WADA’s Updated List of Prohibited Substances Effective January 1

With the new year comes the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) updated list of Prohibited Substances, which took effect on January 1, 2016. Several minor modifications are included within the listing in response to documented cases of athletes across any sport having used particular substances with the purposes of enhancing performance.  

Notable modifications include:

• Insulin-mimetics were added to category S4. Hormone and Metabolic Modulators, to include all insulin-receptor agonists; this includes hormone drug Leuprorelin
• Heart attack drug Meldonium (mildronate) was added to category S4. “because of evidence of its use by athletes with the intention of enhancing performance.”
• It was clarified that the ophthalmic use of carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (S5. Diuretics and Masking Agents) is permitted.
• It was clarified that clonidine (S6. Stimulants) is permitted.

Of note, Tramadol and thyroid hormonal medication Thyroxine remain on the monitored list, even amid calls from both the UK Anti-Doping and the United States Anti-Doping Agency to outlaw the substances.

As anticipated last October, heart attack drug Meldonium was added to the prohibited list as the substance can reportedly be utilized as a metabolic enhancer which increases endurance. WADA began monitoring Meldonium in 2015, adding the drug to its “Monitoring Program” to determine how widespread its use was within sport and what effects it could have on athletic performance. WADA’s findings conclude that there is “evidence of its use by athletes with the intention of enhancing performance.”

You can find WADA’s list of modifications here, as well as its complete list of Prohibited Substances here.