FINCIS’ discipline-specific determination of level concerns only national-level athletes and national-level competitions in Finland. For each discipline, it indicates the level at which athletes should apply to FINCIS for the necessary in-advance TUEs. Athletes (regardless of age and national level) who have reached the international level or participate in international sporting events must apply for TUEs through their respective international sports federations.
Athletes covered by FINCIS’ discipline-specific level determination
Except in situations requiring urgent medical treatment, such as emergency situations, a medication or treatment, which is prohibited in sports, must not be started or a medication must not be used if the medication is prohibited during the competition before a TUE has been granted for it.
Athletes covered by FINCIS’ Registered Testing Pool
Athletes covered by FINCIS’ Registered Testing Pool must have TUEs granted by FINCIS or their international sports federation for the use of a substance or method prohibited in sports, regardless of whether they are covered by the national discipline-specific level determination or not.
Athletes not covered by FINCIS’ discipline-specific level determination
Athletes not covered by FINCIS’ discipline-specific level determination are not required to apply for a TUE in advance. However, after a doping test, they must retroactively apply for a TUE to prove that the use of a prohibited substance or method was medically justifiable in accordance with TUE requirements.
Athletes who are not covered by the discipline-specific level determination but who have to use a medicine or method prohibited in sports for the treatment of a medical condition should always have up-to-date patient records prepared and ready, showing that the TUE requirements are met.
Sanctioned athletes
Ineligibility does not remove the obligation to apply for a TUE. If an ineligible athlete has to use, for the treatment of a medical condition, a medicine or method prohibited in sports at all times (in- and out-of-competition, for example, during the training season and between competitions), they must ensure that the TUEs necessitated by the treatment are also valid during the period of ineligibility.
International-level athletes and athletes participating in international sports events
International-level athletes and athletes participating in international sports events must ascertain, from their respective International Federations or a Major Event Organization (e.g. the International Olympic Committee), the TUE procedures applying to them and, if necessary, apply for a TUE in advance according to the rules of the operator in question.
Please note! FINCIS’ TUE decisions apply only to national-level athletes and national-level competitions and are not automatically valid in international competitions unless recognised by the international sports federation in question.
If an athlete who has been granted a TUE by FINCIS reaches the international level or intends to participate in international competitions, they must determine if the international sports federation in question automatically recognises the TUE granted by FINCIS or if it should first be conveyed to the international sports federation for evaluation.
Discipline-specific level determination
The list below indicates the level at which athletes must apply for the necessary TUEs in advance for different disciplines, according to the International Standard for Therapeutic Use Exemptions and FINCIS’ guidelines.
If the discipline is not on the list, the athlete is not covered by the national discipline-specific level determination and there is no need to apply for a TUE in advance.
NB: determination for para-athletes is in paralympic sports
American Football
- Men’s Vaahteraliiga and Women’s Vaahteraliiga
Archery (Olympic events)
- Athletes participating in the Finnish Championships in one of the following categories: open class for men and women
Athletics
- Athletes who have achieved a 7 point score limit
Badminton
- Elite-class players
Bandy
- Bandyliiga
Basketball
- Men’s Finnish basketball league (Miesten Korisliiga)
- Women’s Finnish basketball league (Naisten Korisliiga)
Biathlon
- Athletes participating in the Finnish Championships in one of the following categories: open class for men and women
Boxing
- Athletes participating in the Finnish Championships in one of the following categories: open class for men and women
Canoeing (canoe sprint, canoe marathon, whitewater canoeing – freestyle and slalom)
- Athletes participating in the Finnish Championships in one of the following categories: open class for men and women
Curling
- Finnish Curling Championships (only Mestaruussarja)
- Finnish Women’s Championships
- Finnish Mixed Doubles Championships
- Finnish Mixed Championships
Cycling (Olympic events)
- Athletes participating in the Finnish Championships in one of the following categories: open class for men and women
