The ITIA has reminded players and their support teams to make themselves aware of upcoming changes to the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) Prohibited List.
The changes to the no-go list will take effect from 1 January 2024.
In a notable change to the list, tramadol, a well-known and commonly used pain-killing drug, has been added to the prohibited list.
Tramadol will become a prohibited substance in tennis and other sports, following the recommendation of the List Expert Advisory Group, who advised that the medicine used to treat acute pain should be prohibited in competition from 2024.
According to an ITIA statement: “Tramadol has been on the WADA Monitoring Program and data gathered through that programme have indicated significant use in sports.
“Tramadol abuse, with its dose-dependent risks of physical dependence, opiate addiction and overdoses in the general population, is of concern and has led to it being a controlled drug in many countries.”
Studies funded by WADA have also reportedly confirmed the potential for Tramadol to enhance sports performance.
“The ITIA will work with everyone on the tennis tour to ensure that players understand the changes to the WADA Prohibited List in 2024,” the statement continues.
“Players who currently use tramadol as part of their pain management regimen are urged to phase out its use as soon as possible, as its presence in a player’s system will constitute a breach of the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP) from January 2024 – except in the cases in which a player successfully applies for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE), with legitimate medical grounds for use.”
The ITIA has vowed to deliver a mixture of direct communication, education sessions and visual reminders in player-facing areas at tournaments to ensure that players are fully aware of the changes ahead of the 2024 season.
“It is essential that all players and their representatives are aware of upcoming changes to the Prohibited List,” the ITIA’s Senior Director for Anti-Doping Nicole Sapstead said.
“In particular, players must note the addition of tramadol as a banned substance from next year.
“As a sport, we have a collective responsibility to ensure that the non-essential use of tramadol is eliminated before the changes to the Prohibited List take effect.
“Being unaware of changes to the list is, unfortunately, no defence against prospective sanctions, and it is incumbent upon the entire tennis family to protect players from unintentional doping violations by taking a proactive approach to rule changes.”
The full list of prohibited substances has been published by WADA and is available here.
READ MORE: Novak Djokovic’s comments set the ball rolling on a story that could rock tennis
