Reminder: WADA’s 2026 Prohibited List comes into force on 1 January

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) wishes to remind stakeholders that the 2026 List of Prohibited Substances and Methods (List) and the 2026 Monitoring Program come into force 1 January 2026. The 2026 List was approved by WADA’s Executive Committee (ExCo) during its meeting on 11 September 2025.  

The List is one of the eight International Standards that are mandatory for all Signatories of the World Anti-Doping Code (Code). It designates which substances and methods are prohibited both in- and out-of-competition and which substances are banned in particular sports. 

The 2026 Monitoring Program includes substances that are not on the List, but that WADA wishes to monitor in order to detect potential patterns of misuse in sport.   

Major modifications for 2026 

As outlined in the 2026 Summary of Major Modifications and Explanatory Notes, the major modifications for 2026 include the following:  

• Further examples or clarifications have been added to the following substance classes to help athletes and their entourage better identify prohibited substances:   
  • S1. Anabolic agents, 
  • S2. Peptide hormones, growth factors, related substances, and mimetics,   
  • S4. Hormone and metabolic modulators, and 
  • S6. Stimulants.    
• The dosing intervals of salmeterol have been changed to avoid potential ergogenic effects, though the maximum daily delivered dose remains the same. 
• More details have been given about the prohibition of withdrawal of blood and blood components.
• The non-diagnostic use of carbon monoxide (CO) has been added to the Prohibited Methods as a new section, M1.4. The use of carbon monoxide for diagnostic purposes, such as total hemoglobin mass measurements or the determination of pulmonary diffusion capacity, is not prohibited.
• Cell components (e.g., nuclei and organelles such as mitochondria and ribosomes) have been added to the existing prohibition of using normal or genetically modified cells. 
• It has been clarified in the Glucocorticoids Washout Table that use of sustained-release formulations may result in detectable glucocorticoid levels past the washout period due to prolonged systemic absorption. 

Educational resources  

In addition to the documents linked above, WADA also provides educational resources to assist in preparations for implementing the revised list. 

• For ADOs: As part of its Code Implementation Support Program, WADA has developed a checklist to help ADOs take the right steps to prepare their organization and athletes to implement the revised list. As a general resource that targets process rather than specific changes in any given year’s List, it can be consulted on an annual basis. The checklist is available here.
• For Athletes and ASP: Each year, WADA develops the Athlete and ASP Guide to the List, which is geared towards informing athletes and ASP of the specific changes they will need to onboard for the coming year. The Athlete and ASP Guide to the 2026 List can be accessed as an e-learning course on ADEL, or for anyone who benefits from a different format, a PDF copy of the course is available here.

Languages and formats 

The 2026 Prohibited List, the 2026 Summary of Modifications and Explanatory Notes, and the 2026 Monitoring Program are available for download on WADA’s website in English, French, and Spanish. 

Stakeholders wishing to translate the List into other languages are kindly asked to signal their interest to code@wada-ama.org. WADA will then provide the necessary files and, once the translation is finalized, will make the translated List available on the Agency’s website. 

The List’s mobile-friendly digital edition will go live on 1 January 2026. 

Annual list review process 

WADA leads an annual revision process concerning the List, beginning with an initial meeting in January and concluding with the publication of the List by 1 October. This is an extensive consultation process that includes WADA’s List Expert Advisory Group gathering information including the latest scientific and medical research, trends, and intelligence gathered from law enforcement and pharmaceutical companies; circulating a draft List among stakeholders; and, taking their submissions into consideration to revise the draft, followed by review by the Agency’s Health, Medical and Research (HMR) Committee. The HMR Committee then makes its recommendations to WADA’s ExCo, which approves the List during its September meeting. 

For a substance or method to be added to the List, it must be determined that it meets at least two of the following three criteria: 

1. It has the potential to enhance or enhances sport performance 
2. It represents an actual or potential health risk to the athletes 
3. It violates the spirit of sport 

The List is released three months ahead of it taking effect so that athletes, their entourage, and other stakeholders can acquaint themselves with any modifications. Ultimately, athletes are responsible for prohibited substances found in their body and prohibited methods found to have been used. Members of an athlete’s entourage are also liable for Anti-Doping Rule Violations if determined to be complicit. Consequently, if there is any doubt as to the status of a substance or method, it is important that they contact their respective Anti-Doping Organizations (International Federation or National Anti-Doping Organization) for advice. 

The Therapeutic Use Exemption Program 

It should be noted that athletes who have a legitimate medical reason for using a prohibited substance or method that is on the List can apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) to determine whether they meet the criteria outlined in the International Standard for Therapeutic Use Exemptions (ISTUE). The TUE Program is a rigorous and necessary part of elite sport and has overwhelming acceptance from athletes, physicians, and anti-doping stakeholders.