Executive summary
The World Anti-Doping Agency (The World Anti-Doping Agency; its Prohibited List classifies many peptides as prohibited substances in sport. Fonte da definição: WADA and sport regulation brief · Glossário) Prohibited List classifies many peptides as prohibited substances under Category WADA Prohibited List class S2 (peptide hormones, growth factors, related substances and mimetics): prohibited at all times, with subsections of materially different scope. Fonte da definição: WADA and sport regulation brief · Glossário (Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances and Mimetics) and S4 (Hormone and Metabolic Modulators). The rules apply to all athletes under the World Anti-Doping Code, which is implemented by national anti-doping organisations (NADOs) and international federations.
WADA Prohibited List 2026
| Category | Scope in current list | Named atlas examples | Timing | Verification caveat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WADA Prohibited List class S0 (non-approved substances): pharmacological substances not addressed elsewhere in the list and with no current approval by any governmental regulatory health authority for human therapeutic use. Fonte da definição: WADA and sport regulation brief · Glossário | Pharmacological substances not addressed elsewhere that have no current approval by any governmental regulatory health authority for human therapeutic use | BPC-157 is explicitly listed | At all times | An unlisted substance is not automatically S0; both parts of the definition require current verification beyond FDA and EMA alone |
| S1.2 | Other anabolic agents; included here to prevent a cross-category error rather than to define a peptide class | SARMs and clenbuterol | At all times | These examples are not peptide categories |
| WADA Prohibited List class S2 (peptide hormones, growth factors, related substances and mimetics): prohibited at all times, with subsections of materially different scope. Fonte da definição: WADA and sport regulation brief · Glossário | Peptide hormones, growth factors, related substances and mimetics across materially different subsections | Asialo-EPO, carbamylated EPO, gonadorelin agonists, kisspeptin, corticorelin, cosyntropin, AOD-9604, hGH 176-191, CJC-1295, sermorelin, tesamorelin, ipamorelin, macimorelin, GHRP-2, GHRP-6, hexarelin, IGF-1/mecasermin, growth factors, thymosin-beta-4, and TB-500 | At all times; the S2.2.1 testosterone-stimulating-peptide language has a male-only qualifier | Exact identity, agonist/antagonist status, subsection wording, and functional catch-all language matter |
| S4 | Hormone and metabolic modulators, including aromatase inhibitors, anti-estrogenic substances, activin-receptor-IIB modulators, AMPK activators, and metabolic modulators | Anastrozole, tamoxifen, follistatin, myostatin inhibitors, MOTS-c, insulins and insulin mimetics | At all times | A A Therapeutic Use Exemption can authorize qualifying use of a prohibited substance; it does not change the prohibited classification. Fonte da definição: WADA and sport regulation brief · Glossário can authorize qualifying use but does not change prohibited classification |
Category S0 — Non-approved substances
BPC-157 is explicitly listed under S0. S0 covers pharmacological substances that are not addressed by another section of the List and have no current approval by a governmental regulatory health authority for human therapeutic use.
An unlisted substance is not automatically an S0 substance: both conditions must be established. Checking only FDA and EMA records cannot establish the absence of approval by every governmental regulatory health authority, so a compound-specific conclusion may require current national-register and anti-doping-organization review.
Category S1.2 — Other anabolic agents
Selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) and clenbuterol are listed under S1.2. They are not peptide categories, but are included here to prevent a common cross-category error in market discussions.
Category S2 — Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances and Mimetics
S2 is prohibited at all times, but several subsections have materially different scope:
S2.1.5 — innate repair receptor agonists: includes the class, with asialo-EPO and carbamylated EPO as examples.
S2.2.1 — testosterone-stimulating peptides in males: CG, LH, GnRH (gonadorelin) and its agonist analogues, plus kisspeptin and its agonist analogues. The male-only qualifier matters; it does not turn GnRH antagonists into agonists.
S2.2.2 — corticotrophins and releasing factors: includes corticorelin and tetracosactide (cosyntropin/ACTH 1-24).
S2.2.3 — GH, analogues and fragments: includes AOD-9604 and hGH 176-191.
S2.2.4 — GH-releasing factors: includes GHRH analogues such as CJC-1295, sermorelin and tesamorelin; growth-hormone secretagogues/mimetics including ipamorelin and macimorelin; and GHRPs including GHRP-2, GHRP-6 and hexarelin.
S2.3 — growth factors and modulators: includes IGF-1/mecasermin and its analogues, mechano growth factors, FGF, HGF, PDGF, VEGF, and thymosin-beta-4 and derivatives such as TB-500, plus other modulators meeting the functional wording in the List.
Category S4 — Hormone and Metabolic Modulators
S4.1 aromatase inhibitors: includes anastrozole.
S4.2 anti-estrogenic substances: includes tamoxifen.
S4.3 agents preventing activin receptor IIB activation: includes follistatin and other myostatin inhibitors.
S4.4.1 AMPK activators: explicitly names mitochondrial open reading frame of the 12S rRNA-c (MOTS-c) as an example.
S4.4.2 metabolic modulators: insulins and insulin mimetics. They are prohibited at all times. A TUE can authorise qualifying therapeutic use for an athlete with diabetes but does not change the substance's prohibited classification.
