The following has been extracted from the FINA website:

http://www.sportcentric.com/vsite/vfile/page/fileurl/0,11040,4716-151215-168431-62300-0-file,00.pdf

Drugs

All swimmers are subject to ASFGB (Amateur Swimming Federation of Great Britain Limited) (rules regarding contact with and/or the taking of banned substances. Whilst most of the detailed rules apply to swimmers who reach National or International Standards, some key points need to be kept in mind. Text taken directly from the website is shown in italics. The full text can be downloaded from the above website):-

The purpose of the doping control programme of ASFGB, of which these Rules and Protocols form part, is to protect the health and rights of individuals through education and controlled doping tests.

Competitors accept these rules as a condition of participation. Doping Control Rules are not intended to be subject to or limited by the requirements and legal standards applicable to criminal proceedings or employment matters.

All Competitors shall submit to Doping Control carried out by FINA or ASFGB In Competition, Out-of-Competition, announced or unannounced. The Competitor shall submit to Doping Control whenever requested by any duly authorised official.

The success or failure of the Use of a Prohibited Substance Prohibited Method is not material to the commission of a doping offence It is sufficient that the Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method was Used or Attempted to be Used for a doping offence to be committed.

The Prohibited List may identify specified substances which are particularly susceptible to unintentional doping control rules violations because of their general availability in medicinal products or which are less likely to be successfully abused as doping agents. Where a Competitor can establish that the Use of such a specified substance was not intended to enhance sport performance, the period of Ineligibility found in Rule 11.2 shall be replaced with the following: First violation: At a minimum, a warning and reprimand and no period of Ineligibility from future Competitions, and at a maximum, one (1) year’s Ineligibility

NOTE especially that the following is also an offence “To sell, give, administer, transport, send, deliver or distribute a Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method to a Competitor either directly or through one or more third parties, but excluding the sale or distribution (by medical personnel or by Persons other than a Competitor’s Support Personnel) of a Prohibited Substance for genuine and legal therapeutic purposes.”

This standard of proof in all cases is greater than a mere balance of probability but less than proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

In simple terms, if in doubt DON’T TAKE IT!