Pharmacological Background of Doping: Beyond Performance Enhancing Evidence in the WADA Prohibited List

Abstract

While the WADA Prohibited List is ostensibly grounded in scientific evidence of performance enhancement, many listed substances actually lack robust clinical support within elite competitive contexts. Discrepancies between official analytical findings and estimated prevalence rates suggest that both detection statistics and research methodologies face significant structural constraints. Crucially, the World Anti-Doping Code prohibits substances based not only on ergogenic potential, but also on health risks and normative concepts like the "spirit of sport." This approach frames anti-doping as a complex risk-management and ethical framework rather than a simple pharmacological hierarchy. Ultimately, the Prohibited List functions as a hybrid regulatory instrument that intentionally balances pharmacology, institutional legitimacy, and the broader goal of athletic fairness.