Prohibited Substances List
Documents
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List sets out the substances and methods prohibited in sport.
Some substances and methods are prohibited at all times and others are only prohibited in-competition or only prohibited in particular sports.
It does not matter when you take a substance, if it is prohibited in-competition and it is found in your system you may face a ban.
The Facts: What You Need to Know About the Prohibited List
The Prohibited List (the List) is maintained and managed by WADA. It is updated annually and takes effect on January 1 each year. While updates are typically made once a year, WADA may amend the List more frequently if necessary. In such cases, any changes must be communicated at least three months before their effective date.
The List categorizes substances and methods into three groups:
- Substances and methods are prohibited at all times (both in-competition and out-of-competition)
- Substances prohibited only during the in-competition period (generally from 11:59 p.m. on the day before a competition until the end of the competition and the completion of any sample collection process)
- Substances prohibited only in specific sports
Examples of substances prohibited at all times include, but are not limited to, anabolic agents, peptide hormones, diuretics, and masking agents.
Examples of substances prohibited only in-competition include, but are not limited to, cannabinoids, glucocorticoids, narcotics, and stimulants.
Certain methods are also prohibited at all times, including blood transfusions, blood manipulation, and intravenous infusions under specified circumstances.
Not every prohibited substance is individually listed by name. The List also prohibits substances with similar chemical structures or comparable biological effects, even if they are not specifically identified.
Specified substances are substances for which a plausible non-doping explanation may exist if they are detected in an athlete's sample.
Non-specified substances are substances for which there is generally no credible non-doping explanation for their presence in an athlete's system.