Mon, January 05, 2026
WADA’s 2026 Prohibited List in force as of 1 January 2026
The World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) 2026 List of Prohibited Substances and Methods, which it agreed in a meeting on 11 September 2025, is now in force as of 1 January 2026. WADA also published the 2026 Summary of Major Modifications and Explanatory Notes and the 2026 Monitoring Program. The latter includes substances that are not on the list, but that WADA will monitor to detect potential patterns of misuse in sport.
The list forms one of eight International Standards that are mandatory for signatories of the WADA Code, such as International Federations, Major Event Organisations, National Olympic Committees, National Paralympic Committees, National Anti-Doping Organisations or other organisations which have significant relevance within sport. The list outlines which substances and methods are prohibited in and out of competition and which substances are banned in particular sports. The criteria below outline how the substances and methods are decided:
- It has the potential to enhance or enhances sport performance
- It represents an actual or potential health risk to the athletes
- It violates the spirit of sport
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
- S6. Stimulants
- 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 haemoglobin mass measurements or the determination of pulmonary diffusion capacity, is not prohibited.
Furthermore:
- 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.
- 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.
Olivier Niggli, WADA Director General, stated: “We encourage athletes, their entourage and all stakeholders to acquaint themselves with the Summary of Major Modifications to avoid inadvertent use of substances and methods that are prohibited in sport for 2026. In particular, we kindly ask all Anti-Doping Organisations around the world to share the List and its related documents with athletes, their entourage, and other relevant stakeholders under their jurisdiction.”
Educational resources for Anti-Doping Organisations, athletes and Athlete Support Personnel are also available on WADA’s website.
More information can be found here.
