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ITTF Handbook 2009 / 2010
Index Description
5.10  SANCTIONS ON INDIVIDUALS 
5.10.01  Disqualification of Results in Event During which an Anti-Doping Rule Violation Occurs
An Anti-Doping Rule violation occurring during or in connection with an Event may lead to Disqualification of all of the Athlete's individual results obtained in that Event with all consequences, including forfeiture of all titles, medals, points and prizes, except as provided in Article 5.10.1.1. 
5.10.01.01  If the Athlete establishes that he or she bears No Fault or Negligence for the violation, the Athlete's individual results in the other Competition shall not be Disqualified unless the Athlete's results in Competition other than the Competition in which the anti-doping rule violation occurred were likely to have been affected by the Athlete's anti-doping rule violation. 
5.10.02  Ineligibility for Presence, Use or Attempted Use, or Possession of Prohibited Substances and Prohibited Methods The period of Ineligibility imposed for a violation of Article 5.2.1 (Presence of Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites or Markers), Article 5.2.2 (Use or Attempted Use of Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method) or Article 5.2.6 (Possession of Prohibited Substances and Methods) shall be as follows, unless the conditions for eliminating or reducing the period of Ineligibility, as provided in Articles 5.10.4 and 5.10.5, or the conditions for increasing the period of Ineligibility, as provided in Article 5.10.6, are met:
First violation: Two (2) years' Ineligibility.  
5.10.03  Ineligibility for Other Anti-Doping Rule Violations The period of Ineligibility for violations of these Anti-Doping Rules other than as provided in Article 5.10.2 shall be as follows:  
5.10.03.01  For violations of Article 5.2.3 (refusing or failing to submit to Sample collection) or Article 5.2.5 (Tampering with Doping Control), the Ineligibility period shall be two (2) years unless the conditions provided in Article 5.10.5, or the conditions provided in Article 5.10.6, are met. 
5.10.03.02  For violations of Article 5.2.7 (Trafficking) or Article 5.2.8 (Administration of Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method), the period of Ineligibility imposed shall be a minimum of four (4) years up to lifetime Ineligibility unless the conditions provided in Article 5.10.5 are met. An anti-doping rule violation involving a Minor shall be considered a particularly serious violation, and, if committed by Athlete Support Personnel for violations other than Specified Substances shall result in lifetime Ineligibility for such Athlete Support Personnel. In addition, significant violations of such Articles which also violate non-sporting laws and regulations, shall be reported to the competent administrative, professional or judicial authorities. 
5.10.03.03  For violations of Article 5.2.4 (Filing Failures and/or Missed Tests), the period of Ineligibility shall be at a minimum one (1) year and at a maximum two (2) years based on the Athletefs degree of fault. 
5.10.04  Elimination or Reduction of the Period of Ineligibility for Specified Substances under Specific Circumstances
Where an Athlete or other Person can establish how a Specified Substance entered his or her body or came into his or her possession and that such Specified Substance was not intended to enhance the Athletefs sport performance or mask the use of a performance-enhancing substance, the period of Ineligibility found in Article 5.10.2 shall be replaced with the following:
First violation: At a minimum, a reprimand and no period of Ineligibility from future Events, and at a maximum, two (2) years of Ineligibility.
To justify any elimination or reduction, the Athlete or other Person must produce corroborating evidence in addition to his or her word which establishes to the comfortable satisfaction of the hearing panel the absence of an intent to enhance sport performance or mask the use of a performance enhancing substance. The Athlete or other Personfs degree of fault shall be the criterion considered in assessing any reduction of the period of Ineligibility.  
5.10.04.01  For violations of Article 5.2.3 (refusing or failing to submit to Sample collection) or Article 5.2.5 (Tampering with Doping Control), the Ineligibility periods set forth in Article 5.10.2 shall apply. 
