Anti-doping

The IBJJF is opposed to the practice of doping in sport on ethical and medical grounds and abides by the provisions of the World Anti-Doping Code (“Code”) and World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List (“Prohibited List”).

While IBJJF is not a signatory to the Code, IBJJF recognizes the importance of clean competition, and has taken a proactive stance in implementing an anti-doping program on behalf of clean athletes and the integrity of our sport.

The use, possession and/or trafficking of prohibited substances, methods, or the encouragement or counseling to use prohibited substances, or methods, and/or taking measures to mask the use of prohibited substances, or methods by any participant in competitions over which the IBJJF has jurisdiction is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

The IBJJF Anti-Doping Policy aims to:
  • Promote Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as a drug-free sport;
  • Uphold and preserve the ethics of Sport;
  • Ensure that all athletes have an opportunity to compete equally;
  • Safeguard the physical health and mental health of athletes;
  • Encourage Affiliate Federations to execute similar regulations with their athletes.

In engaging the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) to conduct doping control at the IBJJF events, IBJJF has taken the important step to externalize the anti-doping at this event to an independent organization. To ensure complete independence and provide the highest level of protection for the rights of clean athletes, USADA is wholly responsible for the collection of samples, sample analysis, sample results management, and, when necessary, the adjudication of any positive test results from the tests executed during the IBJJF events.

Given USADA’s internationally recognized expertise in anti-doping, IBJJF has agreed to adhere to the USADA Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing (“USADA Protocol”), consistent with the IBJJF Anti-Doping Policy and the Code, for the management of samples collected at the IBJJF events.

If an athlete tests positive, USADA directly informs IBJJF and the athlete about the positive result. USADA handles the adjudication process for any positive test, in accordance with the rules, which provide full due process for the athlete. In most cases, an athlete who tests positive will be provisionally suspended from competing in IBJJF events (and events sanctioned by signatories to the Code) while the case is pending. IBJJF will be notified of the provisional suspension so that it can uphold the restriction.

Due to IBJJF’s agreement with USADA, IBJJF cannot comment about a case while it is pending, and the first public announcement about any case will be provided by USADA. IBJJF is informed of the final resolution for the case on the same day in which the official news is posted on USADA’s webpage (http://www.usada.org/news/).