Peptides and WADA: what is prohibited in sport

In brief: the WADA list is not a list of medicines available in a pharmacy, nor a list of permitted supplements. It is a sporting rule that prohibits certain groups of substances for competitors. These include many peptide hormones, growth factors and GH secretagogues.

This means that the same substance can simultaneously:

• not be an approved medicine in the EU;
• be on sale as a “research chemical”;
• be prohibited in sport.

For an athlete, the decisive factor is the status on the WADA list, not the label on the packaging.

What is the WADA list?

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) publishes a list of prohibited substances and methods every year. The list is divided into categories, including:

• S0 — non-approved substances, not approved for human use;
• S1 — anabolic agents;
• S2 — peptide hormones, growth factors and related substances;
• S3 — beta-2 agonists;
• S4 — hormone and metabolic modulators;
• S5 — diuretics and masking agents;
• M — prohibited methods.

The list changes. A substance that was once permitted may be added later, and vice versa. The current version must therefore be checked every year.

S2: peptide hormones and growth factors

Category S2 covers peptide hormones, growth factors, related substances and mimetics. Typical examples are:

• growth hormone (GH) and its analogues;
• insulin-like growth factors (IGF-1);
• GH secretagogues such as ipamorelin, CJC-1295 and GHRP-6;
• other compounds that mimic or stimulate the action of these hormones.

Not every compound is necessarily named. The list can also cover substances that act similarly or are structurally related. The conclusion “not on the list by name” is therefore not the same as “not prohibited”.

Is BPC-157 on the list?

BPC-157 is often mentioned in discussions about doping, but its status cannot be determined safely on the basis of its name alone. It depends on:

1. the current version of the WADA list;
2. whether the compound acts as a growth factor or mimetic;
3. any updates to the interpretation.

For a specific substance, the official list, Global DRO and the national anti-doping organisation must be checked. If the status is unclear, caution applies: for a competitor, uncertainty is not permission.

Why “research use only” is not an exemption

The RUO label means that the product is not intended for human use and is not a medicine. In sports law this label does not protect:

• WADA assesses the substance and its action, not the seller’s intention;
• “research use” does not exclude a prohibition;
• the same substance may be a medicine in one country, a research chemical in another, and prohibited in sport.

Legal status and anti-doping status are two separate questions. The first is governed by medicines legislation, the second by the rules of sports federations. More on the legal framework is in the article Peptides in Croatia: legal framework.

Supplement contamination

For athletes, the risk is not only the deliberate use of a prohibited substance. There is also the risk of accidental contamination of supplements or products that have not been properly analysed.

It is advisable to:

• check the composition and documentation of every batch;
• use products with a verifiable source;
• not assume that a product is safe because it carries no WADA label;
• ask the national anti-doping organisation when in doubt.

How to check a specific compound

1. Open the current WADA list and check category S2 and any related groups.
2. Look up the compound in Global DRO or a similar national database.
3. Check with the Anti-Doping Service of the Croatian Institute of Public Health (HZJZ) or the national federation if you are a competitor.
4. Check the product documentation: name, sequence, purity, batch.
5. Do not rely on the seller’s claims that the product “is not on the list”.
6. Record the date of your check, because the list changes.

What does this mean for researchers and readers?

This page is informative and does not give advice to athletes or patients. If the content is intended for research, this does not change the anti-doping rules for an individual who takes part in competitions.

For a research setting it is important to:

• separate research use from human use;
• check the regulatory status in the country;
• check the status in sport if the study participants are athletes;
• document the source and batch.

The difference between peptides and steroids is explained in the article Peptides and steroids: the difference. If you are interested in a comparison of regenerative peptides, read BPC-157 vs TB-500.

Conclusion

The WADA list is a living document that is updated every year. For peptides, the same applies as for other substances: a name on the packaging is not proof of status. What is decisive is the current list, its interpretation and national rules.

The safest practice is to check official sources and document every step. Uncertainty does not mean permission.