5.10.04.02  For violations of Article 5.2.7 (Trafficking) or Article 5.2.8 (administration of Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method), the period of Ineligibility imposed shall be a minimum of four (4) years up to lifetime Ineligibility. An anti-doping rule violation involving a Minor shall be considered a particularly serious violation, and, if committed by Athlete Support Personnel for violations other than specified substances referenced in Article 5.10.3, shall result in lifetime Ineligibility for such Athlete Support Personnel. In addition, violations of such Articles which also violate non-sporting laws and regulations, may be reported to the competent administrative, professional or judicial authorities. 
5.10.04.03  For violations of Article 5.2.4 (Whereabouts Violations or Missed Tests), the period of Ineligibility shall be:
First violation: Three (3) months to one (1) year Ineligibility.
Second and subsequent violations: Two (2) years' Ineligibility. 
5.10.05  Elimination or Reduction of Period of Ineligibility Based on Exceptional Circumstances 
5.10.05.01  No Fault or Negligence If an Athlete establishes in an individual case that he or she bears No Fault or Negligence, the otherwise applicable period of Ineligibility shall be eliminated. When a Prohibited Substance or its Markers or Metabolites is detected in an Athlete's Sample in violation of Article 5.2.1 (presence of Prohibited Substance), the Athlete must also establish how the Prohibited Substance entered his or her system in order to have the period of Ineligibility eliminated. In the event this Article is applied and the period of Ineligibility otherwise applicable is eliminated, the anti-doping rule violation shall not be considered a violation for the limited purpose of determining the period of Ineligibilityfor multiple violations under Article 5.10.7.  
5.10.05.02  No Significant Fault or Negligence If an Athlete or other Person establishes in an individual case that he or she bears No Significant Fault or Negligence, then the period of Ineligibility may be reduced, but the reduced period of Ineligibility may not be less than one-half of the period of Ineligibility otherwise applicable. If the otherwise applicable period of Ineligibility is a lifetime, the reduced period under this section may be no less than 8 years. When a Prohibited Substance or its Markers or Metabolites is detected in an Athlete's Sample in violation of Article 5.2.1 (Presence of Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites or Markers), the Athlete must also establish how the Prohibited Substance entered his or her system in order to have the period of Ineligibility reduced.  
5.10.05.03  Substantial Assistance in Discovering or Establishing Anti-Doping Rule Violations
The ITTF Executive Committee may, prior to a final appellate decision under Article 5.13 or the expiration of the time to appeal, suspend a part of the period of Ineligibility imposed in an individual case where the Athlete or other Person has provided Substantial Assistance to an Anti-Doping Organization, criminal authority or professional disciplinary body which results in the Anti-Doping Organization discovering or establishing an anti-doping rule violation by another Person or which results in a criminal or disciplinary body discovering or establishing a criminal offense or the breach of professional rules by another Person. After a final appellate decision under Article 5.13 or the expiration of time to appeal, the ITTF may only suspend a part of the applicable period of Ineligibility with the approval of WADA. The extent to which the otherwise applicable period of Ineligibility may be suspended shall be based on the seriousness of the anti-doping rule violation committed by the Athlete or other Person and the significance of the Substantial Assistance provided by the Athlete or other Person to the effort to eliminate doping in sport. No more than three-quarters of the otherwise applicable period of Ineligibility may be suspended. If the otherwise applicable period of Ineligibility is a lifetime, the non-suspended period under this Article must be no less than 8 years. If the ITTF suspends any part of the period of Ineligibility under this Article, it shall promptly provide a written justification for its decision to each Anti-Doping Organization having a right to appeal the decision. If the ITTF subsequently reinstates any part of the suspended period of Ineligibility because the Athlete or other Person has failed to provide the Substantial Assistance which was anticipated, the Athlete or other Person may appeal the reinstatement pursuant to Article 5.13.2.  
5.10.05.04  Admission of an Anti-Doping Rule Violation in the Absence of Other Evidence
Where an Athlete or other Person voluntarily admits the commission of an anti-doping rule violation before having received notice of a Sample collection which could establish an anti-doping rule violation (or, in the case of an anti-doping rule violation other than Article 5.2.1, before receiving first notice of the admitted violation pursuant to Article 5.7) and that admission is the only reliable evidence of the violation at the time of admission, then the period of Ineligibility may be reduced, but not below one-half of the period of Ineligibility otherwise applicable.  
