The World Anti-Doping Code
The World Anti-Doping Code (The Code) is the global rulebook for anti-doping in sport. The World Anti-Doping Agency manages it.
This page explains the Code along with the International Standards that support it.
The Code sets out the rules and standards that countries, sports organisations and athletes must follow to keep sport clean and fair. It ensures that all athletes and their support network benefit from the same anti-doping procedures and protection, no matter the sport, the nationality or where they are tested.
The Code covers:
- Anti-Doping Rule Violations
- How results are managed (this is known as Results Management)
- the objectives of education programmes
- testing and investigations
- who is responsible for what
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) reviews the Code and its International Standards every 6 years. This is a scheduled part of how the anti-doping system stays effective and up to date.
A new version of the Code and its International Standards will come into effect on 1 January 2027.
Read the full Code on the WADA website
Strict Liability: Athletes are responsible
Strict Liability is an important principle of the Code.
If a banned substance is found in an athlete’s body, the athlete is responsible - even if the substance was not taken on purpose.
Athletes are 'strictly liable'. You should always check the anti-doping status of medicines. And before taking supplements, assess the need, risk and consequences.
International Standards: Consistent approach
The Code has eight International Standards which support it. Together they make sure there is a consistent approach to anti-doping around the world.
Read about each International Standard below.
The International Standard for Code Compliance by Signatories makes sure strong, Code-compliant anti-doping rules and programmes are applied consistently across all sports and countries.
The International Standard for Education supports clean sport by setting the minimum standards that education programmes must meet. It works alongside the Code and the World Anti-Doping Agency's Education Guidelines to help organisations exceed the minimum.
The International Standard for Laboratories 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.
Athletes should be familiar with the The Prohibited List (The List). The List identifies the substances and methods that are banned in sport. These can be prohibited in-competition only, prohibited at all times, or only in particular sports.
The International Standard for the Protection of Privacy and Personal Information 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 sets out how anti-doping organisations must handle cases from start to finish - from identifying a potential rule violation, through any provisional suspension, to the final decision and any appeal.
The International Standard for Testing and Investigations guides anti-doping organisations on how to conduct effective testing and investigations. 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 rule violations or non-compliance.
The International Standard for Therapeutic Use Exemptions ensures that the process for granting Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs) is consistent across sports and countries. TUEs allow an athlete to use a prohibited substance for medical reasons. Exemptions are only granted where use is medically necessary, no permitted alternative exists, and the athlete will not gain a performance advantage.
Read each International Standard on the WADA website
National policies and rules
The UK has its own UK National Anti-Doping Policy and UK Anti-Doping Rules which align with the Code and the International Standards.