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WADA’s 2025 Prohibited List now in force

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) wishes to remind stakeholders that the 2025 List of Prohibited Substances and Methods (List) and the 2025 Monitoring Program enter into force today (1 January 2025). The 2025 List was approved by WADA’s Executive Committee (ExCo) during its meeting on 12 September 2024. 

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 for 2025 

As outlined in the 2025 Summary of Major Modifications and Explanatory Notes, the major modifications for 2025 include the following:   

  • Further examples were 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  
    • S6. Stimulants.   
  • The dosing intervals of formoterol have been changed, though the maximum daily delivered dose remains the same. 
  • Donation of blood and blood components including by apheresis are no longer prohibited if performed in an accredited collection center. 
  • Hydrafinil is now classified as a non-specified stimulant. 
  • It is clarified that guanfacine is not a prohibited substance. 
  • Beta-blockers are no longer prohibited in any skiing and snowboarding disciplines. 

Annual list review process 

WADA leads an annual 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.