Two categories. Two different checks.
Medication status is searchable. Supplement safety is risk management.
Global DRO can provide the prohibited status of many prescription and over-the-counter medications by brand name or active ingredient. USADA states that Global DRO does not apply to dietary supplements. That distinction matters: a missing supplement result does not mean the product is permitted, tested or safe.
Health comes first.
Do not stop or change medically necessary treatment to avoid a sport-rule issue without speaking with your clinician. If a required medication is prohibited, a Therapeutic Use Exemption may provide an appropriate pathway.
The three clean-sport checks
Check medications
Search the exact product or every active ingredient. Review in-competition, out-of-competition, route and conditional information.
Resolve TUE needs
If a medication is prohibited or conditional, follow your governing body’s TUE process and timing requirements.
Reduce supplement risk
Evaluate need, ingredients, manufacturer and independent certification. No supplement can be guaranteed risk-free.
How to check a medication correctly
- Select the correct country of purchase, sport and athlete type in Global DRO.
- Search the brand name. If it is not listed, search each active ingredient from the Drug Facts or prescription label.
- Confirm the dosage form and route. The same substance can have different status depending on how it is administered.
- Read both in-competition and out-of-competition results, thresholds and additional notes.
- Save the search reference number and date with your medication records.
- If the answer is prohibited or conditional, contact the appropriate anti-doping organization and clinical team.
Prescription medication
Being prescribed does not automatically make a medication permitted in sport. Check the current status and determine whether a TUE is required.
Over-the-counter medication
Cold, flu, allergy, sleep and pain products can contain multiple active ingredients. Search every active ingredient rather than relying on the package name.
What a TUE does—and does not do
A Therapeutic Use Exemption allows an athlete who meets applicable criteria to use an otherwise prohibited medication or method for a legitimate medical condition. It is not a general physician’s note, and requirements can vary by competition level and governing organization.
- Check status early enough to complete the process before competition when required.
- Keep medical records and supporting documentation.
- Do not assume an old TUE, another league’s decision or a teammate’s status applies to you.
- Emergency care should never be delayed for paperwork; preserve the medical documentation and follow the relevant post-treatment process.
Supplements require a different mindset
Dietary supplements are not pre-approved by FDA for safety and effectiveness. Labels may not always reflect the contents accurately, and contamination or undeclared ingredients can create health and anti-doping risk.
| Lower-risk practice | What it cannot guarantee |
|---|---|
| Use only when there is a clear reason and the ingredient has been reviewed. | That the expected performance benefit will occur. |
| Choose an appropriate independent sport-certification program. | That every prohibited or harmful substance has been ruled out. |
| Keep photos, receipts, lot numbers and certification records. | That documentation transfers responsibility away from the athlete. |