WADA approves 2014 anti-doping list

There are no major changes to the list from 2012 but there have been clarifications in descriptions and some wording changes. A clarification in the section regarding peptides has been made to reinforce that releasing factors are prohibited.  Other prohibited growth factors are listed separately. The clarification has extended the definition to include other substances that have a similar chemical structure or create a similar biological effect(s).

The names of some substances on the list have been updated to be international non-proprietary names (INN). The previous names have also been kept and no substance has been deleted.

In the stimulants section, some drugs that metabolize to amfetamine or methamfetamine have been reclassified because improved analytical techniques permit the identification of the administered drug and corresponding metabolites; MDMA and MDA are reclassified because they are now recognized as less likely to be used as doping agents; cathinone and its analogues (e.g. mephedrone, methedrone, α- pyrrolidinovalerophenone) and trimetazidine have been added as examples to reflect emerging patterns of drug use.

The small number of additions include the diuretic Vasopressin V2 antagonists (vaptans).

WADA also has a monitoring programme with some substances being analysed by anti-doping labs but if they are detected they do not constitute a positive drug test. Instead information is collected about them. One is mentioned on the 2014 list – mitragynine has been added to the narcotics class.

The prohibited list can be downloaded onto an iPhone or other mobile device. The list is currently translated to French and Spanish with other languages to follow.

The new list will take effect on 1 January 2014.

For more information on the 2014 list and anti-doping in rowing view the Medical page here.