NATURAL REQUIREMENTS**
Below are guidelines that are followed by the FAME World Tour WNSO Sanctioned events prohibit the use of any performance
enhancing drug. Athletes will be subject to screening and testing as outlined by the
World Natural Sports Organization (WNSO). Anyone who does not meet the natural requirements will be banned from competing.
Some athletes will attest to having taken a banned substance in the past. If WNSO’s testing procedures determine that the athlete has still maintained some of the physical advantages conferred by the substance, the athlete will not be permitted to compete. An athlete who now trains naturally and may regret their past actions will not result in an automatic ban, unless his or her physique is still indicative of having “benefited” from past use.
Types of Testing
Physique Screening:
Athletes will be screened by the Physique Screening Panel the day prior to the contest at the Athlete Registration Meeting or during the first round of competition on show day. All athletes sign a waiver prior to competing and agree to be questioned and evaluated by the Physique Screening Panel. Should the panel determine the athlete does not fit the natural look (and would then not place well in a natural show) and/or has reason to conclude the athlete is displaying results from banned substance usage, this could result in immediate disqualification. (Scroll down for more details)
Urine Testing:
Urine samples may be asked of several athletes over the competition weekend, right from the moment of registration. Additionally, anyone deemed ‘suspicious’ to any of the judges will be asked to provide an immediate urine sample in order to be eligible to continue to compete that day. Overall champions, random athletes and winners may also be flagged for urine sampling following or during the event. Once the event is finished, all samples will be sent to the lab at which time either random or deliberately selected samples will be tested for banned substances.
Legal Document:
All athletes must sign their name to the Doping Control Waiver outlining that they follow the natural requirements of the WNSO. Legal action can be taken against anyone caught as having tried to ‘trick’ the system and cheat their fellow athletes.
Out-of-Competition Drug Testing Policy:
All competitive athletes may be subject to random urine testing at any time before or after a competition (up to 2 years since last show). Upon selection, either a WNSO representative will meet you or you will be given 24 hours to report to your local lab. WNSO Is serious about its 'Natural Physique' policy and is doing its best to weed out those who are not willing to follow the rules outlined by the organization. It's not fair to the FAME World Tour series of events nor its athletes.
Banned Substances Anything that is not sold over the counter is considered a banned substance. These include stimulants, narcotics, prescription diuretics, precursor supplements, beta blockers, anabolic agents or androgens (includes anabolic steroids, testosterone, growth hormone or any of their preparations or derivatives), peptide and glycoprotein hormones and analogues, and any related substances.
In addition to these, anything sold over the counter containing compounds or chemical analogs which show up on a drug screen as a banned substance are also banned. ( See the Steroids Sold Over The Counter Write Up above )
Substances Often Questioned:
* Ephedrine – As ephedrine is commercially available in some over-the-counter medications, an athlete may use it providing urine tests do not show that it was “abused” or used outside the guidelines.
* Herbal Diuretics – These are allowed.
* Recreational Drugs – We do not test for these with the exception of cocaine and its preparations and derivatives
* Prohormone Products – Although prohormone products may be available commercially, their use may be detected in urinalysis screenings and result in a positive test. Prohormone products should be avoided.
* Prescription Medications – These are often required and may pose some concerns with the drug-screening process. An athlete on such medications will be requested to provide at least one of the following: a signed letter from his or her doctor indicating the medical condition and its specific requirement; or the prescription bottle or package of medication bearing the athlete’s name, physicians name, drug name and dosage strength. There should not be an issue if the drug has not visibly “enhanced” the athlete’s physique. In that case the athlete would not be allowed to compete, just like anyone else. If an athlete is uncertain whether a particular product or medication may be a concern, he or she is advised to contact the Head Judge before event registration to determine an appropriate course of action. However, this step DOES NOT mean the athlete is given a pass. The athlete still has to undergo the same drug-testing procedures as all other athletes.
WARNING: Steroids Sold Over the Counter We receive many questions regarding which over the counter supplements are legal for natural competition. The supplement industry is a rapidly changing environment and it can be difficult to tell which products are OK to use, and which could possibly contain banned substances. First, we believe it's very important to say that if you don't know what the ingredients are in any supplement, and don't understand what that ingredient does, don't take it.
It's your responsibility as a consumer to know and understand what you are putting in to your body! Any reputable company will explain the ingredients in their products and explain why they are included.
There is currently a flood of over the counter products on the market which are promoted as muscle builders or hardeners which, due to a loophole in the law, legally contain fully active oral anabolic steroids. These are not "pro-hormones" or natural products with names that sound similar to actual steroids, but full strength anabolic steroids with all the potential effects and side effects of scheduled, prescription anabolic steroids.
In some cases, chemists have dug into the pharmaceutical record to find steroids which were researched but never brought to market and copied these formulas. In other cases, chemists have made small alterations to a known steroid and created a new drug with similar effects, but which technically is not on any scheduled substance list. Because these drugs were never brought to market, or aren't known to the FDA, they were never technically scheduled and not on any list of scheduled drugs. They are, however, 100% steroids and every bit as potent as their prescription cousins. In many cases they are more dangerous because they have worse side effects than the drugs the pharmaceutical companies chose to develop and market.
