Clubs and Organizations
September 24, 2022
World Anti-Doping Agency Keeps Marijuana on List of Prohibited In-Competition Substances in Accordance with SAM Guidance
(Washington, DC)--Today, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the agency responsible for monitoring international anti-doping policies in all sports and countries, announced that marijuana will remain on its list of prohibited in-competition substances. This decision is in accordance with SAM's recommendation sent to WADA President Witold Ba?ka this May.
Drawing on the three criteria outlined by WADA for determining whether to prohibit a substance, SAM's May 10 letter posited that marijuana:
has the potential to enhance or enhances sport performance,
represents an actual or potential health risk to the athlete, and
violates the spirit of sport.
This is consistent with WADA’s 2004 determination, when they added marijuana to its list of prohibited substances.
There have been many reported instances of marijuana helping athletes with their performance. The New York Times reported that, similar to alcohol, marijuana could help steady the hands of archers. Even if marijuana use has no effect on an athlete's performance, the appearance of marijuana’s performance-enhancing effects will cause athletes to claim its users are given an unfair advantage. One study from the Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine found "there is a perception among some athletes that cannabis use may have beneficial effects."
"I applaud WADA for putting science first and prohibiting the in-competition use of cannabinoids by athletes," said Kevin Sabet, Ph.D, co-founder and President of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and former senior drug policy advisor to the Obama Administration. "As the science regarding marijuana has not changed, we found no scientific rationale for WADA to change its marijuana-related policies. All athletes deserve to play on an equal playing field. Marijuana has the potential to enhance performance and ruin fair play.
"Additionally, as we laid out in our letter, this policy gives important clarity during a time of varying national-level policies imposed by countries that host the Olympics and other international sporting events. By keeping marijuana on the list of banned substances, WADA is ensuring that sports remain fair and competitive."