5.10.05.05  Where an Athlete or Other Person Establishes Entitlement to Reduction in Sanction under More than One Provision of this Article
Before applying any reductions under Articles 5.10.5.2, 5.10.5.3 or 5.10.5.4, the otherwise applicable period of Ineligibility shall be determined in accordance with Articles 5.10.2, 5.10.3, 5.10.4 and 5.10.6. If the Athlete or other Person establishes entitlement to a reduction or suspension of the period of Ineligibility under two or more of Articles 5.10.5.2, 5.10.5.3 or 5.10.5.4, then the period of Ineligibility may be reduced or suspended, but not below one-quarter of the otherwise applicable period of Ineligibility.  
5.10.06  Aggravating Circumstances Which May Increase the Period of Ineligibility
If the ITTF establishes in an individual case involving an anti-doping rule violation other than violations under Article 5.2.7 (Trafficking) and 5.2.8 (Administration) that aggravating circumstances are present which justify the imposition of a period of Ineligibility greater than the standard sanction, then the period of Ineligibility otherwise applicable shall be increased up to a maximum of four years unless the Athlete or other Person can prove to the comfortable satisfaction of the hearing panel that he did not knowingly violate the anti-doping rule. An Athlete or other Person can avoid the application of this Article by admitting the anti-doping rule violation as asserted promptly after being confronted with the anti-doping rule violation by the ITTF.  
5.10.06.01  For purposes of imposing sanctions under Article 5.10.2, 5.10.3 and 5.10.4, a second anti-doping rule violation may be considered for purposes of imposing sanctions only if the ITTF (or its National Association) can establish that the Athlete or other Person committed the second anti-doping rule violation after the Athlete or other Person received notice, or after ITTF (or its National Association) made a reasonable attempt to give notice, of the first anti-doping rule violation; if the ITTF (or its National Association) cannot establish this, the violations shall be considered as one single first violation, and the sanction imposed shall be based on the violation that carries the more severe sanction.  
5.10.06.02  Where an Athlete, based on the same Doping Control, is found to have committed an anti-doping rule violation involving both a specified substance under Article 5.10.3 and another Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method, the Athlete shall be considered to have committed a single anti-doping rule violation, but the sanction imposed shall be based on the Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method that carries the most severe sanction. 
5.10.06.03  Where an Athlete is found to have committed two separate anti-doping rule violations, one involving a specified substance governed by the sanctions set forth in Article 5.10.3 (specified substances) and the other involving a Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method governed by the sanctions set forth in Article 5.10.2 or a violation governed by the sanctions in Article 5.10.4.1, the period of Ineligibility imposed for the second offense shall be at a minimum two years Ineligibility and at a maximum three years Ineligibility. Any Athlete found to have committed a third anti-doping rule violation involving any combination of specified substances under Article 5.10.3 and any other anti-doping rule violation under Article 5.10.2 or 5.10.4.1 shall receive a sanction of lifetime Ineligibility. 
5.10.07  Disqualification of Results in Competitions Subsequent to Sample Collection
In addition to the automatic Disqualification of the results in the Competition which produced the positive Sample under Article 5.9 (Automatic Disqualification of Individual Results), all other competitive results obtained from the date a positive Sample was collected (whether In-Competition or Out-of-Competition), or other doping violation occurred, through the commencement of any Provisional Suspension or Ineligibility period, shall, unless fairness requires otherwise, be Disqualified with all of the resulting consequences including forfeiture of any medals, points and prizes. 
5.10.07  Multiple Violations  
5.10.07.01  Second Anti-Doping Rule Violation
For an Athletes or other Persons first anti-doping rule violation, the period of Ineligibility is set forth in Articles 5.10.2 and 5.10.3 (subject to elimination, reduction or suspension under Articles 5.10.4 or 5.10.5, or to an increase under Article 5.10.6). For a second anti-doping rule violation the period of Ineligibility shall be within the range set forth in the table below.

