The World Anti-Doping Agency publishes the Prohibited List of Substances and Methods. It is updated annually, and all athletes are responsible for knowing and adhering to the rules and regulations set forth in the list.
The Prohibited List is divided into two main categories:
- banned substances, which includes performance-enhancing drugs such as anabolic steroids and stimulants
- banned methods, which includes methods used to enhance performance such as blood doping and gene doping.
The list is designed to protect the health of athletes and the integrity of sports by deterring the use of performance-enhancing substances and methods. The substances and methods on the Prohibited List are deemed to comply with all or several of these criteria: have the potential to harm an athlete’s health or give them an unfair advantage over their competitors or damage the image of the sport.
WADA works with sports organizations and national anti-doping agencies around the world to enforce the rules and regulations set forth in the Prohibited List. Athletes who test positive for a banned substance or use a banned method can face suspension or other penalties, depending on the sport and the specific circumstances of the case.
It’s important to note that some substances and methods are prohibited only in-competition (for example: cannabis/ THC) while some are prohibited both in and out-of-competition.
Of course, should a player require medication to regain his state of health, they are allowed to use those, if they apply for a therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs). Please refer to Therapeutic Use Exception for more information.
CHECK YOUR MEDICATION
Whenever a player is in need to use a medication it should be checked whether the medication contains a banned substance – this is equally applicable for over-the-counter and prescription medication.
Here is an overview that may be useful for you to check your medication:
Consult your doctor or medical support staff and ask them to support you in the review.
Consult the Prohibited List directly. The Prohibited List is available on the WADA website, and it includes a detailed list of all prohibited substances and methods, as well as information on the specific criteria used to determine whether a substance or method is banned. To consult the prohibited list you need to have a detailed list of all ingredients that compose the medication in question.
Consult Global DRO (Drug Reference Online). Global DRO is a database of medication that contains information on whether a particular medication is banned under the WADA Prohibited List. Athletes can search for a medication by name or active ingredient to find out if it is prohibited.
Consult your National Anti-Doping Organization for more information about a specific medication.
