The World Anti-Doping Code
The World Anti-Doping Code (the Code) is the global rulebook for anti-doping in sport. It sets out the rules and standards that countries, sports organisations and Athletes must follow to keep sport clean and fair. It is published by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
The Code ensures that all Athletes and their support network benefit from the same anti-doping procedures and protections, across sports and countries - with the shared goal of ensuring Athletes worldwide can participate in fair and safe competition for everyone.
The Code also sets out: the roles and responsibilities of everyone involved in sport, the objectives of education programmes, Testing and investigations, and the 11 anti-doping rule violations (ADRVs) and how they are managed.
A new version of the Code will come into effect on 1 January 2027. Find out what is changing and how it affects you.
Alongside the Code are eight International Standards that support a consistent approach to anti-doping across the world. A new, ninth Standard, the International Standard for Intelligence and Investigations will come into effect in 2027.
Read the full Code on the WADA website
Strict Liability: Athletes are responsible
A core principle of the Code is Strict Liability. This means an Athlete is solely responsible for any Prohibited Substance found in their system, regardless of how or why it got there. This is one of the most important principles for Athletes to understand.
International Standards: Consistent approach
The International Standards support and underpin the Code. Together they ensure a consistent approach to anti-doping around the world.
Read about each International Standard below.
The International Standard for Code Compliance by Signatories (ISCCS) ensures that strong, Code-compliant anti-doping rules and programmes are applied consistently across all sports and countries, so that Athletes can be confident they are competing on a level playing field.
The International Standard for Education (ISE) supports clean sport by setting the minimum standards that education programmes must meet. It works alongside the Code and WADA's Education Guidelines to help organisations go beyond the minimum requirements.
The International Standard for Laboratories (ISL) sets out how laboratories must handle and analyse Athletes' Samples to ensure results are valid and reliable. It also sets the criteria laboratories must meet to achieve and maintain WADA accreditation.
The International Standard Prohibited List (the Prohibited List). The Prohibited List identifies the substances and methods that are banned in sport. It identifies those substances that are prohibited In-Competition only, those that are prohibited at all times, those that are designated as ‘Substances of Abuse’, as well as those that are prohibited in particular sports.
The International Standard for Protection of Privacy and Personal Information (ISPPI) ensures that everyone involved in anti-doping follows minimum privacy standards when collecting and using athletes' personal information, such as whereabouts data, medication details or records of rule violations.
The International Standard for Results Management (ISRM) sets out how Anti-Doping Organisations should handle cases from start to finish - from identifying a potential violation, through to imposing a Provisional Suspension, to the final decision and appeal process.
The International Standard for Testing and Investigations (ISTI) guides Anti-Doping Organisations on how to conduct effective Testing. It covers the procedures for collecting Samples - from notifying the Athlete through to transporting Samples for analysis - to protect their integrity. It also covers how Anti-Doping Organisations should gather, store and assess information, and conduct investigations into possible violations.
The International Standard for Therapeutic Use Exemptions (ISTUE) ensures that the process for granting Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs) - which allow an Athlete to use a Prohibited Substance for legitimate medical reasons - is consistent across sports and countries. TUEs are only granted where medically necessary, no permitted alternative treatment exists, and the Athlete will not gain a performance advantage.
Read each International Standard on the WADA website
The UK Anti-Doping Rules and the UK National Anti-Doping Policy
The UK implements the Code and the International Standards within the UK through the UK Anti-Doping Rules.
The UK National Anti-Doping Policy (the Policy) is an essential document which sets out the roles and responsibilities of several organisations in the UK on anti-doping, including UK Anti-Doping (UKAD), the Sports Councils, and national governing bodies (NGBs).