Second Violation

First Violation

RS FFMTNSF StAS TRA
RS 1-4 2-4 2-4 4-6 8-10 10-life
FFMT 1-4 4-8 4-8 6-8 10-life life
NSF 1-4 4-8 4-8 6-8 10-life life
St 2-4 6-8 6-8 8-life life life
AS 4-5 10-life 10-life life life life
TRA 8-life life Life life life life

Definitions for purposes of the second anti-doping rule violation table:
RS (Reduced sanction for Specified Substance under Article 5.10.4): The anti-doping rule violation was or should be sanctioned by a reduced sanction under Article 5.10.4 because it involved a Specified Substance and the other conditions under Article 5.10.4 were met.
FFMT (Filing Failures and/or Missed Tests): The anti-doping rule violation was or should be sanctioned under Article 5.10.3.3 (Filing Failures and/or Missed Tests).
NSF (Reduced sanction for No Significant Fault or Negligence): The anti-doping rule violation was or should be sanctioned by a reduced sanction under Article 5.10.5.2 because No Significant Fault or Negligence under Article 5.10.5.2 was proved by the Athlete.
St (Standard sanction under Articles 5.10.2 or 5.10.3.1): The anti-doping rule violation was or should be sanctioned by the standard sanction of two years under Article 5.10.2 or 5.10.3.1.
AS (Aggravated sanction): The anti-doping rule violation was or should be sanctioned by an aggravated sanction under Article 5.10.6 because the Anti-Doping Organization established the conditions set forth under Article 5.10.6.
TRA (Trafficking or Attempted Trafficking and administration or Attempted administration): The anti-doping rule violation was or should be sanctioned by a sanction under Article 5.10.3.2.  
5.10.07.02  Application of Articles 5.10.5.3 and 5.10.5.4 to Second Anti-Doping Rule Violation
Where an Athlete or other Person who commits a second anti-doping rule violation establishes entitlement to suspension or reduction of a portion of the period of Ineligibility under Article 5.10.5.3 or Article 5.10.5.4, the hearing panel shall first determine the otherwise applicable period of Ineligibility within the range established in the table in Article 5.10.7.1, and then apply the appropriate suspension or reduction of the period of Ineligibility. The remaining period of Ineligibility, after applying any suspension or reduction under Articles 5.10.5.3 and 5.10.5.4, must be at least one-fourth of the otherwise applicable period of Ineligibility.  
5.10.07.03  Third Anti-Doping Rule Violation
A third anti-doping rule violation will always result in a lifetime period of Ineligibility, except if the third violation fulfills the condition for elimination or reduction of the period of Ineligibility under Article 5.10.4 or involves a violation of Article 5.2.4 (Filing Failures and/or and Missed Tests). In these particular cases, the period of Ineligibility shall be from eight (8) years to life ban.  
5.10.07.04  Additional Rules for Certain Potential Multiple Violations
For purposes of imposing sanctions under Article 5.10.7, an anti-doping rule violation will only be considered a second violation if the ITTF (or its National Association) can establish that the Athlete or other Person committed the second anti-doping rule violation after the Athlete or other Person received notice pursuant to Article 5.7 (Results Management), or after the ITTF (or its National Association) made reasonable efforts to give notice, of the first anti-doping rule violation; if the ITTF (or its National Association) cannot establish this, the violations shall be considered together as one single first violation, and the sanction imposed shall be based on the violation that carries the more severe sanction; however, the occurrence of multiple violations may be considered as a factor in determining Aggravating Circumstances (Article 5.10.6).
If, after the resolution of a first anti-doping rule violation, the ITTF discovers facts involving an anti-doping rule violation by the Athlete or other Person which occurred prior to notification regarding the first violation, then the ITTF shall impose an additional sanction based on the sanction that could have been imposed if the two violations would have been adjudicated at the same time. Results in all Competitions dating back to the earlier anti-doping rule violation will be Disqualified as provided in Article 5.10.8. To avoid the possibility of a finding of Aggravating Circumstances (Article 5.10.6) on account of the earlier-in-time but later-discovered violation, the Athlete or other Person must voluntarily admit the earlier anti-doping rule violation on a timely basis after notice of the violation for which he or she is first charged. The same rule shall also apply when the ITTF discovers facts involving another prior violation after the resolution of a second anti-doping rule violation.  
