High Performance Resources

Athletics New Zealand has adopted the Sports Anti-Doping Rules which are compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code.

Athletics New Zealand strongly recommends that all members, especially High-Performance athletes, become familiar with their rights and responsibilities in relation to anti-doping programmes and act accordingly.

• Familiarise yourself with the Sports Anti-Doping Rules
• Understand your rights as an athlete

Athletics New Zealand condemns the use of banned substances and unethical methods to improve the performance of athletes in sport. We support a fair and equitable competition environment and doping does not promote the good health and safe welfare of athletes.

We believe that any illegal substances and methods are against the spirit of sport and will bring the Sport of Athletics into disrepute. Accordingly, we have zero tolerance for such practices.

Drug Free Sport New Zealand (DFSNZ)

DFSNZ is the organisation responsible for keeping sport clean in New Zealand, and free from doping. They work across sports to educate, support and advocate for clean athletes; deter and detect doping; and engage with wider sporting communities.

The DFSNZ website is the central hub for anti-doping information in New Zealand.

Prohibited substances

Some substances and methods of administering those substances are prohibited in sport. These are listed each year in the WADA Prohibited List.

Find the list and any updates at drugfreesport.org.nz/prohibited.

Even common medications can contain prohibited substances or be restricted in sport. Athletes are 100% responsible for everything that goes into their bodies and should check every medication before use to ensure it is allowed in sport.

Find out how to check a medication

Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE)

A TUE allows athletes to take a medication containing a banned substance for medical reasons. Some athletes must apply for their TUE before using the medication or method; other athletes can apply retroactively. Athletes should apply for their TUE from DFSNZ using the link below. International level athletes should also lodge their TUE with World Athletics.

Find out more or apply for a TUE

Registered Testing Pool and Whereabouts

National level athletes will usually be required to be on the Register Testing Pool (RTP). All athletes on this register will be subject to drug testing in and out of competition. Athletes are also required to inform DFSNZ of their whereabouts at all times, including training details. If athletes are away from their normal place of residence for more than three days DFSNZ need to be advised.

Get help with Whereabouts

To get removed from the list, Athletics New Zealand must be informed of your retirement from the sport. Athletes must remain on the list should their aim be to represent New Zealand at any future stage. There are limitations involved with competing and retirements so these need to be understood before being removed from the RTP.

World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)

WADA is the world body for anti-doping. They promote, coordinate and monitor at the international level the fight against doping in sport worldwide. They are responsible for the World Anti-Doping Code, which is the framework for rules, regulations and policies for sporting organisations, and the Prohibited List.

If you have any questions relating to the information above, please contact [email protected]

If you are an athlete travelling internationally with Athletics NZ and are required to carry one or more oversized implements, there are policies in place to make sure the process of booking and executing the travel goes as smoothly as possible.

If you are travelling internationally with Athletics NZ for one of the following:

• An Athletics NZ team
• An Australia-based Competition
• An Athletics NZ campaign (eg. HP Programme, PPS and PDS athletes)

And are required to take one or more of the following oversized implements:

• Pole vault poles
• Javelin poles
• Wheelchair frames (incl. day frames, racing frames, throwing frames)

The Athletes’ Commission, made up of current and recent high performance athletes, provides a mechanism for the views of high performance athletes to be heard, and helps to ensure athlete wellbeing is appropriately considered by Athletics New Zealand. The current Athletes’ Commission members: Quentin Rew (Chair), Dame Valerie Adams, Anna Grimaldi, Malcolm Hicks, Eliza McCartney, Lucy Oliver, Julia Ratcliffe, Tom Walsh.

Contact: [email protected]

Athletes Commission Terms of Reference here

Profiles on the Athletes’ Commission members

Quentin Rew (Chair)

The most outstanding New Zealand male race walker of his generation boasts a proud international career spanning more than a decade.

