The 2027 List of Prohibited Substances and Methods, approved by WADA’s Executive Committee (ExCo) in September 2026, enters into force on 1 January 2027.
The list is one of the nine International Standards that are mandatory for all Signatories of the World Anti-Doping Code. It designates which substances and methods are prohibited both in- and out-of-competition and which substances are banned in particular sports.
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
World Triathlon recommends that all athletes and teams familiarise themselves with the new list at their earliest opportunity.
Major modifications for 2027
As outlined in the 2027 Summary of Major Modifications and Explanatory Notes, the major modifications for the 2027 Prohibited List include the following:
Introduction:
The wording of Substances of Abuse was changed to clarify that the presence of metabolites of these substances should be considered in the results management process if relevant.
S4. Hormones and metabolic modulators: the title of S4.2 was expanded to reflect current terminology for substances in this class.
S8. Cannabinoids: changes were made to reflect current scientific knowledge on the delta-9- tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) like-effects of commonly encountered cannabinoids. To illustrate this, several examples were added.
S9. Glucocorticoids: Vaginal glucocorticoid administration was added as a permitted route.
P1. Beta-blockers: the details on sports disciplines were harmonized among International Federations.
General: Further examples or clarifications have been added to the following substance classes to help athletes and their entourage better identify prohibited substances:
S0. Non-approved substances,
S4. Hormone and metabolic modulators,
S5. Diuretics and masking agents, and
S8. Cannabinoids.
Regarding the Monitoring Program, several substances were removed, as enough data were gathered showing that at present, they do not represent a concern for anti-doping.
It should be noted that the status of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, including semaglutide and tirzepatide, will remain unchanged for 2027 pending further data becoming available on the possible effects on athletes who take them. GLP-1 receptor agonists are substances that are now widely used in society. WADA’s List Expert Advisory Group (EAG) has examined all the available scientific literature, which has informed several discussions on their status.
