The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has introduced the National Anti-Doping Platform (NAPD). This unified digital system is designed to administer Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs), which allow athletes to use substances or medications prohibited in sports.
The platform enables the electronic submission, verification, approval, and tracking of applications. Furthermore, it automatically sends notifications and checks data, as well as professional licenses through relevant government bodies.
The system also creates a national database of athletes and medical professionals. This supports data analysis, informed decision-making, readiness for doping-related risks, improved operational efficiency, and ensuring the fairness of sporting competitions.
The launch of the platform was carried out by the UAE Ministry of Interior in collaboration with the Ministry of Sport and the National Anti-Doping Agency. Dr. Mai Ahmed Sultan Al Jaber, Chairman of the National Anti-Doping Agency, explained that the platform fully automates the process of submitting applications electronically. This includes document preparation, attaching medical reports, submission, status monitoring, and completion according to established rules.
This transition reduces reliance on paper forms and manual data entry, minimizes procedural errors, and increases the accuracy of the information provided. Dr. Al Jaber added that the platform helps medical specialists make decisions by giving them access to information about prohibited substances in sports and allowing them to check approved alternative treatments.
This contributes to preventing the unintentional use of banned substances while ensuring that athletes retain access to necessary medical care and treatment. The official start occurred after approximately one year of operation, during which the platform underwent testing and its procedures were refined in cooperation with various partners.
This period allowed for the automation of key anti-doping processes, simplified the processing of TUE applications, and improved data exchange between involved parties. The platform also allows for the cross-checking of data and professional licenses in coordination with government structures, ensuring that medical personnel working with sports organizations meet the required licensing standards and preventing athletes from receiving assistance from unqualified specialists.
Dr. Al Jaber emphasized that NAPD is not limited to online application acceptance; it also serves as a preventive and regulatory tool supporting international anti-doping standards, improving interaction among athletes, doctors, and relevant authorities, and encouraging disclosure and verification before the use of medicines or medical products.
Services of the National Anti-Doping Platform are available on the website npad.ae, and the helpline can be found at 600566635.


