WADA Prohibited List: Which Peptides Are Banned in Sports?
James MitchellMSc Biochemistry Overview
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) publishes an annually updated Prohibited List under the World Anti-Doping Code. The 2026 Prohibited List was approved on 11 September 2025 and entered into force on 1 January 2026. It applies to athletes under WADA Code signatory organisations and is also mirrored or adapted by many national anti-doping agencies and sport federations.
Many peptide and peptide-adjacent substances are prohibited at all times. Athletes should confirm status with their anti-doping organisation before using any prescription medicine, supplement, compounded product, or research-labelled peptide.
Relevant Prohibited Categories
Two sections of the WADA Prohibited List are particularly relevant to peptides:
S0 — Non-Approved Substances
Section S0 prohibits any pharmacological substance that is not addressed by any other section of the Prohibited List and has no current approval by any governmental regulatory health authority for human therapeutic use. This is a catch-all provision that can capture research peptides and other non-approved substances, including:
- BPC-157 — no regulatory approval for human use in any jurisdiction
- TB-500 / thymosin beta-4 fragments — may be captured by S0 or peptide/growth-factor language depending on the exact product and list wording
- Thymosin Alpha-1 — approved in some countries but not in others; athletes should verify status with their specific anti-doping authority
Because S0 is broadly written, a peptide lacking current human therapeutic approval can be prohibited even when it does not appear by name on a short consumer-facing list.
S2 — Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances, and Mimetics
Section S2 explicitly prohibits several classes of peptides and their analogues:
- Growth Hormone Releasing Hormones (GHRH) and analogues — examples include CJC-1295, sermorelin, and tesamorelin-type substances
- Growth Hormone Secretagogues (GHS) — examples include ipamorelin, MK-677 (ibutamoren), hexarelin, GHRP-2, and GHRP-6
- Growth Hormone (GH) and its analogues
- Growth Factors — IGF-1, MGF, and related substances
- AOD-9604 — explicitly listed as a growth hormone fragment
Common Peptides and Their WADA Status
| Peptide | Likely WADA Lens | Status | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| BPC-157 | S0 | Prohibited | At all times |
| TB-500 / thymosin beta-4 fragments | S0/S2 depending on exact product and list wording | Treat as prohibited | At all times |
| CJC-1295 | S2 | Prohibited | At all times |
| Ipamorelin | S2 | Prohibited | At all times |
| AOD-9604 | S2 | Prohibited | At all times |
| MK-677 | S2 | Prohibited | At all times |
| GHK-Cu | Not a named example in the public list | Check product and federation rules | Case-by-case |
| Thymosin Alpha-1 | Approval and jurisdiction dependent | Check with anti-doping authority | Case-by-case |
Note that “at all times” means the substance is banned both in competition and out of competition. There is no off-season window during which these peptides may be used by athletes subject to the WADA Code.
Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUE)
Under Article 4.4 of the WADA Code, an athlete may apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption if a prohibited substance is medically necessary. The TUE process requires:
- A documented diagnosis from a qualified physician
- Evidence that the prohibited substance is necessary and that no permitted alternative exists
- Approval from the relevant anti-doping authority before use begins
- Annual renewal in most cases
In practice, TUEs for peptides such as BPC-157 or growth hormone secretagogues are rarely granted because they lack formal regulatory approval and alternative treatments typically exist.
Who Is Affected
The WADA Code applies more broadly than many athletes realise:
- Professional athletes in WADA Code signatory sports
- Olympic and Paralympic athletes at all levels
- University and college athletes — the NCAA and similar bodies maintain their own banned-substance rules, which may overlap with but are not identical to WADA
- Amateur competitors in sports governed by national federations aligned with WADA
- Masters and recreational competitors in sanctioned events
An anti-doping rule violation can result in suspension, loss of results, forfeiture of medals, and reputational damage. The principle of strict liability applies — athletes are responsible for any substance found in their body, regardless of intent.