- We received significant feedback from Anti-Doping Organizations (ADOs) during the Code review consultation process calling for concrete ways and means to cover the athlete entourage, and these ADOs have warmly welcomed this new article that addresses the issue of the influence of the athlete entourage, says Ben Nichols, Senior Manager, Media Relations and Communications at the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). - With the rule enhancements now in place under the revised Code, we would expect athletes to be more vigilant when choosing who they associate with. WADA has not registered that ADOs or International Federations are more eager to suspend supporting personnel: - As indicated, organizations are generally more aware of the negative influence that some entourage members can have on athletes. Indeed, many organizations called for new ways and means to better address the matter of the athlete entourage, Nichols says. - No sanctions have been imposed pursuant to Article 2.10 to date, Nichols adds. What is prohibited association? But what is ‘prohibited association’? The following text is taken from the Athlete reference guide to the 2015 World Anti-Doping Code: There have been several high-profile examples where athletes have continued to work with coaches who have been banned or with other individuals who have been criminally convicted for providing performance-enhancing drugs. A new feature of the Code taking effect at the start of 2015 makes it an anti-doping rule violation for you to associate with this sort of “athlete support person” once you have been specifically warned not to engage in that association. In practice this means that an athlete must not work with coaches, trainers, doctors or others who are ineligible because of an anti-doping rule violation or who have been criminally convicted or professionally disciplined in relation to doping. Some examples of this type of prohibited association include obtaining training, strategy, nutrition or medical advice, therapy, treatment or prescriptions. Moreover, the “athlete support person” may not serve as an agent or representative. Prohibited association need not involve any form of compensation. Italian rule The origin for this new article in the code comes form Italy where prohibited association has been in their national anti-doping rules since 2002. In the Italian rule set, «Norme Sportive Antidoping», the article was numbered 3.2 until the WADC article was put into place. The introduction of this rule in Italy was to stop athletes from using the expertise of doctor Michelle Ferrari. A doctor also cyclist Lance Armstrong used during his professional career. One Italian athlete who has been suspended for violating the 3.2 rule was Filippo Pozzato in 2012. He was found to have used doctor Ferraris expertise prior to the Olympic Games in London that same year, and was suspended for three months. The 3.2-rule is similar in principle with the new WADA code 2.10, but much less in formulation, The Italian National Olympic Organization (CONI) tells dopinglist.com. In their rules it was enough that an athlete was attending a sanctioned subject. Now CONI has to notify in writing first. If the athlete persevere, they can pursue. More cases Some federations has published a list of persons who are – or has been – suspended for violating an anti-doping rule. The International Tennis Federation is one such sports organization. They currently only list two persons. WADA is also about to publish a list of persons who are recommended to being involved with: - WADA is in the process of creating a list of applicable athlete support personnel, which we estimate will include approximately 150-200 individuals. Please note, however, that our list relies on ADOs providing us with the information they have so it may not be considered a complete picture. We are awaiting further information before the list can be finalized, Nichols informs. In the Anti-Doping Database we have registered no less than 44 coaches, 13 sports leaders and 22 doctors who has been suspended for an anti-doping rule violation. At the Anti-Doping Database we have noticed that has been more suspensions of doctors, sports leaders and coaches in 2014 and 2015 than previous years. You can read more about article 2.10 here: http://www.dopinglist.com/?action=news&news=article&id=358