Sport and anti-doping
WADA-prohibited peptides and sport
Educational overview of why certain peptide categories may be WADA-prohibited in sport, why athletes must verify with their own anti-doping authority, and why this site does not provide evasion advice.
Why this matters for athletes
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) maintains a Prohibited List that includes several categories relevant to metabolic peptides — notably peptide hormones, growth factors, related substances and mimetics. Individual substances move between the in-competition and at-all-times categories from time to time, and new compounds are added. Athletes subject to WADA-aligned anti-doping rules must therefore verify the current status of any compound before any use.
Categories typically relevant to this site's coverage
- Growth hormone (GH) and its releasing factors — including GHRH analogues such as tesamorelin and GHRH-related peptides.
- Growth hormone secretagogues — including ghrelin and its mimetics, such as ipamorelin and hexarelin.
- Other peptide hormones and growth factors as listed in the relevant year's WADA Prohibited List.
This is not an exhaustive or current substance list, and it is not a substitute for the official WADA Prohibited List or local anti-doping authority guidance. The List changes annually and special provisions (TUEs, etc.) apply in individual cases.
Why GLP-1 receptor agonists are a separate question
GLP-1 receptor agonists, dual / triple incretin agonists and amylin analogues are not typically classed alongside growth-hormone-axis peptides in WADA categorisation. Athletes considering incretin therapy in a sport context must nonetheless verify current status, indication-appropriate use, and any Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) requirements with their relevant anti-doping authority — for example UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) for UK athletes — before any use.
What this page deliberately does not include
- It does not provide evasion guidance, dosing schedules tuned around testing windows, or any other content that could be repurposed for anti-doping rule-breaking.
- It does not list every prohibited peptide; that is the role of the WADA Prohibited List itself.
- It does not advise individual athletes; that is the role of their relevant anti-doping authority and qualified clinical care.
Where to verify
- WADA — World Anti-Doping Agency: official Prohibited List.
- UK Anti-Doping (UKAD): UK-aligned guidance for athletes.
- National anti-doping authorities and individual sports federations for sport-specific overlays.
- An authoritative or current Prohibited List — refer to WADA directly.
- Sport-specific or athlete-specific advice — refer to UKAD or your national authority.
- Any content useful for evasion of testing.