The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has published its 2027 List of Prohibited Substances and Methods, which takes effect on January 1, 2027, Triathlon News reported [1]. The update clarifies rules on cannabinoids, glucocorticoids and other substances, while semaglutide and tirzepatide stay off the prohibited list and remain under monitoring [1]. World Triathlon has reminded athletes and their teams to review the new rules before next season [1].
Where GLP-1 medicines stand
Triathlon News describes the drugs known as GLP-1s as medicines used in certain treatments for diabetes and weight control [1]. Semaglutide is the active ingredient in products such as Ozempic and Wegovy, and tirzepatide is marketed under several names, including Mounjaro [1]. The two drugs have different mechanisms of action, but both act on processes that regulate glucose and appetite [1]. Their growing use led WADA to study possible effects on sport, particularly through changes in body weight [1]. The agency's expert group reviewed the available scientific literature, and for now WADA has left the drugs' status unchanged [1].
The Monitoring Programme lets WADA collect information on substances that are not currently prohibited [1]. Its aim is to understand how those substances appear in sport and to assess whether there are reasons to review their status in the future [1]. Appearing in the programme does not mean that use is an anti-doping violation; caffeine, for example, is monitored in competition but is not prohibited [1]. For 2027, semaglutide and tirzepatide are monitored both in and out of competition [1].
Other clarifications in the 2027 list
The list, approved by WADA's Executive Committee in September, covers substances and methods prohibited in and out of competition, and the report describes the changes as clarifications rather than a profound transformation [1].
- Cannabinoids: the in-competition ban covers the psychoactive components of cannabis and synthetic or semi-synthetic compounds with THC-like effects, including delta-8, delta-9 and delta-10 THC and hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) [1]. Cannabidiol (CBD) remains permitted, although some products marketed as CBD may contain THC that the label does not clearly indicate [1].
- Glucocorticoids: vaginal administration is now expressly listed among permitted routes, but in-competition status still depends on the substance, the route and the conditions set by the regulations [1].
- Hormonal and metabolic modulators, diuretics and masking agents: new examples were added to these categories, including eplerenone and finerenone [1].
- Peptides: WADA reinforced that certain peptides not authorised for human therapeutic use may be prohibited even when the list does not name them [1].
- Monitoring removals: codeine, hydrocodone and certain substances related to fentanyl and tramadol have left the Monitoring Programme because WADA believes it now has sufficient information on them [1]. Leaving the programme does not automatically mean a substance is permitted; its status should be checked against the current official list [1].
Why it matters here
For athletes who compete under anti-doping rules, the 2027 list confirms that semaglutide and tirzepatide are not prohibited [1]. It also shows that WADA will keep evaluating data collected on their use among athletes [1].
The report's wider point applies to any medicine: a standard treatment may contain a prohibited substance, or be subject to specific conditions depending on the route of administration and the time of use [1]. The report advises checking a medicine's active ingredient and anti-doping status before taking it, and notes that a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) may be necessary in certain cases [1].
What to watch next
WADA's expert group will continue to assess GLP-1 use among athletes, and the monitoring is intended to show whether there are reasons to review the drugs' status in the future [1]. Until January 1, 2027, the 2026 list remains in force [1]. WADA also points out that the list is not exhaustive: a substance may be prohibited because it belongs to a category, even if its name does not appear [1]. The report suggests that athletes competing in the first months of 2027 review their medical treatments and each substance's conditions of use in advance, to avoid problems from misreading the rules [1].
References
- en.triatlonnoticias.com. WADA List 2027: What changes in anti-doping and what happens with GLP-1 drugs. Accessed October 13, 2026. https://en.triatlonnoticias.com/noticias/actualidad/lista-sustancias-prohibidas-wada-2027-triatlon/