5.10.07.05  Multiple Anti-Doping Rule Violations during an Eight-Year Period
For purposes of Article 5.10.7, each anti-doping rule violation must take place within the same eight (8) year period in order to be considered multiple violations.  
5.10.08  Disqualification of Results in Competitions Subsequent to Sample Collection or Commission of an Anti-Doping Rule Violation In addition to the automatic Disqualification of the results in the Competition which produced the positive Sample under Article 5.9 (Automatic Disqualification of Individual Results), all other competitive results obtained from the date a positive Sample was collected (whether In-Competition or Out-of-Competition), or other anti-doping rule violation occurred, through the commencement of any Provisional Suspension or Ineligibility period, shall, unless fairness requires otherwise, be Disqualified with all of the resulting consequences including forfeiture of any medals, points and prizes.  
5.10.08.01  As a condition of regaining eligibility after being found to have committed an anti-doping rule violation, the Athlete must first repay all prize money forfeited under this Article.  
5.10.08.02  Allocation of Forfeited Prize Money.
Forfeited prize money shall be reallocated to other Athletes.  
5.10.09  Commencement of Ineligibility Period
Except as provided below, the period of Ineligibility shall start on the date of the hearing decision providing for Ineligibility or, if the hearing is waived, on the date Ineligibility is accepted or otherwise imposed.  
5.10.09.01  Delays Not Attributable to the Athlete or other Person
Where there have been substantial delays in the hearing process or other aspects of Doping Control not attributable to the Athlete or other Person, the ITTF or Anti-Doping Organization imposing the sanction may start the period of Ineligibility at an earlier date commencing as early as the date of Sample collection or the date on which another anti-doping rule violation last occurred.  
5.10.09.02  Timely Admission
Where the Athlete promptly (which, in all events, means before the Athlete competes again) admits the anti-doping rule violation after being confronted with the anti-doping rule violation by the ITTF, the period of Ineligibility may start as early as the date of Sample collection or the date on which another anti-doping rule violation last occurred. In each case, however, where this Article is applied, the Athlete or other Person shall serve at least one-half of the period of Ineligibility going forward from the date the Athlete or other Person accepted the imposition of a sanction, the date of a hearing decision imposing a sanction, or the date the sanction is otherwise imposed.  
5.10.09.03  If a Provisional Suspension is imposed and respected by the Athlete, then the Athlete shall receive a credit for such period of Provisional Suspension against any period of Ineligibility which may ultimately be imposed. 
5.10.09.04  If an Athlete voluntarily accepts a Provisional Suspension in writing from the ITTF and thereafter refrains from competing, the Athlete shall receive a credit for such period of voluntary Provisional Suspension against any period of Ineligibility which may ultimately be imposed. A copy of the Athletefs voluntary acceptance of a Provisional Suspension shall be provided promptly to each party entitled to receive notice of a potential anti-doping rule violation under Article 5.14.1. 
5.10.09.05  No credit against a period of Ineligibility shall be given for any time period before the effective date of the Provisional Suspension or voluntary Provisional Suspension regardless of whether the Athlete elected not to compete or was suspended by his or her team. 
5.10.10  Status During Ineligibility  
5.10.10.01  Prohibition against Participation during Ineligibility
No Athlete or other Person who has been declared Ineligible may, during the period of Ineligibility, participate in any capacity in an Event or activity (other than authorised anti-doping education or rehabilitation programs) authorised or organised by the ITTF or any National Association or a club or other member organization of the ITTF or any National Association, or in Competitions authorised or organised by any professional league or any international or national level Event organization.
An Athlete or other Person subject to a period of Ineligibility longer than four years may, after completing four years of the period of Ineligibility, participate in local sport events in a sport other than sports subject to the jurisdictions of the ITTF and its National Associations, but only so long as the local sport event is not at a level that could otherwise qualify such Person directly or indirectly to compete in (or accumulate points toward) a national championship or International Event.
An Athlete or other Personsubject to a period of Ineligibility shall remain subject to Testing.  
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