A New Zealand record-holder for the 20km (1:21:12) and 50km (3:46:29) race walks, he most notably excelled in the latter event. A five-time World Championship representative and three-time Olympian, Quentin’s highlights include a 12^th place finish in the 50km race walk at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, and a tenth place in the 50km race walk at the 2015 World Championships. In 2018 he also finished fifth in the 20km race walk at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

Dame Valerie Adams 

One of the all-time greats of New Zealand athletics, Dame Valerie enjoyed an unparalleled career of shot put success spanning more than 20 years.

A World U18 and U20 shot put gold medallist, the Auckland-based thrower later went on to enjoy a dazzling career as a senior athlete. Dame Valerie won two gold, one silver and one bronze medal across five Olympic Games, and also claimed eight world titles (four indoor and four outdoor). Across five Commonwealth Games she also won three gold and two silver medals. From 2006 to 2014 she was unbeaten across 107 competitions, and in 2014 was named Female World Athlete of the Year.

Dame Valerie holds the Oceania shot put record with 21.24m.

Anna Grimaldi

One of New Zealand’s leading Para Athletes, Anna made her international debut when winning long jump T47 bronze at the 2015 IPC World Championships. The following year she announced herself as a major star when, at the age of 19, she claimed a stunning long jump T47 gold medal with her last jump in the 2016 Rio Paralympics.

In 2019 Anna claimed long jump silver at the World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai before retaining her Paralympic title at the Tokyo 2020 Games with a Paralympic record leap of 5.76m. She also holds the national long jump T47 record with a best of 5.91m.

Malcolm Hicks

An accomplished all-round endurance runner, Malcolm has enjoyed a proud career both domestically and on the international stage. A winner of New Zealand senior titles on the track, road and cross country, it has however since been his move up to the marathon where he has most impressed.

In 2019 he finished an excellent 27^th in hot and humid conditions in the marathon at the Doha World Championships. He also represented New Zealand over the 42.2km distance at the Tokyo Olympic Games. His PB of 2:10:04 set at the Seville Marathon places him fourth on the all-time New Zealand rankings.

Eliza McCartney (Deputy Chair)

Among the most engaging and popular New Zealand athletes of recent times, the Auckland-based pole vaulter is one of the world’s finest at her craft.

After winning a World U20 bronze medal in 2014, just two years later she made a huge impact when winning bronze at the Rio Olympic Games at the age of just 19. More success followed in 2018 when placing fourth at the World Indoor Championships, and later that year she added a silver at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. Her national record of 4.94m – also set in 2018 – sits number five on the all-time outdoor world rankings.

Lucy Oliver

One of New Zealand’s leading female distance runners of the recent past, Lucy excelled over both the 1500m and 5000m.

Running her slick 1500m PB of 4:05.78 in San Diego – which still sits second on the all-time New Zealand rankings for the distance – later that year she ran at the London Olympic Games, reaching the 1500m semi-finals. In 2014 she featured at both the Commonwealth Games and World Indoor Championships, and in 2016 competed at her second Olympic Games in Rio in the 5000m. She retired shortly after Rio and worked as a Care and Protection Social Worker. Today she is a stay-at-home mum with two daughters.

Julia Ratcliffe

One of New Zealand’s most accomplished throwers over the past decade, the hammer ace has consistently delivered her best on the big occasion. Raised in Hamilton, the Princeton University graduate finished fourth at the 2012 World U20 Championships, and two years later won Commonwealth Games silver in Glasgow.

Four years later she went one place better at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games to strike gold. Julia also impressed at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, placing ninth. She set her personal best and then national record of 73.55m when winning the 2021 New Zealand title.

Tom Walsh

A top-quality performer when it counts, Tom has consistently harvested medals on the biggest stage. A winner of successive Olympic bronze medals at the 2016 and 2020 Olympics, he has also claimed three world titles with 2016 and 2018 World Indoor victories, and in 2017 a world outdoor success.

Tom also won silver (2014) and gold (2018) medals at the Commonwealth Games. His monster lifetime best effort of 22.90m earned him bronze at the 2019 World Championships and elevated him to sixth on the all-time shot put world rankings.