Sports Anti-Doping Rules for Peptides

How the List is organized for peptides

WADA says the List is updated at least annually, published in October and in force from 1 January. [1] The version shown on the WADA page when read refers to the 2026 Monitoring Program. Two parts matter most for peptides.

S0, Non-Approved Substances. The List prohibits at all times any pharmacological substance not addressed elsewhere in the List that has no current approval by any governmental regulatory health authority for human therapeutic use, such as drugs under development or discontinued. [1] WADA names BPC-157 as an example of this class. [1] USADA also states that BPC-157 is prohibited under S0 and is not approved for human clinical use by FDA or any other health authority. [2]

S2, Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances and Mimetics. WADA says all prohibited substances in this class are non-Specified Substances. [1] Examples named on the page include:

Some entries are approved medicines for medical conditions. For example, WADA notes that common medications such as insulin for diabetes treatment are on the List. [3] Being an approved medicine does not remove a substance from the List; it may mean a therapeutic use exemption is possible (see Therapeutic Use Exemptions).

Status depends on the compound, not the product category

The List does not sort things by "supplement," "research peptide" or "cosmetic." Several of the compounds above are promoted online in different ways, and the regulatory pages for them differ. See BPC-157, TB-500 and Thymosin Beta-4 and Growth-Hormone-Releasing Peptides. For ibutamoren, see MK-677 Is Not a Peptide.

A compound not named in the text I read is not thereby permitted. WADA's Q&A says a substance's absence from the List does not mean it is not prohibited, because most categories give examples only. [1] I did not find GHK-Cu, semax, selank, epitalon, MOTS-c or thymosin alpha-1 named in the List text read. Whether they are covered depends on the List's catch-all wording and their approval status, which I did not verify. Check your anti-doping organization.

Cosmetic products

WADA's Q&A says topical skincare products may contain prohibited peptides or growth factors, sometimes under different names, and these substances are prohibited regardless of route of administration. [1] It adds that such products are likely to contain small amounts and are unlikely to cause an Adverse Analytical Finding on intact skin, but that cosmetic use cannot be invoked as a justification if a positive result occurs. [1]

What changes in 2027

USADA's advisory says the 2027 List goes into effect on January 1, 2027. [4] It states that "peptides" in general are now named as prohibited substances in S0 and that even a peptide not named on the List or on Global DRO may still be prohibited. [4] The advisory lists ibutamoren (MK-677) under S1 and insulin under S4. [4] I did not read the 2027 List text itself, so details such as class placement for each compound should be confirmed with WADA, USADA or your own organization.

Health note

Anti-doping status says nothing about safety or effectiveness. USADA notes BPC-157 is experimental and that it is unknown whether there is a safe dose. [2] See Peptide Safety for risks.