LGFA’s policy is that doping is contrary to the spirit of sport and every member has a duty to ensure that the sport is free of doping.  Sport Ireland is committed to the challenge of combating doping in sport and promoting fair play through the implementation of the Irish Sport Anti-Doping Programme. As part of this programme, players and athletes across the full spectrum of sport in Ireland may be required to complete doping control as required.  LGFA require Counties and Clubs to play an important role in raising awareness for anti-doping and promoting a drug free sport at all levels.

 

Update 2026

As outlined in the 2026 Summary of Major Modifications and Explanatory Notes, the major modifications for 2026 include the following:

• Further examples or clarifications have been added to the following substance classes to help athletes and their entourage better identify prohibited substances:
  • S1. Anabolic agents,
  • S2. Peptide hormones, growth factors, related substances, and mimetics,
  • S4. Hormone and metabolic modulators, and
  • S6. Stimulants.
• The dosing intervals of salmeterol have been changed to avoid potential ergogenic effects, though the maximum daily delivered dose remains the same.
• More details have been given about the prohibition of withdrawal of blood and blood components.
• The non-diagnostic use of carbon monoxide (CO) has been added to the Prohibited Methods as a new section, M1.4. The use of carbon monoxide for diagnostic purposes, such as total hemoglobin mass measurements or the determination of pulmonary diffusion capacity, is not prohibited.
• Cell components (e.g., nuclei and organelles such as mitochondria and ribosomes) have been added to the existing prohibition of using normal or genetically modified cells.
• It has been clarified in the Glucocorticoids Washout Table that use of sustained-release formulations may result in detectable glucocorticoid levels past the washout period due to prolonged systemic absorption.

All updates are applicable from January 1^st 2026.

 

Previous Annual Updates 

A full list of modifications from previous years are available via Tobar: https://learning.gaa.ie/antidopinginfo

 

Remember Strict Liability applies:

• What does this mean?

It means that each player is strictly liable for the substances found in his or her bodily specimen, and that an anti-doping rule violation occurs whenever a prohibited substance (or its metabolites or markers) is found in bodily specimen, whether or not the player intentionally or unintentionally used a prohibited substance or was negligent or otherwise at fault.

We recommend that all players and player support personnel including managers, coaches, medical personnel, nutritionists and officials complete the following education available through Sport Ireland or the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Sport Ireland: https://www.sportireland.ie/anti-doping/education-zone/education-zone 

World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA): https://adel.wada-ama.org/learn

Key topics in anti-doping education include:

• Anti-doping rule violations
• Testing procedures blood & urine
• How to check medications
• Therapeutic Use Exemptions
• The risk of supplements and herbal remedies
• Consequences of doping

Further information & learning is also available at: http://learning.gaa.ie/Antidoping

Additionally, further training for players and support personnel is available through the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA): https://adel.wada-ama.org/learn

LGFA advises all members to read and understand YOUR responsibilities under the Anti-Doping Rules and download an app today to check your medications.

 

Irish Anti-Doping Rules

The Anti-Doping Rules of Ladies Gaelic Football Association are the Irish Anti-Doping Rules as per Official Guide Rule 92: The Anti-Doping Rules of  LGFA are the same as the Irish Anti-Doping Rules as amended from time to time.

What do LGFA members need to know ?

 (1) WADA Prohibited List – Checking Medications & TUE Policy

The World Anti-Doping Agency issues a Prohibited List annually on January 1st. For information on the 2026 Prohibited List, please see:

2026 List of Prohibited Substances & Methods

You can check medication via the following channels:

Sport Ireland Anti-Doping Medicine Checker: medcheck.sportireland.ie

 

Republic of Ireland:

	Drugs in Sport Database on www.eirpharm.com
	Medications bought in the Republic of Ireland can be checked by your G.P., Consultant or Pharmacist in a monthly publication called MIMS Ireland. Ensure the current months edition is checked.

 

Northern Ireland/ UK/ Canada/ USA:

Medications bought in Northern Ireland, U.K., U.S.A and Canada can be checked on www.globaldro.com

 

Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUE’s)

If a medication is prohibited or use is limited, you must check and adhere to Sport Ireland’s TUE Policy: https://www.sportireland.ie/anti-doping/athlete-zone/athlete-zone/therapeutic-use-exemptions

LGFA Player Requirements:

Player seeking permission to use a medication containing a substance on the WADA Prohibited List must seek a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) to do so.  LGFA players are permitted to apply retroactively (get a Post-test TUE).  You need to ensure that your medical practitioner has a full medical file in place (see below for further details)

Post-test TUE: If you are drug tested and the lab report shows a prohibited substance in your sample, the Irish Sports Council will contact you to offer the opportunity to make a Post-Test TUE application for the substance, within specified timelines. You will need to supply a complete medical file documenting your medical history, diagnosis and medical justification for using a prohibited medication as opposed to a permitted alternative.

A player’s medical file would typically consist of:

1. A detailed medical history (when diagnosed, previous episodes, previous hospitalisations, related symptoms, etc.)
2. The results of any relevant medical tests, laboratory studies, etc.
3. Any other supporting information which will confirm that the player has a legitimate therapeutic requirement to use a prohibited medication to treat a medical condition
4. For asthma TUE applications, the medical file should also specifically include a comprehensive report of the Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1)

 

Player Health Check Programme

Supplements

Players need to be aware that there are risks associated with the use of sports supplements with many positive drug tests associated with their use.

If a player is contemplating supplementation as a nutritional strategy, we advise that you seek professional assistance from a professional sports dietician. Only batch tested supplements should be used. Batch tested products can be checked here: Informed Sport

 

Further Information

For further information or support in relation to Anti-Doping, please visit https://www.sportireland.ie/anti-doping.