faq
While cannabis was legalized in Canada on October 17, 2018, there are a number of factors that clubs, coaches, athletes, parents and participants need to be aware of:
- Substance use & impairment in the workplace is regulated by WorkSafe BC. This includes the use of legal cannabis products as well as alcohol.
- As of October 18, 2018, cannabis is considered a banned substance according to the World Anti-Doping Agency list of prohibited substances.
- Participating in any Gymnastics BC sanctioned activity while impaired is not permitted, regardless of the impairing substance. This includes but is not limited to during training activities, at a competition, while at a member club, or while travelling as a member of Gymnastics BC.
Helpful Resources:
- WorkSafe BC:
- Government of Canada:
- Government of British Columbia:
- Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES):
- Sport and Law Strategy Group:
Please note: This page is intended to be an evolving and adaptable resource. If you have information, questions, concerns, or additional resource material that you would like to share with us, please contact info@gymbc.org.
Safety in all gymnastics environments must be our number one priority. If you suspect that a coach or other employee is impaired, if you are a club supervisor or manager you must not permit them to remain at any workplace while their ability to work safely is affected by alcohol, a drug, or another substance or condition. If you are coach parent, athlete, participant or observer, you should inform a club supervisor or manager of your concerns as they will be responsible for taking appropriate steps.
As with coaches and other employees, if you are a club coach, supervisor or manager you must not permit them to remain in the gymnastics environment while impaired by alcohol, a drug, or another substance or condition. If you are a parent, athlete, participant or observer, you should inform a club supervisor or manager of your concerns as they will be responsible for taking appropriate steps.
It may be difficult to definitively determine if an individual is high or impaired by drugs, alcohol or another substance. However, as a general rule of thumb, if you suspect that someone is impaired, you must not permit them to remain in the gymnastics environment while their ability to perform their duties safely is affected (coaching, training or otherwise).
While there may be training available, Gymnastics BC does not endorse a particular training program. Instead, we encourage you to use reasonable judgement and not permit anyone who you suspect may be impaired to remain in the gymnastics environment while their ability to perform their duties safely is affected. The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport has developed a Cannabis in Sport Education Kit, that you may find helpful.
While you are permitted to use marijuana and cannabis products in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations, the safety of all participants remains Gymnastics BC’s primary concern. We are simply saying that you are therefore not permitted to participate in any Gymnastics BC-sanctioned activity while impaired by any substance.
HealthLink BC provides a number of supports and resources that you may find helpful. You can call 8-1-1 toll free from anywhere in BC or visit www.healthlinkbc.ca.
The Gymnastics BC Team BC Code of Conduct governs the use of alcohol, tobacco and illegal substances and will be updated to include the use of legal marijuana and cannabis products. Gymnastics BC is working with the other provinces as well as Gymnastics Canada to develop a SafeSport Framework that will include information regarding marijuana, cannabis, alcohol and other drugs.
Cannabis is still listed as Prohibited In Competition on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)’s Prohibited List. Please review the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) Cannabis FAQ’s for more information. Additionally, you may want to take the Cannabis in Sport Quiz.
