WADA’s 2025 Prohibited List: Context and key changes

The prevalence of banned substances in sports

To manage and maintain an effective Prohibited List it’s important for WADA to understand which current banned substances and methods are being misused. This context is provided by WADA’s Anti-Doping Testing Figures, which offer insights into the prevalence of different banned substances.

In April 2024 WADA published the 2022 Anti-Doping Testing Figures, which summarise the results of all the samples WADA-accredited laboratories analysed that year. In 2022 there were 256,769 A samples analysed, of which 1,986 (0.76%) returned an adverse analytical finding containing a total of 2,680 prohibited substances under the 2022 Prohibited List. Below are details of the occurrences of various substance groups in 2022:

These figures help illustrate the substances most detected (anabolic agents) and provide a useful context for understanding WADA’s priorities when revising the Prohibited List.

How WADA decides which substances and methods to include on the Prohibited List

After a consultation period with input from scientific, medical and anti-doping experts the Prohibited List is published each year around September to allow athletes and athlete support personnel to understand any changes and how they may affect them. This iterative process allows WADA to constantly review substances that may potentially be misused in sport. It ensures the Prohibited List reflects current medical and scientific evidence while being proactive in combating evolving doping practices.

When considering whether to include a substance or method on the Prohibited List, WADA explain that they are looking for any two of the following three criteria: 

1. The substance or method has the potential to enhance or enhances sport performance
2. The substance or method represents an actual or potential health risk to the Athlete
3. The substance or method violates the spirit of sport (defined within the WADA Anti-Doping Code)

For example, last year tramadol was added to the 2024 Prohibited List for the first time under S7 Narcotics and was therefore prohibited in-competition. This was due to the risks of physical dependence, opiate addiction and overdose satisfying the second and third criteria.

Furthermore, if a substance or method prevents the detection of a prohibited substance or is not approved for human use then they are also banned. While the Prohibited List is typically updated annually, WADA can amend the Prohibited List at any time by providing sufficient notice.

Changes introduced by the 2025 Prohibited List

The 2025 Prohibited List has not sought to reinvent the wheel, but, as you may expect, some substances have been introduced, reclassified or redefined.

WADA publishes a Summary of Major Modifications and Explanatory Notes and this highlights the most important changes. This year these changes include:

1. Athletes are now permitted to donate blood at accredited collection centres. 
2. Additional examples have been provided of S4 hormone and metabolic modulators (including elacestrant), S5 diuretics (Xipamide), S6 stimulants (midodrine and tesofensine) and S0 non-approved substances (S-107 and S48168). These are not new substances being added to the Prohibited List but are additional examples of substances that are already banned.
3. The dosing intervals of inhaled formoterol have changed (now 36 micrograms over a 12-hour period as well as 54 micrograms over a 24-hour period)
4. Hydrafinil has been reclassified as a S6A non-specified stimulant, and could now result in a longer period of ineligibility
5. Guanfacine was clarified as not prohibited
6. Minor editorial changes have been made to the gene and cell doping section 
7. Beta-blockers are now allowed in all ski and snowboard disciplines

WADA has also published the 2025 Monitoring Program which sets out the substances that are currently being monitored for potential misuse in sport, but have not yet made their way onto the Prohibited List. Notably caffeine and nicotine are being monitored for in-competition use and codeine, fentanyl and tramadol for out-of-competition use. Here is the full list of substances that have now been placed on the Program:

“1. Anabolic Agents: In and out-of-competition: Ecdysterone 

2. Peptides hormones, growth factors, related substances, and Mimetics: In and out-of-competition: Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues in females under 18 years only.

3. Hypoxen (polyhydroxyphenylene thiosulfonate sodium): In and out-of-competition

4. Stimulants: In-competition only: Bupropion, caffeine, nicotine, phenylephrine, phenylpropanolamine, pipradrol and synephrine.

5. Narcotics: In-competition only: Codeine, dermorphin (and its analogues), dihydrocodeine, hydrocodone and tapentadol. Out-of-competition: Fentanyl and tramadol.

6. Semaglutide: In and out-of-competition”

Conclusion

As always, the presence of a banned substance in an athlete’s sample is a strict liability offence, meaning the athlete is responsible. Therefore, athletes and athlete support personnel should ensure they educate themselves on these changes to remain compliant with anti-doping regulations. This is particularly important if any changes affect a Therapeutic Use Exemption or other medications. For more information about medication, please visit Global DRO.

By staying informed and vigilant, athletes and athlete support personnel can help uphold the integrity of sport and ensure a fair and level playing field for all.