Health

Wada keeps weight-loss medications off banned list for 2027

BBC News reports that anti-doping officials will keep GLP-1 medications on a monitoring list rather than ban them.

Updated Sep 10, 2026 · 19:47 UTC1 reports

The short version

The World Anti-Doping Agency decided not to prohibit weight-loss medications for the 2027 competitive season.[BBC News]
GLP-1 receptor agonists will continue to remain on Wada's monitoring list while ongoing research evaluates their performance effects and health risks.[BBC News]
Agency rules require a substance to meet two of three specific criteria to be placed on the official prohibited list.[BBC News]

Wada determined that athletes will not face bans for using weight-loss drugs under its 2027 rules.[BBC News]
Semaglutide was added to Wada's monitoring list in 2024, followed by tirzepatide in 2025.[BBC News]
A substance must fulfill two of three conditions involving performance enhancement, health risk, or the spirit of sport to be prohibited.[BBC News]
A Loughborough University survey of over 100 sports physicians indicated that 12% knew of athletes taking GLP-1 drugs without medical justification.[BBC News]

Wada official Olivier Rabin stated it remains unknown when full study findings will conclude because controlled testing under exercise conditions requires time.[BBC News]

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.