2025 Prohibited Substances List: The Joke’s on Doping
Ah, the thrill of competition—where athletes push their bodies to the brink and occasionally to the *ban list*! The 2025 List of Prohibited Substances and Methods has just been approved by WADA’s Executive Committee like a group of parents deciding on a school dress code, and trust me, it’s as riveting as it sounds… only with more *performance enhancers*! Approved on September 12, 2024, these rules are set to kick off right from January 1, 2025. Perfect timing—think of it as a New Year’s resolution for your biceps, or, let’s be honest, for athletes trying to gain an unfair edge.
Major Modifications for 2025
PROHIBITED SUBSTANCES
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty, let’s just say: if you’re planning to cheat, could you at least be creative about it? Here’s a breakdown of some of the new additions which might make *that* illegal substances cabinet of yours feel a little cramped:
- S0. Non-Approved Substances: Brace yourselves! S-107 and S48168 (yes, that’s right a whole two new entrants), are the new ryanodine receptor-1-calstabin complex stabilizers. Unless you’re part of an undercover lab testing project, this is probably more scientific jargon than anyone actually needs.
- S3. Beta-2 Agonists: Formoterol’s dosing times are now tighter than your budget after a weekend binge. The new 12-hourly intervals aim to stifle those performance-enhancing tendencies. Just enough time for a snack, but not enough for a complete snooze!
- S5. Diuretics and Masking Agents: Freshly added to the list is Xipamide, which sounds like a character from a low-budget sci-fi film. We’re still waiting for the special effects budget for that one!
- S4. Hormone and Metabolic Modulators: Elacestrant and the charmingly-named MOTS-c are now hot on the list—these are vital for those wishing to transcend their human limits. Newsflash: we’re already humans, so let’s keep it that way, shall we?
PROHIBITED METHODS
And as if that wasn’t enough to keep a doctor busy, we also have some updates on methods:
- M1. Blood Manipulation: Good news! Donating blood isn’t banned—unless you plan on donating it to yourself to give yourself a little ‘extra boost’ during the race.
- M3. Gene and Cell Doping: Just a minor editorial update here, which sounds suspiciously like the last-minute changes my high school essay used to go through.
The Monitoring Program
Now, let’s chat about some substances that will be closely monitored in 2025—a list that reads like a pharmaceutical dealer’s catalog!
- Anabolic Agents: Ecdysterone makes the cut, prompting athletes to be reminded that nature is to be admired, not abused.
- Stimulants: Get ready to put down the coffee! Stimulants like Bupropion and caffeine will have everyone’s heart racing during competition – and potentially for that afternoon meeting, too.
- Narcotics: Codeine and other similar compounds are marked for your enjoyment, but in-competition only! Because who doesn’t love running a marathon feeling like they’re floating on air?
- Semaglutide: Coming in and out of competition, this one’s really looking to play both sides. A social butterfly of the drug world, if you will.
So, there you have it! The 2025 Prohibited Substances and Methods List is a bit like a fine wine: it gets better with age, or perhaps just a bit more complicated. Remember, folks, cheating is like building a sandcastle at low tide—it’s only a matter of time before it all comes crashing down. And while we chuckle at the lengths some might go to, let’s also remain just a tad grateful for those athletes who compete fair and square. After all, those are the guys we want to have a pint with after the game, right?
Keep it clean, keep it fun, and most importantly, let’s keep those muscles working the way nature intended. Cheers to 2025!
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has officially approved the 2025 List of Prohibited Substances and Methods during an important meeting of its Executive Committee (ExCo) on 12 September 2024. This crucial list will become effective on 1 January 2025, marking a significant update in anti-doping regulations.
This revised List forms part of the eight International Standards that all Signatories of the World Anti-Doping Code must adhere to. It specifies which substances and methods are prohibited for athletes in both competitive and non-competitive settings, additionally identifying substances banned in certain sports. World Triathlon strongly advises all athletes and teams to thoroughly review the list to ensure compliance in the upcoming season.
Major modifications for 2025:
PROHIBITED SUBSTANCES
S0. Non-Approved Substances
• S-107 and S48168 (ARM210) have been added to the S0 category, representing the class of ryanodine receptor-1-calstabin complex stabilizers, which are vital for the storage and release of calcium, essential for normal skeletal muscle function.
S3. Beta-2 Agonists
• Due to recent findings regarding potential performance-enhancing doses of inhaled formoterol, the dosing intervals have been updated to prevent unnecessary ergogenic effects. The newly established dosing intervals of 12 hours align with manufacturers’ recommendations, while the maximum allowable dose remains unchanged at 54 micrograms over a 24-hour period.
S5. Diuretics and Masking Agents
• As part of the updated regulations, Xipamide has been included as a recognized example of a diuretic.
S4. Hormone and Metabolic Modulators
• Elacestrant has been added as an example of an anti-estrogen. Additionally, mitochondrial open reading frame of the 12S rRNA-c (MOTS-c) is now recognized as an AMP-activated protein kinase activator. To enhance clarity, S519 and S597 are now listed explicitly as insulin-mimetics, compounds which function by binding to the insulin receptor, mimicking insulin’s biological activity.
PROHIBITED METHODS
M1. Manipulation of Blood and Blood Components
• The donation of blood or blood components—including plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and peripheral blood stem cells—is permitted when conducted in accredited collection centers that comply with national regulatory authority standards.
M3. Gene and Cell Doping
• A minor editorial modification has been made to enhance clarity regarding gene and cell doping regulations.
Furthermore, the following substances have been included in the 2025 Monitoring Program:
1. Anabolic Agents:
In and Out-of-Competition: Ecdysterone
3. Hypoxen (polyhydroxyphenylene thiosulfonate sodium):
In and Out-of-Competition
4. Stimulants:
In-Competition only: Bupropion, caffeine, nicotine, phenylephrine, phenylpropanolamine, pipradrol and synephrine.
5. Narcotics:
In-Competition only: Codeine, dermorphin (and its analogues), dihydrocodeine, hydrocodone and tapentadol.
Out-of-Competition: Fentanyl and tramadol
6. Semaglutide:
In and Out-of-Competition
