Athletes accept these rules as a condition of participation and are bound by them at all times. These sport specific rules and procedures, aimed at enforcing anti-doping principles in a global and harmonised manner, are distinct in nature and therefore not intended to be subject to, or limited by national requirements and legal standards applicable to criminal proceedings or employment matters.

Anti-doping programmes seek to preserve what is intrinsically valuable about sport. This intrinsic value is often referred to as ‘the spirit of sport’ and it is the essence of Olympism.