To make matters even more confusing, supplement companies often use confusing names to describe these ingredients on the label that make it very difficult for someone without a chemistry degree to know what they are.
Make no mistake, using products containing these OTC steroids can and will cause you to test positive for banned substances. When your body metabolizes these steroids, chemicals called metabolites are left in your body. The metabolites from these OTC steroids are often chemically similar or even identical to the metabolites left by prescription steroids.
Drug tests look for the metabolites left in your body after using steroids, and a drug test will not be able to tell the difference between an OTC steroid and a prescription steroid. Your test will will simply come back positive for steroids and
you will be banned from competition. If you use OTC steroids, you are using steroids. Make no mistake about it!
Athletes competing outside North America must be also be very cautious in their supplement choices as many steroids are sold legally over the counter there. If your test comes back positive, you will be banned!
It's important to note that not all supplements on the market contain steroids. There are many very effective muscle building and fat burning products that are 100% legal.
Protein Powders, Creatine Products, NO2 Products, Amino Acids, and thermogenic fat burners are generally all safe for use in natural competion. However, as stated above, always read the label and if you don't know what an ingredient is, or what it does, find out before using it. Products promoted as Anabolic don't necessarily contain steroids either. Anabolic simply means "Growth Causing" and there are many legitimate and natural Anabolic product on the market.
When looking out for OTC steroids, look for ingredients with names that look like this: 17a-Methyl-etioallocholan-2-ene-17b-ol
2a, 17a di-methyl etiocholan 3-one, 17b-ol
19-Norandrosta 4,9 diene- 3,17 dione
17a-methyl-1, 4-Androstadiene-3, 17-diol
4-chloro-17a-methyl-androst-1,4-diene-3,17b-diol
3-beta-hydroxyetioallocholan-5-ene-17-one
This is not a comprehensive list. There are many more steroidal compounds on the market and new ones being added all the time. However, if a product you are considering using includes chemical names similar to those listed above, it is very likely to contain steroidal compounds that will cause you to test positive on a steroid test. Additionally, these products carry with them the same potential risks as prescription steroids.
It's important that you know what you are putting into your body! Research and learn about the ingredients before using any nutritional supplement!
Physique Screening Panel: What are they Looking For? The Physique Screening Panel &/or WNSO Judging Panel pays close attention to the criteria stated herein to come to a unanimous conclusion on whether a certain athlete has the maintained the effects of current or past use of banned substances. The existence of the Panel is in no way a deterrent for exceptional natural athletes but serves as a means of banning athletes who do not possess a “natural” look. Should the Panel not reach a conclusive decision with respect to a particular athlete, the Head Judge reserves the right to ban the athlete from competing or to allow the athlete to compete and have him or her flagged for urinalysis or a lie-detector test.
It is understood that there is no 100% accurate means of detecting banned substances and that the Panel is simply a tool to assist in the detection of athletes who will not fare well in competition because of some or many of the following indications of such substances: *
Abnormal Muscular Development:
A level of muscular development deemed unlikely attainable without the use of banned substances
*
Jaundice or Discoloration of Eyes:
Quite often the use or abuse of medications or anabolic agents that cause stress on the liver or kidneys results in discoloration of the white portion of the eye.
*
Abdominal Distention:
Abdominal swelling may suggest the presence of androgenic or hormonal medications.
*
Acne:
A common side effect of androgen use is acne in specific locations, which can be cystic in nature and is present in both males and females.
*
Elongation of Bones:
In some cases the use of hormonal drugs can result in the continued growth of bones. Specific areas of the face and body that may indicate concern are the mandible, or lower jawbone, and the ulna (the inner and longer of the two forearm bones, at the elbow).
*
Masculinization of Females:
Androgen use in females is often accompanied by masculinization, signs of which are often evident in the facial region and can also include a deepening of the voice and abnormal muscular development. Facial hair is sometimes evident in females who have used testosterone-related compounds.
*
Baldness:The conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone can cause hair loss that is prevalent among males, and such hair loss is one possible symptom of androgen use.
*
Gynecomastia:
The conversion of testosterone to excess estrogen can cause male- breast enlargement, evident by puffiness around the nipple(s). Close attention should be paid to this area in male athletes, as this condition is a common side effect of anabolic steroids.
Please Note:
*** The presence of any of the above indications alone is not necessarily evidence of banned-substance abuse, as many athletes could display symptoms that are attributable to other conditions. The above is simply a guide to use in assessing an athlete’s physique, in its totality, to make a determination on whether the person is “suspect” of having administered banned substances.
*** Any decision made by the Panel or Head Judge to ban an athlete is deemed final, and the issue will not be debated after a decision is reached. Registration fees may be returned to a banned athlete but will not be refunded if the Panel feels the athlete has knowingly or recklessly used banned substances.
Train Hard. Train Natural. I AM BODY PROUD!
APPEAL PROCESS Anyone who receives a positive urine test result or fails a drug test has the option to appeal. All appeals must be sent to the following address:
WNSO
6021 Yonge St Suite 316
Toronto ON Canada M2M 3W2
All appeals will be reviewed by the Board and the Anti Doping Panel.
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Sincerely,
Ben Voiles