Monitoring Program 2026
The 2026 Monitoring Program includes:
Markers of semaglutide and tirzepatide.
GnRH analogues in females under 18 years only.
These items are monitored in- and out-of-competition.
Monitoring substances are not prohibited but are tracked for patterns of use.
- Start with the substance and exact identity.
- If explicitly named, read its category and timing.
- If not, check whether a class definition applies and make a case-specific determination.
- Check the Monitoring Program separately; monitored does not mean prohibited.
- Confirm against the current WADA list and applicable anti-doping organization.
Substance-specific checks and non-prohibited examples
| Exact identity/status check | As of | Basis | Current-source link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insulin remains prohibited under S4.4.2 and desmopressin under S5 even when an athlete has an approved A Therapeutic Use Exemption can authorize qualifying use of a prohibited substance; it does not change the prohibited classification. Fonte da definição: WADA and sport regulation brief · Glossário for qualifying therapeutic use | 2026 list | A TUE is an individual authorization and does not reclassify the substance | WADA Prohibited List and ISTUE |
| Semaglutide and tirzepatide are monitored; monitoring is not prohibition | 2026 program | Monitoring Program status is separate from the Prohibited List | WADA Monitoring Program |
| Topical cosmetic peptides, food-derived peptides, collagen peptides, and therapeutic peptides such as linaclotide are not generally listed merely because they are peptides | 2026 list | Exact ingredient, route, metabolite, or biological effect can still affect classification | WADA Prohibited List |
| Melatonin is not prohibited, and that fact does not place it in Category S4 | 2026 list | Exact-name and category review | WADA Prohibited List |
- Medicine authorization is product- and jurisdiction-specific.
- WADA prohibition depends on the current list, exact identity, category, and timing.
- Monitoring is a separate observation program and does not itself mean prohibition.
Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs)
An athlete with a documented medical condition requiring a prohibited peptide can apply for a A Therapeutic Use Exemption can authorize qualifying use of a prohibited substance; it does not change the prohibited classification. Fonte da definição: WADA and sport regulation brief · Glossário through the relevant anti-doping organization. A TUE is an individual authorization; it does not reclassify the substance.
A TUE application is assessed against all four ISTUE criteria: (1) the prohibited substance or method is needed to treat a diagnosed medical condition supported by relevant clinical evidence; (2) therapeutic use is highly unlikely to produce additional performance enhancement beyond a return to normal health; (3) there is no reasonable permitted therapeutic alternative; and (4) the necessity is not a consequence of prior use, without a TUE, of a substance or method prohibited at the time. The criteria are applied to the individual case by the relevant anti-doping organization; this atlas does not predict an outcome.
Detection
The World Anti-Doping Agency; its Prohibited List classifies many peptides as prohibited substances in sport. Fonte da definição: WADA and sport regulation brief · Glossário-accredited laboratories use liquid chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) for peptide detection. Challenges include:
Short half-lives of many peptides.
Unknown metabolites for novel peptide analogues.
Structural similarity to An entry with substantial scientific visibility or identity value. Biological rationale and non-human evidence do not establish patient benefit. Fonte da definição: Scope and selection methodology · Glossário peptides.
Sanction rules are case-specific and can change when a revised Code takes effect. This atlas does not summarize early-admission or other individual sanction reductions; consult the Code and results-management rules operative on the relevant date.
National implementation
NADOs in each country implement the The World Anti-Doping Agency; its Prohibited List classifies many peptides as prohibited substances in sport. Fonte da definição: WADA and sport regulation brief · Glossário Code:
USADA (United States).
UKAD (United Kingdom).
CCES (Canada).
Sport Integrity Australia (Australia).
NADOs in all EU/EEA member states and signatory countries.
Consequences depend on the rule, timing, intent or fault findings, prior violations, applicable Code edition and other case-specific factors. A peptide class alone is not enough to predict the sanction.
Practical interpretation limits
This is general regulatory research, not legal advice. Classification can turn on composition, claims, intended use, route, supplier role, and facts not captured by a product name.
Related atlas pages: global framework and research market versus approved peptides.
Primary sources
The World Anti-Doping Agency; its Prohibited List classifies many peptides as prohibited substances in sport. Fonte da definição: WADA and sport regulation brief · Glossário Prohibited List 2026. https://www.wada-ama.org/sites/default/files/2025-09/2026list_en_final_clean_september_2025.pdf
WADA International Standard for A Therapeutic Use Exemption can authorize qualifying use of a prohibited substance; it does not change the prohibited classification. Fonte da definição: WADA and sport regulation brief · Glossário. https://www.wada-ama.org/en/resources/therapeutic-use-exemption-tue/international-standard-therapeutic-use-exemptions-iste
WADA Monitoring Program. https://www.wada-ama.org/en/resources/monitoring-program
World Anti-Doping Code 2021. https://www.wada-ama.org/en/resources/world-anti-doping-code
WADA Laboratory Testing. https://www.wada-ama.org/en/laboratory-testing
USADA. https://www.usada.org
UKAD. https://www.ukad.org.uk
CCES. https://www.cces.ca
Sport Integrity Australia. https://www.sportintegrity.gov.au/what-we-do/anti-doping