Diving
- Athletes participating in the Finnish Championships for seniors in one of the following categories: open class for men and women
Equestrian
- Those participating in the seniors’ individual Finnish Championships
Fencing
- Athletes with an FIE licence
Figure skating
- Athletes participating in the Finnish Championships in one of the following categories: senior class for men and women (single & pair skating and ice dance)
Fitness (Bikini Fitness, Bodybuilding, Body Fitness, Classic Bodybuilding, Fitness, Men’s Physique, Women’s Physique, Wellness Fitness)
- Athletes participating in the Finnish Championships and the Fitness Classic in one of the following categories: open class for men and women
Finnish baseball
- Men’s and women’s Superpesis
Floorball
- Men’s and women’s F-Liiga
Football
- Veikkausliiga (Men’s Tier 1)
- Ykkösliiga (Men’s Tier 2)
- Kansallinen Liiga (Women’s Tier 1)
Futsal
- Men’s Futsal-Liiga
Golf
- Athletes participating in the Finnish Championships in one of the following categories: open class for men and women
- Men’s and women’s federation coaching groups
Gymnastics (aesthetic group gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, artistic gymnastics)
- Athletes participating in the seniors’ Finnish Championships
Handball
- Men’s Aktialiiga (Men’s Tier 1)
- Women’s Aktialiiga (Women’s Tier 1)
Ice hockey
- Liiga (Men’s Tier 1)
- Mestis (Men’s Tier 2)
- Auroraliiga (Women’s Tier 1)
Judo
- Athletes participating in the Finnish Championships in one of the following categories: open class for men and women
Karate
- Athletes participating in the Finnish Championships in one of the following categories: open class for men and women
Modern pentathlon
- Athletes participating in the Finnish Championships in one of the following categories: open class for men and women
Motor sport
- Highest national competition levels in the sport with Finnish Championships status in the open class
Orienteering
- All the orienteers, ski orienteers and mountain bike orienteers in category H/D21 who, based on the final ranking for the previous season, belong to Class I. In orienteering, level determination is based on the total ranking (All-Terrain + Sprint). The class criteria are available (in Finnish) on the Finnish Orienteering Federation website (www.suunnistusliitto.fi > Kilpailu > Info > Luokkarajat).
Paralympic sports
- Athletes sponsored by the Ministry of Education and Culture
Powerlifting
- Athletes participating in the Finnish Championships in one of the following categories: open class for men and women
Rowing (Olympic classes)
- Athletes participating in the Finnish Championships in one of the following categories: open class for men and women
Sailing (Olympic classes)
- Athletes participating in the Finnish Championships in one of the following categories: open class for men and women
Shooting
- Athletes participating in the Finnish Championships in one of the following categories: open class for men and women and over 15-year old juniors (rifle, pistol, shotgun and running target)
Skiing (Alpine skiing, freestyle, cross-country skiing, ski jumping and Nordic combined)
- Athletes participating in the Finnish Championships in one of the following categories: open class for men and women
Snowboarding
- Athletes participating in the Finnish Championships in one of the following categories: open class for men and women
Speed skating
- Athletes participating in the Finnish Championships in one of the following categories: open class for men and women
Swimming
- Athletes participating in the Finnish Swimming Championships for seniors and juniors (does not apply to disabled swimmers, see Paralympic sports)
Table tennis
- Athletes participating in the Finnish Championships in one of the following categories: open class for men and women
Taekwondo
- In sparring, those participating in the open class (R1), league or Finnish Championship series; in patterns, participants in the ranking series for over 18-year-olds or Finnish Championship series
Tennis
- Athletes participating in the Finnish Championships in one of the following categories: open class for men and women
Triathlon
- Athletes participating in the Finnish Championships in one of the following categories: open class for men and women
Volleyball
- Men’s and Women’s Finnish Volleyball Champions League
- Athletes participating in the National Beach Volley women’s and men’s Championship tour
Weightlifting (does not apply to kettlebell lifting or functional fitness sports)
- Athletes participating in the Finnish Championships in one of the following categories: open class for men and women
Wrestling
- Athletes participating in the Finnish Championships in one of the following categories: open class for men and women
If the discipline is not on the list, the athlete is not covered by the national discipline-specific level determination and there is no need to apply for a TUE in advance.
