Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport

Ottawa – October 10, 2023 – The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has published the 2024 Prohibited List that will come into effect on January 1. The 2024 Prohibited List and the Summary of Major Modifications and Explanatory Notes are now available to the sport community. 

The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) encourages all athletes and support personnel to familiarize themselves with the Prohibited List and the modifications for the coming year.

Tramadol banned as of 2024

Tramadol, a commonly used narcotic, will be prohibited in competition as of January 1, 2024. Data gathered on tramadol through WADA’s Monitoring Program indicates significant use in sport. With its risks of physical dependence, opiate addiction, and overdoses in the general population, tramadol abuse is of concern and has led to it being a controlled drug in many countries. Research studies funded by WADA have also confirmed the potential for tramadol to enhance sport performance.

WADA will provide a recommended washout period for tramadol before January 1, 2024, which the CCES will communicate to the Canadian sport community. A washout period refers to the time from the last administered dose to the start of the in-competition period, at which point the substance has gone below the specified threshold or becomes undetectable.  

Resources

We caution athletes to exercise a high degree of care with regards to the use of medications, supplements, and sport nutrition products. These resources can help athletes determine whether medications are prohibited in sport, and what to do if they are.

• Global DRO: Online substance inquiry service, now with simplified search result layout.

• Medical Exemption Wizard: Athletes who require a prohibited medication should verify their medical exemption requirements. 

• Supplements information: Learn about the risks involved with supplements and unregulated products.

• If you and your support team believe that a supplement is an important part of your individualized nutrition or performance plan, please select a supplement that has been subject to rigorous third-party batch testing from a trusted program, such as NSF International Certified for Sport®, BSCG, Informed Choice, and Informed Sport.

WADA Documents for 2024

• The 2024 Prohibited List

• The Summary of Major Modifications and Explanatory Notes

• The 2024 Prohibited List Monitoring Program

The Prohibited List

The Prohibited List is an international standard identifying substances and methods that are prohibited in sport. The International Olympic Committee first published it in 1968. Since 2004, WADA has been responsible for the preparation and publication of the List, which it updates every year. 

Questions? Contact the CCES

• Email: [email protected]
• Toll-free line: 1-800-672-7775

About the CCES

The CCES works collaboratively to ensure Canadians have a positive sport experience. Through its programs, the CCES manages unethical issues in sport, protects the integrity of Canadian sport, and promotes True Sport to activate values-based sport on and off the field of play. The CCES is an independent, national, not-for profit organization that is responsible for the administration of the Canadian Anti-Doping Program. The CCES acknowledges funding, in part, from the Government of Canada. For more information, visit cces.ca, follow us on X (Twitter), Facebook, or Instagram.