The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has published its 2024 Prohibited List – and the Irish Football Association is urging clubs and players in Northern Ireland to familiarise themselves with it.
The wide-ranging list designates the substances and methods that are prohibited in sport globally, effective from 1 January 2024.
The Irish FA, which works in partnership with UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) to protect the integrity of football in Northern Ireland, fully supports the publication of the document.
UKAD ensures all sports bodies in the UK comply with the World Anti-Doping Code as set out by WADA.
The Irish FA follows and applies UKAD anti-doping rules that all athletes/players and athlete/player support personnel must abide by.
The rules of the Irish FA are consistent with the World Anti-Doping Code, the core document that harmonises anti-doping policies, rules and regulations within sport globally.
The anti-doping rules of the Irish FA are the rules published by UK Anti-Doping (or its successor), as amended from time to time. The rules apply to any club which is a member of the association, regardless of the level they participate at.
Chris Wright, the Irish Football Association’s Anti-Doping and Integrity Education Officer, has been delivering education modules to all NIFL Premiership, Championship and Women’s Premiership clubs throughout 2023 and will continue to do so in 2024.
And Northern Ireland international teams from U17 level up to senior level have taken part in workshops.
He explained the Irish FA Anti-Doping education programme has been extremely well received within NIFL clubs and international structures.
Wright added: “We aim to educate all players and player support personnel in understanding which substances and methods are allowed for football via the World Anti-Doping Agency’s Prohibited List.
“We educate them on how to check the use of medications and supplements and Therapeutic Use Exemption and ensure they are fully aware of the testing process. These are all vital elements in ensuring athletes are clean and fair.
“Highlighting changes to the list is vital to support players and player support personnel. For example, Tramadol is going to be prohibited for in-competition use from 2024.”
Please visit UK Anti-Doping's website here to see a summary of changes within the 2024 Prohibited List, including Tramadol being prohibited in-competition under Section 7 Narcotics.
The following resources are also available to read on WADA’s website:
- The full 2024 Prohibited List
- The WADA 2024 summary of major modifications and explanatory notes
- The 2024 monitoring programme which includes substances not currently on the list but are being monitored by WADA for potential patterns of misuse in sport.
For further information visit Irish FA Anti-Doping
