Kyle Chalmers Calls for Public Disclosure of Therapeutic Use Exemptions

Australian swimmer Kyle Chalmers has used his platform to call for change in the disclosure of Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs), which allow athletes to take medication for certain medical conditions that may contain banned substances. Chalmers believes that transparency and consistency are essential for maintaining the integrity of sports.

What are TUEs?

TUEs have been in existence since the 1990s, initially known as Medical Exemptions. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) established the International Standard for Therapeutic Use Exemptions (ISTUE) in 2004, which came into effect in 2005. According to WADA, a TUE allows an athlete to use a particular medication or method that will not give them a competitive advantage, but rather enable them to compete in a proper state of health.

The Process of Applying for a TUE

The process of applying for a TUE is complex, involving a review by Anti-Doping Organizations (ADOs), International Federations (IFs), National Anti-Doping Organizations (NADOs), and Major Event Organizers (MEOs). The review process is outlined and set by the ISTUE, and an evaluation is conducted by several physicians specialized in sports medicine. Chalmers argues that if an athlete is taking medication that contains a banned performance-enhancing substance, this information should be publicly disclosed rather than kept hidden.

Contrasting Approaches to TUEs

In contrast to the private nature of TUEs, the Enhanced Games openly encourages and medically supervises the use of performance-enhancing substances through individualized athlete protocols. At the inaugural Enhanced Games, a study found that 91% of athletes were taking testosterone, while 79% used human growth hormone. Chalmers was offered a multi-million-dollar deal to join the Enhanced Games but rejected it. He took to Instagram to share his thoughts on TUEs, emphasizing the need for transparency and consistency in sports.

The use of TUEs has been a topic of discussion in the past, with a cyber espionage group known as Fancy Bear leaking several top athletes' medical information in 2016. The leaked information included medical exemptions granted to athletes such as Simone Biles, Serena Williams, and Venus Williams. In 2024, WADA announced its findings from a study on TUEs in Olympic and Paralympic athletes, with the results showing that TUEs were present in 0.90% of Olympic athletes and 2.76% of Paralympic athletes. The following table summarizes the findings:

Chalmers' call for public disclosure of TUEs highlights the need for transparency and consistency in sports, ensuring that athletes are held to the same standards and that the integrity of sports is maintained.