WADA Publishes 2021 Prohibited List

(Ottawa, Ontario – October 26, 2020) – The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has published the 2021 Prohibited List. The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) would like to alert the sport community that the List will come into effect on January 1, 2021 in conjunction with the 2021 World Anti-Doping Code and 2021 Canadian Anti-Doping Program.
 
 
Notable modifications and clarifications for 2021 include:
 
Redesign of the List: The 2021 Prohibited List has been redesigned to improve usability and navigation. These improvements include a table of contents, an introduction with definitions and changes to headings.
 
Substances of abuse: A new article to the 2021 World Anti-Doping Code and Prohibited List identifies cocaine, diamorphine (heroin), methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA/“ecstasy”) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) as substances of abuse. This means that if an athlete can demonstrate that the use of any of these four substances was out of competition and unrelated to sport performance, the suspension imposed will be three months and may be reduced to one month if the athlete completes a drug rehabilitation program approved by the CCES.
 
S3 – Beta-2 Agonists: Vilanterol was changed from a prohibited substance to a threshold substance. Inhaled vilanterol is now permitted up to the manufacturer’s maximum recommended dose. The dose is expressed as the metered dose of 25 micrograms which is equivalent to a delivered dose of 22 micrograms.
 
The following major modification regarding glucocorticoids will come into effect on January 1, 2022:
 
Glucocorticoids: The draft 2021 List proposed prohibiting all injectable routes of administration of glucocorticoids in competition. The modification was approved, but it will not be implemented until January 1, 2022. The delay will allow sport authorities adequate time to develop educational tools for athletes, and for medical and support personnel to address the safe use of glucocorticoids for clinical purposes within anti-doping.
 
The following resources are provided by the CCES to help you determine whether medications are prohibited in sport. All resources will reflect the new List by January 1, 2021.
Athletes are cautioned to exercise a high degree of care with regards to the use of medications, supplements and sport nutrition products. Those who are prescribed a prohibited medication to treat an illness or condition can apply for a medical exemption. Use the Medical Exemption Wizard to determine if an athlete needs to apply for an exemption, what to include in the application and where to submit it.
 
The Prohibited List is an international standard identifying substances and methods that are prohibited in sport. The International Olympic Committee first published it in 1963. Since 2004, WADA has been responsible for the preparation and publication of the List, which it updates every year.
 
As widely publicized, the sport community is also reminded that a new Canadian Anti-Doping Program will also come into effect on January 1, 2021. Information about the new program is available in the following CCES advisory note.
 
Additional resources:
About the CCES
The CCES is an independent, national, not-for-profit organization with a responsibility to administer the Canadian Anti-Doping Program. We recognize that true sport can make a great difference for individuals, communities and our country. The CCES acknowledges funding, in part, from the Government of Canada. We are committed to making sport better by working collaboratively to activate a values-based and principle-driven sport system; protecting the integrity of sport from the negative forces of doping and other unethical threats; and advocating for sport that is fair, safe and open to everyone.
 
For further information, please contact:

+1 613-521-3340 x3233
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