WADA publishes Guidance Note for Anti-Doping Organizations regarding Substances of Abuse under 2021 World Anti-Doping Code

WADA recently published a Guidance Note regarding Substances of Abuse under the revised 2021 World Anti-Doping Code (the Code), which entered into effect on 1 January 2021.

Pursuant to Article 4.2.3 of the Code, some substances on the 2021 List of Prohibited Substances and Prohibited Methods (2021 Prohibited List) have been identified as Substances of Abuse “because they are frequently abused in society outside the context of sport”.

WADA’s Prohibited List Expert Advisory Group has identified the following substances as Substances of Abuse in the 2021 Prohibited List.

• Cocaine (S.6a – Non-specified Stimulants);
• Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA / “ecstasy”) (S.6b – Specified Stimulants);
• Diamorphine (Heroin) (S.7 – Narcotics); and
• Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (S.8 – Cannabinoids)

Under Article 10.2.4.1 of the Code, regarding these substances, “if the Athlete can establish that any ingestion or Use occurred Out-of-Competition and was unrelated to sport performance, then the period of Ineligibility shall be three months Ineligibility. In addition, the period of Ineligibility calculated under this Article 10.2.4.1 may be reduced to one month if the Athlete or other Person satisfactorily completes a Substance of Abuse treatment program approved by the Anti-Doping Organization with Results Management responsibility.”

The Guidance Note offers direction to Anti-Doping Organizations regarding application of Code Article 4.2.3. Please click here to view the full Guidance Note.