Glossary · Regulation
WADA list (Prohibited List)
In short
The WADA list is the Prohibited List of the World Anti-Doping Agency: it sets out which substances and methods are banned in sport. It is updated every year and takes effect on 1 January.
It distinguishes between substances that are prohibited at all times, such as anabolic agents, peptide hormones, growth factors and SARMs, and those prohibited only in competition, such as many stimulants. A separate class also prohibits all substances that are not approved for human use anywhere. Many entries expressly include substances with a similar structure or effect, even if they are not named.
The list applies to athletes who compete under anti-doping rules, not to the general public. In Germany, the Anti-Doping Act additionally makes trafficking and possession of more than small quantities of certain substances for doping purposes a criminal offence.
An entry says nothing about whether a substance works — only that it is not allowed in sport.
Banned in sport does not mean: effective.
Where this comes up in the fact checks
- BPC-157 – Prohibited in competitive sport, even though there is no completed phase II trial.
- Ostarine – Prohibited at all times under the WADA list and named in the annex of the German Anti-Doping Act.
- Clenbuterol – A prescription asthma drug in Germany, prohibited in sport at all times.
Sources
Related terms: SARM · Marketing authorization (EMA, FDA, BfArM) · Peptide
Information only, not medical advice. The BK-Score is a subjective assessment according to disclosed rules – not a scientific evaluation. Scoring rules