WADA’s 2022 Prohibited List now in force

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Agency calls on athletes, entourage, and all stakeholders to note major modifications concerning the use of salbutamol and injectable glucocorticoids

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) wishes to remind athletes and all other stakeholders that the 2022 List of Prohibited Substances and Methods (List) enters into force today (1 January). The 2022 List was approved by WADA’s Executive Committee (ExCo) during its meeting on 14 September 2021 and was first published on 30 September 2021.

The List is one of the eight International Standards that are mandatory for all Signatories of the World Anti-Doping Code (Code). It designates what substances and methods are prohibited both in- and out-of-competition and which substances are banned in particular sports.

Major Modifications
On 30 September 2021, WADA also published the 2022 Summary of Major Modifications and Explanatory Notes (along with the 2022 Monitoring Program). Please take special note that the Major Modifications for 2022 include the following:

  1. S9. Glucocorticoids

The draft 2021 List, which was considered by WADA’s ExCo during its September 2020 meeting, proposed prohibiting all injectable routes of administration of glucocorticoids in-competition. While this modification was approved, the ExCo asked WADA Management to implement the prohibition only as of 1 January 2022, to allow enough time for stakeholders to learn and adapt to this change.

Therefore, all injectable routes of administration will now be prohibited for glucocorticoids during the in-competition period. Examples of injectable routes of administration include: intravenous, intramuscular, periarticular, intra-articular, peritendinous, intratendinous, epidural, intrathecal, intrabursal, intralesional (e.g. intrakeloid), intradermal, and subcutaneous.

For clarification: oral administration of glucocorticoids, which remains prohibited in-competition, includes, in particular, oromucosal, buccal, gingival and sublingual routes.

Other routes of administration (including inhaled and topical: dental-intracanal, dermal, intranasal, ophthalmological and perianal) are not prohibited when used within the manufacturer’s licensed doses and therapeutic indications.

It is strongly recommended that athletes follow the minimum washout periods, expressed from the time of administration to the start of the in-competition period. These washout periods, which have been updated slightly since the 2022 List documents were published on 30 September to incorporate the latest scientific information, are highlighted in the revised version of the Summary of Major Modifications and Explanatory Note, and are based on the use of these medications according to the maximum manufacturer’s licensed doses.

If there is a legitimate medical need for the use of a glucocorticoid, the athlete may apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE). In case of an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) in-competition, the athlete may apply for a retroactive TUE as provided for in the applicable rules.

For further information regarding WADA’s approach to the routes of administration of glucocorticoids and washout periods, please refer to the Summary of Major Modifications and Explanatory Note.

  1. S3. Beta-2 Agonists – Dosage of Salbutamol

Regarding salbutamol, the daily dosing time intervals are modified to 600 micrograms over eight hours starting from the time any dose is taken (previously 800 micrograms over 12 hours). This is to reduce the risk of any potential AAF arising after high doses are taken at once. The total permitted daily dose remains at 1,600 micrograms over 24 hours. A TUE should be sought for doses in excess of these limits.

For further information on the permitted dosage of salbutamol, please refer to the Summary of Major Modifications and Explanatory Note.

  1. S0. Non-approved Substances

For the first time, a substance has been included by name as an example in section S0 (Non-approved Substances) of the List. This substance, BPC-157, is an experimental peptide sold as a supplement, and it has been included in the 2022 List following a recent re-evaluation of its status.

Annual List Review Process
Every year, WADA leads the revision process concerning the List, beginning with an initial meeting in January and concluding with the publication of the List by 1 October. This is an extensive consultation process that includes WADA’s List Expert Advisory Group gathering information including the latest scientific and medical research, trends, and intelligence gathered from law enforcement and pharmaceutical companies; circulating a draft List among stakeholders; and, taking their submissions into consideration to revise the draft, followed by review by the Agency’s Health, Medical and Research (HMR) Committee. The HMR Committee then makes its recommendations to WADA’s ExCo, which approves the List during its September meeting.

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

The List is released three months ahead of it taking effect so that athletes, their entourage and other stakeholders can acquaint themselves with any modifications. Ultimately, athletes are responsible for prohibited substances found in their body and prohibited methods found to have been used. Athlete entourage are also liable for Anti-Doping Rule Violations if determined to be complicit. Consequently, if there is any doubt as to the status of a substance or method, it is important that they contact their respective Anti-Doping Organizations (International Federation or National Anti-Doping Organization) for advice.

The Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) Program

It should be noted that athletes who have a legitimate medical reason for using a prohibited substance or method that is on the List may apply for a TUE. A TUE would be granted if the criteria outlined in the International Standard for Therapeutic Use Exemptions are met. The TUE Program is a rigorous and necessary part of elite sport which has overwhelming acceptance from athletes, physicians and anti-doping stakeholders.

TUE guidance documents including new regulations on glucocorticoids

In order to assist physicians and athletes, in the last few weeks, WADA published the following guidance documents on managing TUEs to include the new regulations on glucocorticoids:

Educational resources

In addition to the guidance documents listed above, WADA has provided a number of educational resources as part of its Code Implementation Support Program (CISP), which can be accessed on the Agency’s Anti-Doping Education and Learning Platform (ADEL). These resources include:

  • A CISP Checklist – Implementing Revised List
  • Athlete and Athlete Support Personnel (ASP) Factsheet on Glucocorticoid injections
  • Medical Professionals Factsheet on Glucocorticoid injections
  • Athlete and ASP Guide to the 2022 List

2022 List Webinar

In order to further assist stakeholders in their understanding and implementation of the 2022 List, WADA hosted a webinar in November 2021. Participants were taken through the major modifications for 2022 by WADA’s List Expert Advisory Group.

Languages and Formats

The 2022 Prohibited List; the 2022 Summary of Modifications and Explanatory Notes; and the 2022 Monitoring Program are available for download on WADA’s website in English and French and Spanish, along with other languages.

Stakeholders wishing to translate the List into other languages are kindly asked to signal their interest to info@wada-ama.org. WADA will then provide the necessary files and, once the translation is finalized, will make the translated List available on the Agency’s website.

The List’s mobile-friendly digital edition can be accessed here.

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