As members of the global skateboarding community, we have come together to make a collective commitment to actively resist and challenge systemic racism in our own scenes, organizations, the skateboard industry, and wider society. Skateboarding and skateboarding-based social programs should always be safe spaces where everyone can thrive. However, we recognize that we operate within social and organizational systems that are larger than us. We aim to recognize power relationships exist and to be mindful of how racism can take many forms, both in overt, covert, and micro ways. We see it as our duty to put in the work – to cocreate spaces and areas of influence that are: welcoming, empowering, representative, and committed to racial equity for all individuals who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC).
As signatories, we aim to actively provide pathways and establish spaces where all voices are heard, valued, and have support and access to resources to contribute fully to the skateboarding community. We also aim to support each other in the work of challenging systemic racism that may appear at our skateparks, in our media, in our organizational structures, in skate programs that we run, and in the skateboard industry.
We also commit to co-creating spaces for learning and accountability for people with social privilege and especially racial or ethnic privilege. We agree to set a positive public example by acting in a manner that supports this vision of equity in skateboarding.
Summary
All athletes have the right to compete in sport knowing that they, and their competitors, are clean. We believe in clean sport and work in partnership with UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) and our International Federation, World Skate, to ensure that the integrity of our sport is protected.
Anti-Doping Rules that Skateboard GB has in place a set of anti-doping rules that all athletes and athlete support personnel must abide by. The anti-doping rules for Skateboard GB are consistent with the World Anti-Doping Code (the Code), the core document that harmonises anti-doping policies, rules and regulations within sport globally.
The anti-doping rules of Skateboard GB are the rules published by UK Anti-Doping (or its successor), as amended from time to time. If you are a member of Skateboard GB then the anti-doping rules apply to you, regardless of what level you participate at. You can find the UK Anti-Doping Rules here.
2021 World Anti-Doping Code
From 1 January 2021, a new version of the Code is in effect and it’s important that all athletes and athlete support personnel are aware of how this impacts them. For more information on the changes within the 2021 Code, visit UKAD’s website here.
Under the 2021 Code, an athlete may be classified as being “International-Level”, “National-Level” or a “Recreational Athlete” based on their competition level. Further information on these different categories is available on the UKAD website.
Anti-Doping Rule Violations
Breaking the anti-doping rules can result in a ban from all sport. The Code outlines the Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs). Athletes and athlete support personnel need to make sure they are fully aware of these violations, and the consequences of breaking them. For more information and what this means for those individuals, click here.
For information on individuals serving a ban from sport, visit UKAD’s sanction page on their website.
The Big Picture – Top Tips for Clean Sport
An athlete is responsible for anything found in their system, regardless of how it got there or whether there is any intention to cheat. All athletes and athlete support personnel should make themselves aware of the risks, so they don’t receive an unintentional ban from sport. Useful information for athletes can be found on the UKAD website.
The Prohibited List
All prohibited substances and methods in Code-compliant sports are outlined in the Prohibited List. The Prohibited List is managed and coordinated by WADA, found on the WADA website here. The List is updated each year, coming into effect on 1st January. It is possible for WADA to make changes to the List more than once a year, but they must communicate such changes three months before they come into effect. As this list is updated annually, athletes and athlete support personnel should make sure they check it ahead of it coming into effect. More information can be found on UKAD’s website here.
Checking Medications
Before taking any medication (whether from a doctor or purchased over the counter), athletes must check to make sure it doesn’t contain any prohibited substances. Medications (ingredients or brand name) can be checked online at Global DRO. It is important to note that medications bought in one country may contain different ingredients to the same branded medication in another country. For more information on checking medications, visit UKAD’s website here.
Check out the video from UKAD’s Athlete Commission member and British Paralympic Powerlifter, Ali Jawad, on using Global DRO – View here
Taking Nutritional Supplements
UKAD always advises a food first approach to nutrition, as there are no guarantees that any supplement product is free from prohibited substances. Athletes can support their training and progress towards their targets by eating and enjoying nutritious food. With a bit of planning, it is possible to eat a delicious and healthy diet made up of a variety of food types at the right time, and in the right quantities. Athletes should assess the need, the risks and the consequences before deciding to take a supplement, and if they need to use one, visit the Informed Sport website to check whether supplements have been batch-tested. More advice on managing supplement risks can be found on UKAD’s Supplement Hub here.
