A University of Queensland researcher has secured a $30,000 research grant through UQ's partnership with the International Testing Agency (ITA), supporting a project examining medication use and anti-doping processes in elite sport.
Timothy Tanzer, from UQ's School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, will undertake a 12-week research placement at the ITA's headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, from late November 2026 to February 2027.
The project will analyse Therapeutic Use Exemptions from the past four Olympic Games. These exemptions allow athletes with a documented medical need to use medications that would otherwise be prohibited under anti-doping rules. The research will examine patterns in these exemptions and how they align with athletes' medication declarations and laboratory records.
A second component of the project will investigate international differences in ADHD diagnosis and access to stimulant medicines. The review will provide important context for understanding trends in elite sport, recognising that diagnosis and prescribing practices vary between countries.
To follow Timothy's work and other sport research and industry engagement updates, connect with the UQ Games Engagement LinkedIn .
