WHAT ARE THEY? Stimulants refer to a group of drugs that boost alertness and physical activity by increasing heart and breathing rates and brain functions. By acting on the central nervous system, stimulants can stimulate the body both mentally and physically.
EXAMPLES adrafinil, cocaine, modafinil, pemoline, selegiline
WHY STIMULANTS ARE BANNED They may artificially stimulate the mind or body, thereby improving an athlete's performance and giving them an unfair advantage.
WHY ATHLETES USE THEM To increase their ability to exercise at an optimal level, combat tiredness, suppress appetite.
TYPE OF PROHIBITION In-competition
EXCEPTIONS Cathine is prohibited only when its concentration in a urine sample is greater than five micrograms per millilitre. Both ephedrine and methylephedrine are prohibited only when their concentration in a urine sample is greater than 10 micrograms per millilitre.

WHAT ARE THEY? Narcotic analgesics usually take the form of painkillers that act on the brain and spinal cord to treat pain associated with painful stimuli.
EXAMPLES buprenorphine, dextromoramide, heroin, morphine, pethidine
WHY THEY ARE BANNED Narcotic analgesics could be used to reduce or eliminate the pain felt from an injury or illness. They could also be used to help an athlete train harder and for a longer period of time. The danger in this is that the drug could merely be masking the pain. As a result, athletes may have a false sense of security, and by continuing to train and compete, risk further health problems.
WHY ATHLETES USE THEM To help reduce or eliminate the pain from a nagging injury, allowing them to continue in their training. Narcotic analgesics may also reduce anxiety, which may artificially enhance an athlete's performance.
TYPE OF PROHIBITION In-competition
EXCEPTIONS codeine, dextromethorphan, dextropropoxyphene, dihydrocodeine, diphenoxylate, ethylmorphine, pholcodine, propoxyphene, and tramadol

WHAT ARE THEY? Cannabinoids are psychoactive chemicals derived from the cannabis plant that cause a feeling of relaxation.
EXAMPLES hashish, hashish oil, marijuana
WHY THEY ARE BANNED Marijuana is generally not considered performance enhancing, but is banned because its use is damaging to the image of sport. There are also safety factors involved as the use of marijuana could weaken the athlete's ability to perform, thereby compromising the safety of the athlete and other competitors.
WHY ATHLETES USE THEM To increase their recovery time after exercise, increase their heart rate, reduce their inhibitions.
TYPE OF PROHIBITION In-competition
EXCEPTIONS The WADA code requires each authority that adopts its list of banned substances to determine for themselves whether to ban cannabinoids. Where the rules of the drug testing authority specify, tests for the presence of cannabinoids are conducted.

WHAT ARE THEY? Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS) are synthetic versions of the hormone testosterone. Testosterone is a male sex hormone found in large quantities in most males and in some females. Anabolic Androgenic Steroids fall into one of two categories: 1) exogenous steroids are those substances that are not capable of being produced by the body naturally, and 2) endogenous steroids are those substances that are capable of being produced by the body naturally).
EXAMPLES exogenous steroids (drostanolone, metenolone and oxandrolone), endogenous steroids (androstenediol (andro), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and testosterone)
WHY THEY ARE BANNED Anabolic agents are prescribed for medical use only. Use of anabolic agents may enhance an athlete's performance, giving them an unfair advantage. Another possibility is serious medical side effects for the user.
WHY ATHLETES USE THEM To increase muscle size and strength, reduce the amount of time required to recover after exercise, and to train harder and for a longer period of time.
TYPE OF PROHIBITION In- and out-of-competition
EXCEPTIONS When an athlete tests positive for an endogenous substance, his/her sample is ruled to contain a prohibited substance where the concentration of the substance in the sample is greater than the amount normally found in humans. A sample will be ruled to not contain a prohibited substance when the athlete proves with evidence that the excess concentration of the endogenous substance in the sample is attributable to a pathological or physiological condition. Both exogenous and endogenous steroids, as well as their analogues (any substance derived from modifying the chemical structure of another substance while retaining a similar pharmacological effect) are prohibited.

WHAT ARE THEY? Peptide hormones are substances that are produced by glands in the body and that, after circulating through, blood can affect other organs and tissues to change bodily functions.
EXAMPLES erythropoietin, human growth hormones, insulin, corticotrophins
WHY THEY ARE BANNED Peptide hormones serve as messengers between different organs that stimulate various bodily functions such as growth, behaviour and sensitivity to pain.
WHY ATHLETES USE THEM To stimulate the production of naturally occurring hormones, increase muscle growth and strength, and increase the production of red blood cells to improve the blood's ability to carry oxygen.
TYPE OF PROHIBITION In- and out-of-competition
EXCEPTIONS Chorionic gonadotrophin, and pituitary and synthetic gonadotrophins are prohibited in males only. Unless an athlete can demonstrate that the excess concentration of the substance was due to a physiological or pathological condition, his or her sample is ruled to contain a peptide hormone where the concentration exceeds the amount normally found in humans.

WHAT ARE THEY? Beta-2 agonists are drugs commonly used to treat asthma by relaxing the muscles that surround the airway and opening up the air passages.
EXAMPLES bambuterol hydrochloride, reproterol hydrochloride, tulobuterol hydrochloride
WHY THEY ARE BANNED They can provide the same advantages of a stimulant or, if administered into the bloodstream, have anabolic effects.
WHY ATHLETES USE THEM To increase their muscle size and reduce body fat. When taken orally or by injection, Beta-2 can have powerful stimulatory effects.
TYPE OF PROHIBITION In- and out-of-competition
EXCEPTIONS Formoterol, salubutamol, salmeterol and terbutaline are permitted by inhalation only to prevent and/or treat asthma and exercise-related respiratory problems. However, athletes need to provide a medical note in order to attain a therapeutic-use exemption.

WHAT ARE THEY? Masking agents are products that can potentially conceal the presence of a prohibited substance in urine or other samples.
EXAMPLES epitestosterone, dextran, diuretics, probenecid
WHY THEY ARE BANNED Masking agents hide the presence of a banned substance in an athlete's urine or other sample, allowing them to cover up their use and gain an unfair competitive edge.
WHY ATHLETES USE THEM To conceal their use of a prohibited substance in the testing process.
TYPE OF PROHIBITION In- and out-of-competition
EXCEPTIONS Diuretics (such as acetazolamide, mersalyl, and triamterene) are not prohibited, so long as the athlete's urine sample contains amounts that don't approach prohibited levels.

WHAT ARE THEY? In conventional medicine, glucocorticosteroids are used mainly as anti-inflammatory drugs and to relieve pain. They are commonly used to treat asthma, hay fever, tissue inflammation and rheumatoid arthritis.
EXAMPLES dexamethasone, fluticasone, prednisone, triamcinolone acetonide and rofleponide
WHY THEY ARE BANNED When administered systemically (into the blood) glucocorticosteroids can produce a feeling of euphoria, potentially giving athletes an unfair advantage.
WHY ATHLETES USE THEM To mask pain felt from injury and illness.
TYPE OF PROHIBITION In-competition
EXCEPTIONS Glucocorticosteroids are prohibited when administered orally, rectally, or by intravenous or intramuscular administration. All other administrations require the athlete to provide a medical note in order to attain a therapeutic-use exemption.