Applying for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE)
If an athlete with a legitimate medical condition needs to use a prohibited substance or method, they will need to apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE). This is only accepted if there are no other suitable permitted medications or treatments that can be used, and there is a strict, detailed process to determine this. Athletes can find out more information about the TUE process on the UKAD website here and use the TUE Wizard to find out whether they need to apply for a TUE and who to submit their application to.
What happens in a test?
Athletes should feel prepared and know their rights and responsibilities when they are notified to be tested by a Chaperone or Doping Control Officer. Check out this video on the testing process – HERE
Athletes can find out more in the Introduction to Testing section of UKAD’s website.
100% me – Supporting athletes to be clean
100% me is UKAD’s values-based education and information programme, helping athletes meet their anti-doping responsibilities throughout their sporting journey. We want all athletes to be clean, stay clean and believe all others are clean.
For more information on what this means, visit UKAD’s website here. UKAD’s 100% me Clean Sport App can also be downloaded from iTunes, Google Play or Windows Live Store, for essential anti-doping information.
Strict Liability Principle
Strict liability means that you are solely responsible for any banned substance you use, attempt to use, or is found in your system, regardless of how it got there or whether there was any intention to cheat. In anti-doping, not knowing is not an excuse!
Protect Your Sport
Protecting clean sport depends on everyone playing their part – athletes, coaches, or parents – whether on centre stage or behind the scenes. Speak out if you feel there’s something wrong – no matter how small. UKAD guarantee that your identity will always be kept 100% confidential. There are different ways to speak out:
- Email – When you feel something’s wrong, send an email. UKAD guarantee that your name and email address will be kept confidential. Email at [email protected]
- Online Form – Tell us what you know via our online form on protectyoursport.co.uk. You will remain anonymous as standard, but if you choose to share your details confidentially it could help us catch those in sport who seek to cheat
- 24/7 Hotline – Call on 08000 32 23 32. We are here to listen. If you prefer to remain 100% anonymous you can. Or if you share your details, they will be kept confidential, and may help keep sport clean
Find out the more about speaking out and Protect Your Sport here.
For further information Please do not hesitate to ask questions about the anti-doping rules. As well as asking Skateboard GB and athlete support personnel, athletes may also contact UKAD directly, who will be able to answer any questions and provide guidance. They can be contacted at [email protected] or +44 (0) 207 842 3450.
Regular updates from UKAD can also be found in the news section of their website, or on their Twitter account: @ukantidoping.
For information on medication advice, please visit the Global DRO Website
Contact Skateboard GB at [email protected]
- We are committed to learning about and challenging all types of systemic racism that affect skateboarding and fellow skateboarders, either directly or indirectly.
- Together, we acknowledge the emotional labour, expertise, and valuable time of those oppressed by systemic racism.
- We recognize that it is our collective responsibility to do the work to educate ourselves about privilege and racism. • We welcome feedback and are open to change and learning.
- We encourage people to be open and share about our experiences with systemic racism if we feel safe to do so in order for the community to improve on this matter.
- We will endeavour to replace defensiveness and reaction with listening and reflecting.
- We recognize that we can only achieve progress if we let ourselves be vulnerable as we move towards equity. As with skateboarding, we have to be willing to potentially make mistakes and learn from them.
- We work to make space for each other and try to encourage one another to contribute to our collective knowledge-building and action.
- We are focused on the goal of dismantling racism and prejudice in the skateboarding community and industry worldwide.
Who’s Behind this Commitment?
The Commitment is an initiative from the Goodpush Alliance, which is a network of social skateboarding projects from around the world. In August and September 2020, Goodpush hosted two webinars on the topic of Anti-Racism Action. Several webinar participants suggested that we jointly create a commitment that the skateboarding community could sign on to, so that we can all strive to do better and unite ourselves in challenging racism within our communities, our organizations and the social structures around us. The Commitment and supporting resources were put together by a working group with members from a dozen social skateboarding organizations and skate companies.
If you want to give feedback, suggest improvements, or get involved please contact: [email protected]