The World Anti-Doping Company (WADA) needs to remind athletes and all different stakeholders that the 2023 Listing of Prohibited Substances and Strategies (Listing) enters into power right this moment (1 January). The 2023 Listing was accepted by WADA’s Government Committee (ExCo) throughout its assembly on 23 September 2022 and was first printed on 29 September 2022.
The Listing is without doubt one of the eight Worldwide Requirements which are necessary for all Signatories of the World Anti-Doping Code (Code). It designates what substances and strategies are prohibited each in- and out-of-competition and which substances are banned specifically sports activities.
Main Modifications for 2023
All Main Modifications for 2023 are outlined within the 2023 Abstract of Main Modifications and Explanatory Notes, which was additionally printed on 29 September 2022, together with the 2023 Monitoring Program.
Main Modification regarding tramadol for 2024
It ought to be famous that, additionally on 23 September, the ExCo endorsed the advice by WADA’s Listing Knowledgeable Advisory Group to ban the narcotic tramadol in competitors, efficient 1 January 2024.
The delay in implementation is to supply an extra yr for broad communication and training of athletes, their entourage and medical personnel so that there’s a higher understanding of the sensible implementation of tramadol prohibition in competitors.
It’s going to additionally give time to the scientific group to regulate the precise procedural particulars in order that equity will be ensured for athletes. As well as, it provides sports activities authorities time to develop instructional instruments for athletes, and for medical and assist personnel to handle the secure use of tramadol for medical functions inside anti-doping.
Tramadol has been on WADA’s Monitoring Program and knowledge gathered by way of that program have indicated vital use in sports activities. Tramadol abuse, with its dose-dependent dangers of bodily dependence, opiate habit and overdoses within the basic inhabitants, is of concern and has led to it being a managed drug in lots of international locations. Analysis research funded by WADA, as referenced within the Explanatory Be aware have additionally confirmed the potential for tramadol to boost sports activities efficiency.
Annual Listing Evaluation Course of
WADA leads an annual revision course of in regards to the Listing, starting with an preliminary assembly in January and concluding with the publication of the Listing by 1 October. That is an in depth session course of that features WADA’s Listing Knowledgeable Advisory Group gathering info together with the newest scientific and medical analysis, tendencies, and intelligence gathered from legislation enforcement and pharmaceutical corporations; circulating a draft Listing amongst stakeholders; and, taking their submissions into consideration to revise the draft, adopted by evaluation by the Company’s Well being, Medical and Analysis (HMR) Committee. The HMR Committee then makes its suggestions to WADA’s ExCo, which approves the Listing throughout its September assembly.
For a substance or technique to be added to the Listing, it have to be decided that it meets at the least two of the next three standards:
- It has the potential to boost or enhances sport efficiency
- It represents an precise or potential well being threat to the athletes
- It violates the spirit of sport
The Listing is launched three months forward of it taking impact in order that athletes, their entourage and different stakeholders can acquaint themselves with any modifications. In the end, athletes are accountable for prohibited substances discovered of their physique and prohibited strategies discovered to have been used. Athlete entourage are additionally chargeable for Anti-Doping Rule Violations if decided to be complicit. Consequently, if there may be any doubt as to the standing of a substance or technique, it is necessary that they contact their respective Anti-Doping Organizations (Worldwide Federation or Nationwide Anti-Doping Group) for recommendation.
The Therapeutic Use Exemption Program
It ought to be famous that for athletes who’ve a respectable medical motive for utilizing a prohibited substance or technique that’s on the Listing, they will apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) to find out whether or not they meet the standards outlined within the Worldwide Normal for Therapeutic Use Exemptions (ISTUE). The TUE Program is a rigorous and needed a part of elite sport which has overwhelming acceptance from athletes, physicians and anti-doping stakeholders.
Instructional sources
Along with the paperwork linked above, WADA has supplied, or will present, a lot of instructional sources as a part of its Code Implementation Help Program (CISP), which will be accessed on the Company’s Anti-Doping Schooling and Studying Platform (ADEL). These sources embody:
- A CISP Guidelines – Implementing Revised Listing
- Athlete and Athlete Help Personnel (ASP) Factsheet on tramadol
- Medical Professionals Factsheet on tramadol
- Athlete and ASP Information to the 2023 Listing
WADA will look to develop extra instructional actions, resembling webinars, to assist ADOs of their efforts to coach their goal populations concerning the change concerning tramadol.
Languages and Codecs
The 2023 Prohibited Listing; the 2023 Abstract of Modifications and Explanatory Notes; and the 2023 Monitoring Program can be found for obtain on WADA’s web site in English, French and Spanish. The Listing can also be obtainable in Catalan, Croatian, Danish, German, and Greek.
Stakeholders wishing to translate the Listing into different languages are kindly requested to sign their curiosity to code@wada-ama.org. WADA will then present the mandatory information and, as soon as the interpretation is finalized, will make the translated Listing obtainable on the Company’s web site.
The Listing’s mobile-friendly digital version will be accessed right here.