General
1. Unless otherwise provided in these rules, IFBB Professional League doping control is conducted by urinalysis for anabolic agents (S1), as well as diuretics and masking agents (S5).
2.Polygraph testing may be used instead of, or in combination with, urinalysis. Polygraph testing requires the pre-approval of the IFBB Professional League.
3. The IFBB Professional League must pre-approve the laboratory that conducts the urinalysis.
4.ll individuals involved in the collection, documentation, security, and transportation of urine samples must be independent of the event organizer and licensed or certified by the authorized laboratory.
5. Test results are considered confidential.

Testing
6. The top two finalists in each division are tested.

Notification
7. Once selected for testing, a chaperone accompanies the athlete to the doping control station. The athlete must at all times remain under the supervision of the chaperone, from selection to arrival at the doping control station.

Doping Control Station
8. Once at the doping control station, the athlete must remain under the supervision of a doping control officer. The athlete must provide identification and complete the necessary paperwork.

Sample Collection
9. The athlete must provide a urine sample under direct observation. The observer must be of the same gender as the athlete and must supervise the athlete as the urine sample is produced to ensure it is not tampered with.
10. The athlete is given a set time to produce a sample. If the athlete is unable to produce a sample immediately, the athlete is monitored and given up to a maximum of 500 ml of bottled water only.
11. Urine samples will be collected and submitted to the laboratory using a single, securely-sealed, donor-identified collection vessel.

Polygraph
12. A polygraph failure will result in an immediate suspension.
13. Athletes are solely responsible for knowing the clean or abstinence period during which they must not have used a prohibited substance or method (see table below). Disclosure of a prohibited substance or method during the pre-examination phase of a polygraph examination will result in disqualification from the contest and a suspension; the length of which shall be as decided by the IFBB Professional League.
 

Item #Prohibited SubstanceClean Period
1.Anabolic Agents
see note 1
3 years
2.Hormone and Metabolic Modulators3 years
3.Insulin
see note 2
3 years
4.Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances, and Mimetics
see note 3
3 years
5.SARMs (Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator)
see note 4
3 years
6.Thyroid Hormones
see note 5
3 years
7.Beta-2 Agonists6 months
8.Diuretics and Masking Agents6 months
9.Insulin Manipulators
see note 6
6 months
10.Stimulants6 months
11.Intoxicating Substances
see note 7
12 hours
12.Muscle Implants or Injections of any kind
see note 8

Note 1: Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (Exogenous, Endogenous when administered exogenously), and other Anabolic Agents (e.g. Clenbuterol, Tibolone, Zeranol, Zilpaterol)
Note 2: When used for the purpose of bodybuilding (prescribed insulin is permitted)
Note 3: Including but not limited to EPO, Peptide Hormones and Hormone Modulators, Growth Hormone, Growth Factors and Growth Factor Modulators
Note 4: Andarine, LGD-4033, Ostarine, RAD140
Note 5: When used for bodybuilding purposes including but not limited to: Synthroid, T3, T4 (prescribed thyroid hormones are permitted)
Note 6: When used solely for weight loss (e.g. Wegovy, Ozempic, Metformin, Rybelsus, etc.)
Note 7: Cannabis, Alcohol, Narcotics
Note 8: Including Synthol

Penalties
14. In addition to disqualification from the contest (including the loss of placings and awards), the penalties for a positive test result are:

  • 1st offence: one-year suspension
  • 2nd offence: two-year suspension
  • 3rd offence: lifetime suspension

15. Failure to comply with the testing requirements, including evading sample collection, refusing or failing to submit to sample collection, or tampering or attempted tampering with any part of sample collection, is treated the same as a positive test result.

Results Management
16. The IFBB Professional League is responsible for results management and as such, the test results must be sent to tblinn@ifbb-proleague.com without undue delay.
17. For urinalysis, if the test result is negative, no athlete notification is required. If the test result is positive, the athlete is notified. The notification will include:

  • The name and date of the contest at which the sample was collected;
  • The substance, or substances, that produced the positive test result;
  • A copy of the laboratory report; and
  • The penalty to be imposed.

18. All drug test results are final. No appeal or challenges to a positive test result will be accepted.
19. For polygraph testing, if the test result is negative, no athlete notification is required. If the test result is positive, the athlete is notified. The notification will include:

  • The name and date of the contest at which the polygraph test was conducted;
  • A copy of the polygraph report; and
  • The penalty to be imposed.

Back-to-Back Natural Pro Contests
20. If two natural pro contests are back-to-back*, and if the test results from the first contest are not known before the second contest, the athlete may compete in the second contest under the following conditions:

  • If the athlete fails the test from the first contest but does not fail the test from the second contest, the athlete will be disqualified from both contests and will be suspended for one year from the date of the first contest.
  • If the athlete does not fail the test from the first contest but fails the test from the second contest, the athlete will be disqualified from the second contest and will be suspended for one year from the date of the second contest.
  • If the athlete fails the test from the first and second contests, the athlete will be disqualified from both contests and will be suspended for two years from the date of the first contest.

*Note:    The term “back-to-back” means two natural contests; the second of which is held before the test results from the first are known to the testing authority.

21. If the Back-to-Back Pro Contests are Natural then Open:

  • If the results are known from the natural after the open, the athlete is suspended from the date of the natural and disqualified from both contests. This includes the loss of all titles and awards, the return of any prize money, and lower-placed athletes move up from the open, and from the natural only if the lower-placed athletes tested negative.
  • If the results are known from the natural before the open, the athlete is suspended from the date of the natural and the contract for the open is canceled. This includes the loss of all titles and awards, the return of any prize money, and lower-place athletes move up from the natural only if the lower-placed athletes tested negative.

Olympia

22.. The division winners at natural pro contests qualify for the Ben Weider Naturals Pro. They do not qualify for the Olympia.

Ben Weider Naturals Pro

23. The testing protocol at the Ben Weider Naturals Pro may differ from that used at other IFBB Professional League natural contests.

HRT/TRT and TUE
24. Persons using hormone replacement therapy or testosterone replacement therapy are not eligible to compete in natural pro contests.
25. For a therapeutic use exemption (other than for HRT/TRT) to be considered, the athlete must submit a completed TUE form to Kieran Foley at least 14 days prior to the event. KieranFoley@mcdougallenergy.com

Documents
26. The link below provides a list of prohibited substances and methods.
Prohibited Substances and Methods List
27. The link below provides a therapeutic use exemption form.
Therapeutic Use Exemption Form

Protocol
28. The IFBB Professional League must pre-approve any change to this protocol.

Questions
29. Please contact Tony Blinn at tblinn@ifbb-proleague.com with any questions about this protocol.