Prohibited substances
The Prohibited List
The Prohibited List is published by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and details all substances and methods which are prohibited or banned in sport. It is updated every year on January 1.
A substance or method may be included on the list if it meets any two of the following criteria:
- it has the potential to enhance sporting performance
- it presents an actual or potential health risk to the athlete
- it violates the spirit of sport.
The information below gives you a basic summary of the kinds of substances and methods that are banned in sport, but we also advise you to check the full WADA 2021 Prohibited List (PDF).
Antibiotics
| Permitted | Prohibited at all times – Requires a TUE |
| All antibiotics available in New Zealand are permitted in sport | Probenecid is commonly prescribed with antibiotics. It is prohibited without a TUE |
Asthma
If you need to take medication to keep your asthma under control, you need to know which asthma medications are allowed in sport and which are not.
If you use asthma inhalers and you are tested, be aware that maximum thresholds exist and overuse of some inhalers could return a positive drug test (see below). Follow the directions on the prescription label of your inhaler and talk with your medical professional if you need to use your inhaler frequently.
Please contact DFSNZ if you need more clarification.
| Permitted | Prohibited in Sport – Requires a TUE |
| Salbutamol – max thresholds exist (e.g. Ventolin, Respigen) Salmeterol - max thresholds exist (e.g. Serevent) Formoterol - max thresholds exist (e.g. Oxis, Foradil, Symbicort) Vilanterol – max thresholds exist (e.g. Breo Ellipta) Glucocorticoids (e.g. Beclazone, Flixotide, Pulmicort) | Terbutaline (e.g. Bricanyl), Bambuterol (e.g. Bambec) and oral Glucocorticoids (Prednisone, Prednisolone), oral salbutamol (e.g. Ventolin in syrup form) |
Cold / Flu / Sore throat medications
| Permitted | Prohibited in Competition |
| Phenylephrine (e.g. Lemsip and Maxclear products) | Psuedoephedrine: only ever take the recommended dose and stop using this drug at least 24 hours before competition |
| Paracetamol (e.g. Panadol) | Morphine based cough syrup (e.g. Gees Linctus) |
Contraception
| Permitted |
| All oral contraceptives available in New Zealand are permitted in sport |
Skin conditions
| Permitted | Prohibited in Competition |
| Topical Glucocorticoids (e.g. Beta cream/ointment; DP lotion/cream; DermAid; Egocort; Hydrocortisone cream; Locoid; Skincalm | Oral/Systemic Glucocorticoids (e.g. Prednisone, Medrol) |
Glucocorticoids
| Permitted | Prohibited in Competition – Requires a TUE |
| Glucocorticoids administered non-systemically (e.g. injections into the joint, nasal sprays and inhaled) | Glucocorticoids administered systemically (e.g. oral Prednisone, intra-muscular Kenacort injections, intravenous fluids and rectal suppositories) |
Hayfever / Sinusitis medications
| Permitted | Prohibited in Competition |
| Antihistamines (e.g. Loratab, Loraclear, Claratyne, Claramax, Phenergan, Polaramine, Razene, Telfast, Zadine, Zyrtec) | Pseudoephedrine: only ever take the recommended dose and stop using this drug at least 24 hours before competition |
| Nasal sprays (e.g. Flixonase, Alanase, Beconase, Drixine, Otrivin) | Oral/Injected Glucocorticoids (e.g. Prednisone, Kenacort, Dexamethasone) |
Nausea / Vomiting
| Permitted |
| e.g. Antinaus, Buccastem, Maxolon, Nausicalm, Sea-Legs, Stemetil, Serecid, Gaviscon, Quik-eze, Gastro-lyte, Mylanta |
Headaches / Pain / Inflammation
| Permitted | Prohibited in Competition |
| Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatories (NSAID) | All medications that contain morphine (e.g. Sevredol, Kapanol, m-Eslon) |
| Ibuprofen (e.g. Brufen, Nurofen, Panafen) | Fentanyl (e.g. Durogesic, Rapifen) |
| Diclofenac (e.g. Diclax, Voltaren, Cataflam) | Pethidine |
| Pain tablets (e.g. Aspirin, Codeine, Tramal, Tramadol, Paracetamol, Panadeine) | Oral/Systemic Glucocorticoids (e.g. Prednisone, Medrol) |
IV fluids
All prohibited substances administered by IV require a TUE. Permitted substances which require IV infusion may not exceed 100ml per 12 hours without a TUE, unless it’s given while at hospital, during surgery, or travelling in an ambulance. Any infusions given in a non-hospital setting such as an outpatients clinic, medical rooms or on-site ambulance will require a TUE regardless of whether or not it’s permitted in sport.