The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List outlines the classes of substances and methods that are prohibited in sport, including rugby union.

A new list is published by WADA on the 1st January every year and substances and methods can be prohibited if they meet any two (2) out of three (3) criteria:

• Evidence that the substance or method has the potential to enhance, or does enhance performance;
• Evidence that the substance or method represents an actual or potential health risk to the athlete;
• WADA's determination that use of the substance or method violates the spirit of sport

2009 Prohibited List

The 2009 Prohibited List includes the following categories of Prohibited Substances and Methods:

• Anabolic Agents
• Hormones & related substances
• Beta-2 agonists
• Agents with anti-estrongenic activity
• Diuretics and other Masking Agents
• Stimulants
• Narcotics
• Cannaboids
• Glucocorticosteroids (in competition only)
• Beta blockers
• Enhancement of oxygen transfer
• Chemical & physical manipulation
• Gene doping

Please note this list is a guide only and it is the responsibility of each individual player to refer to the full 2009 Prohibited List available below or on the WADA website at www.wada-ama.org.

2009 Summary of Major Modifications

The 2009 Prohibited List contains a number of significant changes that coincide with the new World Anti-Doping Code that also came into effect on the 1st January 2009. Please not the following important points:

• All Prohibited Substances (except for hormones, anabolic steroids, listed stimulants and prohibited methods) are now classified as “specified substances” meaning there are more flexible sanctions for the majority of substances on the Prohibited List.
• Cocaine and amphetamines remain listed stimulants (i.e. not a specified substance) meaning they continue to carry a strict two (2) year sanction for a first offence where there are no exceptional or aggravating circumstances.
• Ephedrine remains a Prohibited Substance (and specified substance) when its concentration in urine is above 10 micrograms per millilitre. This substance and its natural sources (i.e. Ma-Huang) are commonly found in fat burning supplements and herbal remedies.
• Abbreviated Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs) have been abolished and inhaled Beta-2-Agonists used for the treatment of asthma and its clinical variants will now require a much stricter Beta-2-Agonist TUE application to be submitted (see TUE section of website).  
• Glucocorticosteroids remain prohibited and require a Standard TUE application when administered via systemic routes (i.e. oral, intravenous, intra-muscular or rectal) and a Declaration of Use when administered via non-systemic routes (i.e. intra-articular, peri-articular, epidural, intra-dermal and inhalation).
• Despite a valid TUE, the presence of Salbutamol (Beta-2-Agonist) in urine in excess of 1000 ng/ml will still be considered to be an Adverse Analytical Finding (i.e. positive test) unless the player can prove the result was the consequence of therapeutic use.
• Intravenous Infusions (e.g. the delivery of fluid through a vein) remain a Prohibited Method and will still require a Standard TUE however they are permitted without a TUE in the management of surgical procedures, medical emergencies or clinical investigations.
• Alpha Reductase Inhibitors (e.g. Finasteride, which is commonly used to treat hair loss) have been removed from the 2009 List as they have been rendered ineffective as masking agents due to WADA developing more effective methods of detection.

**** Please note that glucorticosteroids used on the skin, eye drops, ear drops, nasal sprays and mouth treatments still do NOT require a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE).****

The 2009 Monitoring Program

WADA has established a monitoring program for substances that are not on the Prohibited List but which are monitored closely to detect patterns of misuse in sport. A range of substances have been placed on the 2009 Monitoring Program, namely substances falling into the categories of stimulants and narcotics.

Downloads

  2009 Prohibited List (PDF) **From 1st January 2009**

  Changes between 2008 and 2009 Prohibited Lists (PDF)

  2009 Monitoring Program (PDF)

  2009 List Questions & Answers (PDF)