Opening the Black Box: What the ITA TUE Dashboard Reveals and Why Triathlon Is Paying Attention

The International Testing Agency (ITA) has recently released a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) dashboard, publishing anonymized and aggregated data on TUE applications across the international federations and event organizers it supports.

Spanning 2019 to 2025, the tool allows users to explore application volumes, outcomes, and distribution by sport and substance class. It also comes with clear boundaries. The data applies only to athletes defined as international level by their federation, and it excludes any information that could identify an athlete, including country-level breakdowns.

The intent is straightforward. TUEs remain essential to athlete health, but they are often misunderstood. By sharing high-level data, the ITA is attempting to replace assumption with evidence, while maintaining strict medical confidentiality.

What the Dashboard Is and Is Not Showing

A TUE allows an athlete to use a substance or method on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List for legitimate medical reasons. The process is governed by the International Standard for Therapeutic Use Exemptions and assessed by independent physicians through the ITA’s International TUE Committee.

The dashboard does not show who applied, what specific medical condition was involved, or where the athlete is from. That is by design. The ITA has made clear that the dataset is aggregated to protect confidentiality, particularly given the relatively small number of applications in many sports.

It also does not represent the entirety of global sport. The ITA has gradually assumed responsibility for TUE programs across federations since 2019, meaning some sports show limited or no data in earlier years.

In terms of what the data shows, across all sports, only an estimated 1-3% of athletes require TUE. Application outcomes follow a consistent pattern. Roughly two thirds are approved or recognized, about one quarter are withdrawn or deemed unnecessary, a smaller proportion remain incomplete, and only a small fraction are denied.

The ITA maintains that there is no scientific evidence that a properly granted TUE confers a performance advantage.

Triathlon Enters the Dataset

From 2023 to 2025, triathlon-related disciplines recorded 78 TUE applications. The year-by-year breakdown shows a sharp increase, from one application in 2023 to 34 in 2024 and 43 in 2025.

At first glance, that trajectory could suggest a rapid rise. In practice, it reflects timing.

Ironman began working with the ITA on TUE management in 2023. World Triathlon followed in 2024. As a result, 2024 marks the first year where a substantial portion of triathletes entered the ITA system. The increase is therefore less about athlete behaviour and more about administrative coverage.

Of the 78 applications, 62 fall under World Triathlon and 16 under Ironman. Triathlon accounts for 39 applications, followed by Ironman with 17, paratriathlon with 15, and duathlon with 7.

Of note, the outcomes align closely with global patterns. Fifty-four applications were approved or recognized. Seventeen were withdrawn or determined not to be necessary. Six remained pending, and one was denied.

In other words, triathlon does not stand out as an outlier in how applications are assessed or decided.

What Athletes Are Applying For

The distribution of substances provides further context, and in some cases, explains why the conversation persists.

Stimulants lead with 24 applications, followed by glucocorticoids at 18. Both categories align with common medical treatments, including ADHD management and inflammatory or respiratory conditions.

More sensitive categories are also present. Thirteen applications fall under anabolic androgenic steroids, with smaller numbers in hormone and metabolic modulators, peptide hormones, and methods classified as chemical or physical manipulation.

The presence of these categories does not indicate misuse. TUEs are granted only when strict criteria are met, including a verified medical condition and the absence of a reasonable permitted alternative. But their inclusion in the data underscores why public perception does not always track neatly with regulatory assurance.

Where Triathlon Sits

Across the dashboard, 14 of 56 sports and disciplines report more TUE applications than triathlon.

This places the sport in the upper tier by volume, but the ranking comes with an important caveat. The dashboard does not provide athlete population data. Without a denominator, it is not possible to determine whether triathlon has a higher rate of TUE use per athlete than other sports.

What can be said is that triathlon is now visible within the ITA system, and that its application profile broadly reflects the wider anti-doping landscape.

The Transparency Debate

While the data may add some clarity, it has not ended debate.

In recent weeks, some professional triathletes have called for greater transparency around TUE approvals, including proposals to move away from fully anonymous reporting. The argument is rooted in trust. Without visibility, questions can persist about how the system is applied.

The ITA position is equally clear. Medical confidentiality is non-negotiable. The dashboard itself is designed as a compromise, providing insight into volumes and patterns while protecting sensitive health information. T

his tension is central in current conversations unfolding in triathlon.

The data suggests a system that is structured, consistent, and largely aligned with everyday medical needs. It does not point to widespread abuse. But it also does not fully resolve the unease felt by some athletes who operate within a system they cannot see in detail – and who are, in some cases, still advocating for full transparency and disclosure.