Weight-loss drugs avoid Wada banned list for 2027

Athletes will not face bans for using weight-loss drugs under World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules for 2027, but these substances will stay on WADA's monitoring list. The organization confirmed this decision after its executive committee meeting, as it continues to assess the potential of GLP-1 receptor agonists to enhance performance and the risk of abuse in sports.

The new rules, which take effect in January and are reviewed annually, cover medications like Ozempic and Mounjaro, which have seen growing use outside elite sports. Serena Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam champion, revealed last year that she had been using weight-loss medication while on a break from professional tennis. Professor Olivier Rabin, WADA's senior director for science and medicine, advised athletes to exercise caution and always seek medical advice before using these drugs.

He warned of the significant physiological changes and potential side effects associated with these substances. GLP-1 receptor agonists, such as semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro), were first placed on WADA's monitoring list in 2024 and this year, respectively. To move from the monitoring list to the prohibited list, a substance must meet at least two of three criteria: it must enhance performance, pose health risks to athletes, or violate the spirit of sport.

WADA is conducting studies to examine the effects of these drugs in high-intensity exercise conditions. While potential benefits exist, side effects like nausea, fatigue, and muscle mass loss could prove counterproductive for athletes. The new rules may primarily impact athletes in weight-category sports and those with strict weight requirements, such as jockeys and horse racing participants.

Long-distance runners and cyclists may also benefit from weight control measures. Despite few athletes publicly discussing their use of weight-loss drugs, a recent study by Loughborough University found that 12% of sports medicine physicians worldwide were aware of athletes using GLP-1 drugs without a medical need.