Staying on the right side of doping controls can be even more complicated for Para athletes

Anti-doping policy and procedure is a staple in the information diet of Canada's Paralympians.

Early on in athlete's time in Para sport, certainly by the time they've reached a provincial team or a national competition, they've been presented with information about how to steer clear of violating anti-doping codes.

However, for Paralympians, past and present, there can be barriers. Former national wheelchair basketball team member Jessica Vliegenthart is a lawyer  whose practice is partially focused on sports law. She said during her time as a Paralympian there were plenty of "bumps" when it comes to the anti-doping process, including an awkward conversation with a doping control official who, by policy, was required to see the urine being collected.

"At that point, I don't have enough hands to be able to hold the cup, and keep my balance on the toilet, and also hold my knees open," Vliegenthart recalled. "So I remember saying to this lady, 'Well, you're going to have to get right in here then. Grab my knees so that you can see what you need to see.'

"And they were very thrown off by that."

It may seem easy to abide by anti-doping controls — how hard can it be to not take performance-enhancing drugs? — but there are a wide variety of reasons why anti-doping education and testing is complicated.

Simple over-the-counter medications, such as those used to treat the common cold, can include banned substances like pseudoephedrine; hospital stays can complicate an athlete's knowledge of what went into their body during that time; and the supplement industry, which is unregulated, can cause a positive test because what's on the label doesn't always correspond to what's in the product. 

Athletes do have resources they can access