Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport

Ottawa – October 13, 2022 – The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has published the 2023 Prohibited List that will come into effect on January 1. The 2023 Prohibited List and the Summary of Major Modifications and Explanatory Notes are both available to the sport community.

The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) encourages all athletes and support personnel to familiarize themselves with the Prohibited List and the modifications for the coming year.

Notable for 2023:

Tramadol to be banned as of 2024

The narcotic tramadol will be prohibited in competition, effective January 1, 2024. The delay in implementation will allow athletes and medical personnel to better prepare for the change, laboratories to update their procedures, and sports authorities to develop educational tools.

Data gathered on tramadol through WADA’s Monitoring Program indicates significant use in sport. Tramadol abuse, with its dose-dependent risks of physical dependence, opiate addiction, and overdoses in the general population, is of concern and has led to it being a controlled drug in many countries. Research studies funded by WADA have also confirmed the potential for tramadol to enhance sport performance.

Status of Cannabis

The Prohibited List status of cannabis (delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol, THC) remains unchanged. In 2021, the WADA Executive Committee initiated a review of cannabis’s status. After consideration by a group of independent experts, cannabis remains prohibited in competition only, and only when the urinary concentration exceeds a threshold of 150 ng/mL.  

Summary of Major Modifications and Explanatory Notes

The Summary of Major Modifications and Explanatory Notes identifies several examples, clarifications, and harmonizing language. Consult the document to review the changes and determine whether they relate to your medical care. 

Resources

We caution athletes to exercise a high degree of care with regards to the use of medications, supplements, and sport nutrition products. The following resources will reflect the new Prohibited List by January 1, 2023, as needed:

• Global DRO. Online substance inquiry service, now with simplified search result layout  
• Determine your medical exemption requirements and download application forms with the CCES Medical Exemption Wizard
• CCES supplements information
• To make safer decisions when choosing sports supplements, consult the NSF International Certified for Sport® product database.

WADA Documents for 2023

• The WADA 2023 Prohibited List
• The Summary of Major Modifications and Explanatory Notes
• The 2023 Prohibited List Monitoring Program

The Prohibited List 

The Prohibited List is one of eight International Standards that are mandatory for signatories of the World Anti-Doping Code. It identifies which substances and methods are prohibited in- and out-of-competition and which substances are banned in particular sports. The International Olympic Committee first published it in 1968. Since 2004, WADA has been responsible for the preparation and publication of the List, which it updates every year.

Questions? Contact the CCES

• Email: [email protected]
• Toll-free line: 1-800-672-7775

About the CCES

The CCES works collaboratively to ensure Canadians have a positive sport experience. Through its programs, the CCES manages unethical issues in sport, protects the integrity of Canadian sport, and promotes True Sport to activate values-based sport on and off the field of play. The CCES is an independent, national, not-for profit organization that is responsible for the administration of the Canadian Anti-Doping Program. The CCES acknowledges funding, in part, from the Government of Canada. For more information, visit cces.ca, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.