Alumni from around the globe
The IOC Diploma in Sports Pharmacy aims to provide comprehensive education and training for pharmacists focusing on their crucial role in promoting and protecting the health of both elite and recreational athletes.
The program provides information and training to pharmacists to equip them with the professional knowledge and skills to contribute to the pharmacological and clinical care of athletes. Students will also be equipped to support the integrity of sports through a clear understanding of the medical and nutritional aspects of athlete health, within the rules of anti-doping regulations.
The program aims to enhance pharmacists’ contribution to athlete healthcare, enabling them to provide valued professional input within multidisciplinary teams at sporting events and as part of the broader athlete support team.
The program is for qualified pharmacists, including those who are currently working with or aspiring to support individual athletes and teams at local, national or international levels. This includes pharmacists involved in administration, prescribing, education, or consultation on drugs and supplements. It is also suited to those seeking a deeper understanding of anti-doping regulations, either to apply them in their current role or to pursue opportunities within anti-doping or sport organisations.
Students enrolling for this program should be in possession of an undergraduate pharmacy degree from a recognised university, with current professional registration, or pre-registration status to practice, from their national pharmacy regulatory body.
The language of instruction will be English, and students whose native language is not English, or whose first degree was not undertaken in English, should provide evidence of competence in English.
A 6-month Upgrade Program is available exclusively to qualified pharmacists who have previously successfully completed the IOC Certificate in Drugs in Sport.
The Upgrade Program will be offered to previous pharmacist graduates of the Drugs in Sport Certificate for a limited time in 2026 and 2027 only.
The IOC Diploma in Sports Pharmacy is awarded by the International Olympic Committee (www.olympic.org), as part of the program of activities of the IOC Health, Medicine and Science Commission.
The Diploma program is awarded under the Academic oversight of an international Academic Advisory Board. The members of this Advisory Board advise on the academic standards of the IOC Diploma program, including suitability of applicants, quality assurance of course content, and the moderation of student assessment. More details about the Advisory Board Members can be found on the
webpage of the IOC Diploma website
The IOC Diploma in Sports Pharmacy is recognised and supported by the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP). The program has been awarded the FIP Seal, in recognition of the alignment to FIP’s mission to advance pharmacy worldwide. The FIP Seal serves as a symbol of solidarity, trust, and action through self-assessment and partnerships within FIP’s global platform.
A discount of 10% on tuition fees will be applied for current members of the International Pharmaceutical Federation.
The Health, Medicine and Science Commission of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognises the vital role pharmacists play in promoting and safeguarding the health of both elite and recreational athletes. This postgraduate-level IOC Diploma in Sports Pharmacy equips pharmacy professionals with the specialised knowledge needed to optimise athlete health and wellbeing, support performance, and uphold the principles of clean sport.
This advanced, specialist program has been established for pharmacists. Including those working or aspiring to work in the field of sports pharmacy or anti-doping. It provides comprehensive training in key areas of sports medicine and sports science, including pharmacology and sports nutrition, equipping pharmacists develop expertise in athlete care while adhering to global anti-doping regulations.
Pharmacists will be empowered with the knowledge to enable them to be integral members of multidisciplinary teams at sporting events and in the community. Additionally, the course addresses drug misuse in sport, highlighting the pharmacist’s role in doping prevention and detection.
Students are encouraged to attend optional online meetings. Sessions will give students the opportunity to discuss issues arising from the lectures, reading material or other sources with the Program Directors and/or members of the Academic Advisory Board.
There will be nine sessions which will focus primarily on questions arising from the most recent module or on a specific topic from invited experts.
Acknowledging the worldwide location of our students, we aim to offer two dates/times for each session, and recordings of the sessions will be made available for those who are unable to attend. The online sessions also give students the opportunity to get to know their fellow students better and build a network of contacts.
Completing the Diploma program will add to your skills and qualifications and below are some examples of the areas you may wish to explore after graduation and be eligible to work in. No single qualification can guarantee working in one of these areas.
The Diploma program is offered by distance learning on a part-time basis, running for a period of 11 months. Delivery of the program involves a variety of teaching methods, including lectures in electronic format, web-based materials, a program of guided reading, and an on-line discussion forum. The workload for the Diploma program has a nominal teaching and learning load of 800 hours, spread over the 1 year of study. However, the time it takes to go through the web-based lectures, to read the set literature, and to prepare assignments etc will vary greatly between individuals.
It is obvious that some people can achieve a satisfactory performance with a considerably smaller investment of time, but others may need to – or may choose to – invest more. There are some key dates by which assignments must be submitted throughout the program, but students have considerable flexibility as to how they choose to distribute the workload over the duration of the program.
Ron, can you please advise whether this is correct.
There are nine modules for each, with each module lasting one month, so the program runs from March-November each year. Three assignments must be completed each year. Assignments are submitted in electronic format by uploading them via the student area of the website. Feedback is delivered by email and by posting of materials on the website.
There is one examination held in December at the end of the program.
Students who fail to achieve a satisfactory performance will have an opportunity to resit the examination and/or assignments.
Lectures in the form of computer-based presentations by leading international experts consist of a PowerPoint presentation with associated video and audio track. Lecture material is supplemented by a program of directed study, including review papers, original research publications, and textbooks. Additional materials are posted on the online Forum.
Faculty for the IOC Diploma program include research scientists, pharmacy, medical, nutrition, and anti-doping professionals, university teachers and athlete support personnel.
All are recognised as world leaders in their fields and all have extensive practical experience. Faculty are selected not only for their expertise but also for their ability to present information in a clear and accessible way.
All resources needed for completion of the program are provided without further financial commitment. This includes not only the online lectures but also a portfolio of reading material that includes full online access to the British Journal of Sports Medicine and online access to core eBook.
Attendance in person at the Graduation Ceremony in Lausanne is optional. The Ceremony will include a welcome from the IOC, presentation of Diplomas, followed by a reception and a tour of the Olympic Museum. Students are responsible for their own travel and accommodation costs. Diplomas will be emailed to all those who graduate. Those who choose to graduate in absentia can print the Diploma as they wish.
Yes, fees can be paid in 1,2 or 4 instalments.