For athletesThe Prohibited List applies to athletes in sports that follow the World Anti-Doping Code. It is about sport, not about whether a substance is legal or safe. Wording below is quoted from the 2026 list.[1]
Where each peptide sits
Eleven of the twenty-three peptides on this site are named directly; the table quotes each listing and groups the rest.
| Peptide | Status | Section | How the list names it |
|---|---|---|---|
| BPC-157 | Prohibited | S0 Non-approved substances | "This class covers many different substances including but not limited to BPC-157" |
| TB-500 and thymosin beta-4 | Prohibited | S2.3 Growth factors | "Thymosin-ß4 and its derivatives e.g. TB-500" |
| CJC-1295 | Prohibited | S2.2.4 | "growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) and its analogues (e.g. CJC-1293, CJC-1295, sermorelin and tesamorelin)" |
| Sermorelin | Prohibited | S2.2.4 | Named among GHRH analogues |
| Tesamorelin | Prohibited | S2.2.4 | Named among GHRH analogues |
| Ipamorelin | Prohibited | S2.2.4 | "growth hormone secretagogues (GHS) and their mimetics", ipamorelin named |
| MOTS-c | Prohibited | S4.4.1 Metabolic modulators | "Activators of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)", MOTS-c named |
| AOD-9604 | Prohibited | S2.2.3 | "growth hormone fragments, e.g. AOD-9604 and hGH 176-191" |
| GHRP-6 | Prohibited | S2.2.4 | "GH-releasing peptides (GHRPs) [e.g. … GHRP-5 and GHRP-6]" |
| Hexarelin | Prohibited | S2.2.4 | "examorelin (hexarelin)", named in the same GHRP list |
| Kisspeptin | Prohibited | S2.2.1 | "Testosterone-stimulating peptides in males including, but not limited to: … kisspeptin and its agonist analogues" |
| GHK-Cu | Not named | — | Not named; WADA has not said whether S0 applies |
| Thymosin alpha-1 | Not named | — | Not named; approved in Italy, so S0 would not appear to apply |
| KPV, epitalon, semax, selank, DSIP, LL-37 | Not named | — | Not named; from 2027, "peptides" in general are named under S0 |
| Cagrilintide, melanotan II | Not named | — | Not named; S0 covers substances with no current approval for human use |
| SS-31 (elamipretide) | Not named | — | Not named; approved as Forzinity, so outside S0 |
| Bremelanotide (PT-141) | Not named | — | Not named |
All of the named sections are prohibited at all times, both in and out of competition. The list classes S0 substances as "Specified Substances"; the S2 and S4.4 entries above are non-Specified.[1]
What changes on January 1, 2027
The 2027 Prohibited List, in force from January 1, 2027, names "peptides" in general as prohibited substances under S0, according to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.[2]
- Peptides named generally. USADA: "On the 2027 Prohibited List, "peptides" in general are now named as prohibited substances in the S0 class," and even an unnamed peptide calls for "utmost caution".[2]
- Examples USADA lists: BPC-157 under S0; TB-500, AOD-9604 and growth-hormone-releasing peptides (GHRPs) under S2.[2]
- GLP-1 medicines: semaglutide and tirzepatide appear only on the 2027 Monitoring Program, which tracks use without prohibiting it.[2]
This page will be updated to the 2027 section numbers once the full list is in force; check your sport's anti-doping organization for anything specific.
Approved does not mean allowed
Tesamorelin is an FDA-approved medicine (Egrifta) for a specific condition,[3] and it is still named in S2.2.4. The S2 section covers peptide hormones and growth factors whether or not a regulator has approved them. FDA approval answers a medical question; the Prohibited List answers a sporting one.
S0 works the other way round. It catches substances that are not approved for human therapeutic use and are not covered by any other section, which is why BPC-157 is there. Bremelanotide is approved as Vyleesi,[4] so S0 does not catch it, and no other section names it.
"Not named" is not the same as "allowed"
Peptides and anabolic steroids sit in different sections of the list; are peptides steroids? explains the difference.
The list uses "e.g." and "including but not limited to" throughout. A substance that is not named can still fall under a section if it fits the description. GHK-Cu is not named, and WADA has not said whether its S0 clause covers it. Athletes with a question about a specific product should ask their national anti-doping organization, not a calculator website.
Related pages
- Peptide status tableFDA, compounding and WADA in one table
- "Research use only" peptidesWhat the FDA says about online sellers
- What are peptides?Definitions and sizes
Frequently asked questions
Is BPC-157 banned by WADA?
Yes. The 2026 Prohibited List names BPC-157 in S0, non-approved substances, prohibited at all times.[1]
Is BPC-157 banned?
In sport, yes: BPC-157 is named in S0 of the WADA 2026 list and is prohibited at all times.[1] Its legal status outside sport is covered on the are peptides legal? page.
Is TB-500 on the WADA list?
Yes, under S2.3: "Thymosin-ß4 and its derivatives e.g. TB-500", prohibited at all times.[1]