WADA Publishes 2017 Prohibited Substances List, Keeps Drug Meldonium

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) released the 2017 list of prohibited substances and methods Friday. The revised list includes lisdexamfetamine, a drug used for attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) and eating disorders.

The list was approved by the Executive Committee last Wednesday and will be implemented from Jan. 1, 2017. The WADA’s list details all drugs and substances athletes are banned from using in and out of competition and the ones that are banned from certain sports.

“WADA is pleased to publish the 2017 Prohibited List, which is one of five International Standards that are mandatory for all signatories of the World Anti-Doping Code (Code) to follow,” WADA President Sir Craig Reedie said in a statement. “All athletes around the world are held to these standards and there can be no tolerance for people who intentionally break the rules.”

He added that the list, which is updated every year, was released three months before its implementation so athletes and their doctors can familiarize themselves with the new list.

Lisdexamfetamine belongs to a family of drugs that stimulate the central nervous systems. The previous list already included other drugs used to treat ADHD like methylphenidate.

Meldonium, which was added from Jan. 1, 2016, remained on this year’s list. The drug had resulted in a two-year ban for tennis star Maria Sharapova who tested positive for it earlier this year. Sharapova is appealing against her ban.

After the news of Sharapova’s usage of the drug broke, WADA was forced to review its research into the drug and ruled that athletes in whom low concentrations of the drug was found would not suffer consequences.

“The Prohibited List follows a very extensive stakeholder review process over the course of nine months,” WADA’s Director General Olivier Niggli said in the statement. “In reviewing the List, experts examine such sources as: scientific and medical research; trends; and, intelligence gathered from law enforcement and pharmaceutical companies in order to stay ahead of those that wish to cheat.”

Athletes who have a legitimate medical reason to use a substance on the prohibited list can apply for an exemption with the International Standard for Therapeutic Use Exemptions.