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Anti-Doping Singapore

Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE)

A guide on the criteria, process, and submission of a TUE application.

Last updated on 6 October 2026

ADS TUE Documents

Please submit the TUE Application Form to TUE@ads.gov.sg

TUE Application Form (opens in new tab)TUE Policy (opens in new tab)

Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE)

A Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) is necessary before an athlete uses a prescribed prohibited substance or method for the treatment of a legitimate medical condition.

Athletes should advise all medical personnel of their obligation to abide by the anti-doping rules of their sport and that any medical treatment received must not violate these rules.

Who needs to submit a TUE?

All athletes carded under the Sport Singapore’s spexCarding programme, athletes in the ADS Registered/Domestic Testing Pools, athletes participating in a NSA National Championship or any other Singaporean athlete requiring a TUE for the use prohibited substances or methods shall submit their TUEs to ADS.

International-level athletes shall submit their TUEs to their respective International Federation.

Any athlete competing in International level or Major Events should submit a copy of their TUE or apply for a new TUE from the relevant International Federation (IF) / Major Event Organisation (MEO) at least 30 days before the competition, subject to the event requirements.

Note: A TUE granted by the ADS TUE Committee may not be acknowledged by the IF. It is the athlete’s responsibility to be aware of the requirements of the IF/MEO prior to competing. Various IFs may have different information requirements and application processes.

For more information, please refer to the ADS TUE Policy above.

Table showing TUE application rules for athlete categories under prohibited in-competition and at all times columns.

Summary of TUE

Athlete Categories and Application Requirements

Category

For Substances Prohibited In-Competition

Prohibited at ALL TIMES

Athletes in International Federation (IF) Testing Pool

Submit TUE application to IF at least 30 days before competition

Submit TUE application to IF as soon as use of prohibited substance / method is required

Athletes competing in International Level Events / Major Events

Submit TUE application to IF / MEO at least 30 days before competition

Submit TUE application to IF / MEO as soon as use of prohibited substance / method is required

ADS Registered Testing Pool

Submit TUE application to ADS at least 30 days before competition

Submit TUE application to IF / MEO as soon as use of prohibited substance / method is required

ADS Domestic Testing Pool

SpexCarding Athletes

All other Singapore athletes tested by ADS / NSA

Submit TUE retroactively to ADS if selected for testing

Criteria for granting a TUE


A TUE will be granted only if the following criteria are fulfilled:

  1. The athlete would experience a significant impairment to health if the prohibited substance or method were withheld for treating an acute or chronic medical condition.

  2. The therapeutic use of the Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method would produce no additional enhancement of performance other than that which might be anticipated by a return to a state of normal health following the treatment of a legitimate medical condition.

  3. There is no reasonable therapeutic alternative to the Use of the otherwise Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method.

  4. The necessity for the Use of the otherwise Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method cannot be a consequence, wholly or in part, of prior non-therapeutic use of any substance from the Prohibited List.

When should a TUE be applied?


A valid TUE should be obtained before the start of the use of the prohibited substance or method. The TUE application should be made as soon as an athlete is prescribed a prohibited substance or method for a medical condition that is prohibited both In-Competition and Out-of-Competition. Where a substance or method is prohibited only In-Competition, the TUE application must be made at least 30 days before the athlete needs the valid TUE.

Retroactive consideration for the application of a TUE will be considered only in exceptional circumstances as follows:

  1. Emergency treatment or treatment of an acute medical condition was necessary, or

  2. If, due to exceptional circumstances, there was insufficient time or opportunity for an applicant to submit, or a TUE Committee/Panel to consider, an application prior to doping control.

  3. All other Singapore athletes who are not in the ADS RTP and ADS DTP, as well as those not carded under Sport Singapore’s spexCarding programme, will be allowed to submit a TUE retroactively if selected for testing by ADS or a NSA according to the ADS Anti-Doping Rules.

TUE Application Process for ADS

Step 1: Check on the status of substance or method of treatment
Step 2: If substance or method of treatment is prohibited

  • Discuss with your doctor for permitted alternative medication or treatment.

  • If there is no alternative medication or treatment available, apply for a TUE

Step 3: Complete the TUE Application Form

  • Download a TUE Application Form from above or obtain it from your National Sports Association or International Federation, where applicable.

  • Complete the form with your doctor.

  • Medical evidence to justify the use of a prohibited substance or method must be attached to the application form

Step 4: Check the Deadlines of Submission

  • If Substance or Method is Prohibited Both In- and Out-of-Competition, submit TUE application as soon as the medical condition is diagnosed.

  • If Substance or Method is only Prohibited only In-Competition, submit TUE application at least 30 days prior to participating in an event.

Step 5: Submit the TUE Application Form

  • Submit the completed TUE application form with relevant justifying documents (eg. Evidence of the diagnosis, a comprehensive medical history and the results of all examinations, laboratory and investigations and imaging studies relevant to the application).

  • Submit to ADS for athletes in ADS Registered and Domestic Testing Pools

  • Submit to ADS for all other athletes not in any testing pool.

  • Submit to your International Federation for International-level athletes.

Please ensure that the application to ADS contains

  1. Completed TUE Application Form

  2. Medical Evidence to justify the use of a prohibited substance or method (e.g comprehensive medical history, results of all relevant examinations, laboratory investigations and imaging studies)

  3. For certain specific medical conditions, such as asthma, additional medical information is required to support the TUE application. Please click here for the WADA requirements (opens in new tab)for the specifics of the details of medical information.

  4. Note: Encrypt your documents (TUE application form and supporting documents) before submission via email.

How to encrypt your documents

Step 1: Password-protect using ZIP (7-Zip).

Step 2: Send the decryption password in a separate email.

Submission Details

Submit the TUE Application Form to TUE@ads.gov.sg

Anti-Doping Singapore

3 Stadium Drive, 397630

Email

TUE@ads.gov.sg

Please contact Anti-Doping Singapore (ADS)  TUE@ads.gov.sg if you encounter any language-related issues with the TUE application form.

Decisions of the TUE application will be conveyed to the athlete and/or relevant NSA within 30 days of receipt of the completed TUE application form and relevant justifying documents.