Athletes may have illnesses or conditions that require them to take medications or undergo procedures. If the medication or method an athlete is required to use to treat an illness or condition is prohibited as per the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) Prohibited List, a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) may give that athlete the authorization to use that substance or method while competing without invoking an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV) and applicable sanctions. Applications for TUEs are evaluated by a panel of physicians and the TUE Committee (TUEC).
TUEs ensure you can receive necessary treatment for a legitimate medical condition, even if the treatment involves a prohibited substance or method. This process helps you avoid potential sanctions from a positive test.
WCBS has delegated responsibility for all TUE applications to the Polish Anti-Doping Agency (POLADA), started from January 2025. This means that the POLADA TUEC will be fully responsible for the TUE application process for all international-level athletes that fall under WCBS’s jurisdiction. For further details, please refer to the TUE Application Process section.
WCBS recognizes the decisions of the national TUE committees. Competitors having TUE decisions must relay information to the organizers of international billiards tournaments at least 30 days before the World and Continental Championships and 20 days before other events. In case of any doubts, the tournament organizer may request confirmation of a player’s status by contacting the WCBS Anti-Doping Committee by writing to James Leacy at james.leacy@billiards.sport.
TUEs At-A-Glance
TUE Application Process
TUE Application Form
International-Level Athletes (ILA)
The following Athletes shall be considered to be International-Level Athletes for the purposes of Anti-Doping Rules, and, therefore, the specific provisions in the WCBS Anti-Doping Rules applicable to International-Level Athletes (e.g., Testing, TUEs, Whereabouts, and Results Management) shall apply to such Athletes:
- Athletes included in the WCBS Registered Testing Pool, Testing Pool, and any other pool if established by WCBS
- Athletes who are ranked in the first 16 places of the final annual official rankings and World Championships of UMB, WPA, and IBSF
- Athletes who have won medals at the World Games, focusing on those pertinent internationally.