Reminder: WADA’s 2024 Prohibited List comes into force on 1 January 2024

• The full list of prohibited substances and methods which will be in force from 1 January 2024 can be found here.
• A summary of the changes can be found here.

The most notable change for 2024 is the inclusion of Tramadol to the List, as a narcotic which is prohibited in-competition.

What is Tramadol?

Tramadol, a popular painkiller, is a synthetic opioid pain medication used to treat moderate-to-severe pain. It is sometimes used to treat pain due to sports injuries in athletes. It is included in the category of “Narcotics” on the Prohibited List.

Tramadol is available in many different formulations and is sold under a variety of brand names in different countries, examples include Tramal, Tramedo, Tramake, and Zydol, among others. Many other brand names exist, and athletes should check with their doctor or pharmacist which brands are prescribed in their own countries. Please also note that in some countries Tramadol is sold over the counter without the need for a prescription.

Urvasi Naidoo, World Sailing Director of Legal and Governance, said, “World Sailing remains strongly committed to ensuring our sport remains clean and that competition is fair for all. The new list adds Tramadol, which is already banned in professional cycling, and clarifies prohibited substances and methods, and we would like to remind all stakeholders that it is their responsibility and theirs alone to ensure they are aware of which substances and methods are prohibited.

“World Sailing operates under the principle of ‘strict liability’ which means that you are solely responsible for any banned substance you use, attempt to use, or which is found in your system, regardless of how it got there or whether there was any intention to cheat. In anti-doping, not knowing is not an excuse and that is why we are issuing this reminder in advance of the changes to the prohibited list.”

Please also be reminded that all international-level athletes – those racing at Olympic events, Youth World Championships and Para Sailing World Championships, The America’s Cup and The Ocean Race – require Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs) to be issued by World Sailing. Athletes who have a TUE issued from their National Anti-Doping Organisation (NADO) must forward a copy to World Sailing.

For further information, please consult the Anti-Doping pages on the World Sailing website.

If you have any questions or require any additional information or have a TUE application please contact us at medical@sailing.org