MIES (Switzerland) - The 2026 List of Prohibited Substances and Methods (List) and the 2026 Monitoring Program are now in force as of January 1, 2026. The 2026 List was approved by WADA's Executive Committee during its meeting on September 11, 2025.
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.
The 2026 Monitoring Program includes substances that are not on the List but that WADA wishes to monitor to detect potential patterns of misuse in sport.
Major modifications for 2026
As outlined in the 2026 Summary of Major Modifications and Explanatory Notes, the major modifications for 2026 include the following:
Further examples or clarifications have been added to the following substance classes to help athletes and their entourage better identify prohibited substances: S1. Anabolic agents, S2. Peptide hormones, growth factors, related substances, and mimetics, S4. Hormone and metabolic modulators, and S6. Stimulants.
The dosing intervals of salmeterol have been changed to avoid potential ergogenic effects, though the maximum daily delivered dose remains the same.
More details have been given about the prohibition of withdrawal of blood and blood components.
The non-diagnostic use of carbon monoxide (CO) has been added to the Prohibited Methods as a new section, M1.4. The use of carbon monoxide for diagnostic purposes, such as total hemoglobin mass measurements or the determination of pulmonary diffusion capacity, is not prohibited.
Cell components (e.g., nuclei and organelles such as mitochondria and ribosomes) have been added to the existing prohibition of using normal or genetically modified cells.
It has been clarified in the Glucocorticoids Washout Table that use of sustained-release formulations may result in detectable glucocorticoid levels past the washout period due to prolonged systemic absorption.
Educational resources
In addition to the documents linked above, WADA also provides educational resources to assist in preparations for implementing the revised list.
For ADOs: As part of its Code Implementation Support Program, WADA has developed a checklist to help ADOs take the right steps to prepare their organization and athletes to implement the revised list. The checklist is available here.
For Athletes and ASP: Each year, WADA develops the Athlete and ASP Guide to the List, which is geared towards informing athletes and ASP of the specific changes they will need to onboard for the coming year. The
Athlete and ASP Guide to the 2026 List can be accessed as an e-learning course on ADEL, or for anyone who benefits from a different format, a PDF copy of the course is available here.
Languages and formats
The 2026 Prohibited List, the 2026 Summary of Modifications and Explanatory Notes, and the 2026 Monitoring Program are available for download on WADA's website in English, French, and Spanish. The List's mobile-friendly digital edition is also available now.
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. For more details, click here.
The Therapeutic Use Exemption 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 can apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) to determine whether they meet the criteria outlined in the International Standard for Therapeutic Use Exemptions (ISTUE). The TUE Program is a rigorous and necessary part of elite sport and has overwhelming acceptance from athletes, physicians, and anti-doping stakeholders.
If a player needs to take a prohibited substance for therapeutic purposes, please fill out and submit FIBA's TUE Application as soon as possible.
For more details on anti-doping regulations at FIBA, click here.
FIBA