditions and the route of administration as some medications are permitted in some instances, but prohibited in other instances. Also, always double check that the ingredients listed on your Global DRO search results match the ingredients listed on the label of your medication. Notify DFSNZ immediately if there is a discrepancy.

 What does “In-Competition” and “Out-of-Competition” mean?

“In-Competition" begins at 11:59pm on the day before a competition in which the athlete is scheduled to participate, through to the end of the competition and the sample collection process related to the competition.

"Out-of-Competition" is any time that is not in-competition (e.g. training, off-season, the days between competitions).

If a medication is prohibited, does that mean I can’t take it?     

If your medication is prohibited it means you can't use your medication in sport unless you have an approved Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE), otherwise you may incur an anti-doping rule violation. DFSNZ does not provide medical advice. Your decision to take a substance (prohibited or not) is between you and your doctor. If you need to use a prohibited substance in sport for health reasons you should apply for a TUE. Please visit https://drugfreesport.org.nz/tue/ for information about how to apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption.

Why can’t I find my medication on Global DRO?

That particular brand name may not be in the database. Try searching for the active ingredients found on the Drug Facts panel. If you can’t find the ingredients or you are not sure about the results, click on the Ask a Question link on the Global DRO search results page or email info@drugfreesport.org.nz.

What is the “reference number” that appears on the results page?

The reference number is proof of your search and of your results. Using this reference number, DFSNZ can confirm the advice you were given when you searched Global DRO. Save this number, print out the confirmation, or email a copy of your results to yourself. The reference number appears on the search results page. This reference number is randomly generated and does not contain information which identifies an individual, but can be used to confirm the specific search you performed.

Why are there so many countries to choose from on the Global DRO home page?

When you visit Global DRO you will have to identify your sport nationality (if you are a NZ athlete, then you will arrive on the DFSNZ Global DRO page) and the country where you purchased your medication. It is important to accurately select the country where you bought your medication because the same brand name might refer to a completely different product in another country. By choosing a specific country, brands of medication specific to that country of purchase are searched.

Why can’t I find my dietary supplement in Global DRO?

Global DRO does not contain information on, or that applies to, any dietary supplement or similar over the counter products such as homeopathic products, traditional medicines, herbals, and probiotics. A dietary supplement could contain prohibited substances even if your search results say the ingredients on the label are not prohibited. The use of any dietary supplement is at your own risk. It would be wrong to conclude that because the ingredients comes up as “not prohibited” on Global DRO that a supplement is safe. We have seen many examples of dietary supplements that contain undeclared ingredients (ingredients not listed on the label).

Are homeopathic medications on Global DRO?

No, homeopathic medications are not on Global DRO. There is no way to validate the contents of a homeopathic medication.

I get a lot of results when I type in my medication- how do I know I have the right one?

Each brand of medication (especially over-the-counter medications) may come in a variety of dosages (e.g. 10mg, 100mgs) and forms (e.g. tablet, capsules, drops) and flavours creating a long list of potential matches on Global DRO. Review the list carefully for an exact match with your product. The most important thing is to ensure you get the status of each ingredient on the Drug Facts panel.  Check your Global DRO search results against the active ingredients listed on your product to make sure that they match. If they don’t, then search for each ingredient individually, contact info@drugfreesport.org.nz, or click on the Ask a Question link on Global DRO to get more information about your medication.  

Why can't I find the brand name of my cough, cold or flu medicine on Global DRO?

Some cough, cold and flu products contain prohibited substances, and this category of products changes so often that it’s difficult to make sure the formulation of recent products are up-to-date on GlobalDRO. And sometimes people use old medicines from their medicine cabinets that could be no longer available. To make sure you get accurate information, read the Drug Facts panel and search Global DRO for each active ingredient. For a quick, handy reference on common ingredients in cold and flu products, read or print out the DFSNZ resources https://drugfreesport.org.nz/what-we-do/education/resources/. Be careful with non-drowsy formulas which may contain the prohibited stimulants levemetamfetamine or pseudoephedrine, or the “conditional” substance albuterol. If you are still not sure about your cold and flu product please contact info@drugfreesport.org.nz.

I have heard that athletes also need to check the methods used to administer a medication as some are prohibited. Is that true?

Correct. Methods are refered to as “routes of administration” in Global DRO. Some routes of administration are prohibited at all times, prohibited in-competition and prohibited via certain routes. Global DRO can let you know the status of administration methods when you search your medication name.

As some major events have specific rules about routes of administration, will these appear in my search?

No however it is important that athletes and support personnel know the specific requirements of all major events they will be attending (e.g. the Olympic Games). Please call 0800 DRUG FREE for more information.

I know some sports have medications and routes of administration that are prohibited. What sport should I select if I play multiple sports?

Correct. There are a number of sports in which specific substances and methods are prohibited. In this case, we would suggest you select the sport you will be competing in at the time you may use the substance or method. If you will be participating in multiple sports at one time, it would pay to check the status of these substances and methods in each sport.