Cannabis and sport: A World Anti‐Doping perspective

Abstract

It is the opinion of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) that cannabis should remain a banned substance in sport. The purpose of this editorial is to briefly summarize the elements of the discussion leading to the continued ban in sport. Cannabis availability and its subsequent use, misuse and incidence of use disorder are increasing globally [1], even as the potency of the plant, gauged by delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ 9 -THC content), continues to increase [2]. It is not known what proportion of top-level athletes regularly consume cannabis. However, a recent review of self-reports that included more than 46000 athletes suggests that the proportion of athletes using cannabis is no different from the age-matched general population [3]. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) banned cannabis in competition in all sports when the 2004 List of Prohibited Substances and Methods was first released under the World Anti-Doping Code [4]. It has since revisited and updated the cannabinoid category to include synthetic cannabinoids, increase reporting thresholds and to specifically exempt cannabidiol. In response to stakeholder requests, the WADA Executive Committee asked for a review of the status of cannabis. Ad hoc com-

Annual banned‐substance review 16th edition—Analytical approaches in human sports drug testing 2022/2023

“…Also, the relevance of cannabis (and here especially the active ingredient delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, THC) as a doping agent has continued to be subject of controversial positions. 155,156 The 2023 and 2024 editions of the Prohibited List remained unchanged as to the status of THC and cannabinoids in general, 21,153 with cannabidiol (CBD) being explicitly excluded from the banned category in virtue of its molecular mechanisms of action. 157 Athletes might be at risk of (unknowingly) ingesting THC-containing products as reported by Wagner et al, for example, when consuming milk from hemp-fed dairy cows.…”

Nicotine dependence in elite sport

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We were interested to read in Addiction the recent World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) review of cannabis and its prohibited status [1]. Its prohibition brings other currently permissible and recreationally consumed substances into focus (e.g.

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