Medications

Check it before you take it

Even common medications can contain ingredients that are banned in sport.

As an athlete, you train hard. Sometimes you may get injured or sick, or you may need to take regular medication for an ongoing condition such as asthma or diabetes. Whatever the situation, it's important to be aware of what you're taking. As an athlete, you're 100% responsible for anything found in your sample. Accidentally taking a medication that's banned in sport could lead to a sanction.

Global DRO is an easy way to check the status of your medication against the WADA Prohibited List. Use this easy online tool to check every medication before you take it.

Medication to-do list

Check all medications before you take them on Global DRO (See Using Global DRO).
If you consult a doctor, tell them you're an athlete who is subject to drug testing.
If a medication you need is banned in sport, check if you're eligible for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE).
Find info on common medications (e.g. asthma inhalers, cold and flu treatments or pain medication) on our Common medications page.
Note that tramadol will be banned in competition from 1 January 2024.

Your health comes first. In an emergency, always get the treatment you need.

Check medications on Global DRO

How to check medications

Follow this video to find out how to check your medications using Global DRO.

Using Global DRO

Global DRO tells you whether a substance is banned in-competition, out-of-competition, both, or not at all. The information is based on the current WADA Prohibited List.
If a product you search for doesn't appear, that doesn't mean it's permitted in sport. We encourage athletes to stick to products that are marked 'Not prohibited' on Global DRO.
Supplements not included
Global DRO doesn’t hold information about supplements, including herbal products, traditional medicine or nutritional products. Searches for substances like creatine or ashwagandha will come back blank - and this doesn’t mean they’re safe.
Supplements are a risk for all athletes. If you're thinking of taking one, please first read our supplement advice.
1. Go to Global DRO
- Follow this link to the Global DRO website.
2. Select a flag
- Select the flag that represents the country you bought your medication from. If you’re a Kiwi searching for products you bought (or were prescribed) here in New Zealand, click the New Zealand flag.
3. Add your sport details
- Select your user type (athlete, support team etc), your sport and the country in which you purchased the product. Products may change their ingredients from country to country, even if the name and branding remains the same, so it's important to get this right.
4. Add the product name
- Type in the name of the product and double-check the spelling. If you get the spelling wrong, Global DRO may offer some suggestions. Check them carefully against your product to see if they match. If you don't enter the correct spelling, Global DRO may not be able to find your product.
5. Accept the terms and conditions
- Read and accept the Ts & Cs. Note that supplement products and ingredients aren't stored in Global DRO, and searches for such products will come up blank.
6. Check the listed ingredients
- Double-check that the ingredients listed on your Global DRO search match those on the label of your medication. If they don’t, please notify us immediately.
7. Check the results
- Red means it's banned. Green means it's not banned. A combination means you need to carefully check when when it's ok to have the medication in your system: in-competition* or out-of-competition.
*In-competition: Unless provided otherwise in the rules of an International Federation or the ruling body of the event in question, an In-Competition period is defined as “The period commencing at 11:59 p.m. on the day before a Competition in which the Athlete is scheduled to participate through the end of such Competition and the Sample collection process related to such Competition”
- Supplement products are not included in Global DRO. Check here for advice on supplements.
- We (DFSNZ) don't give medical advice, treatment plans or recommend medications.
- We try to make sure that the information supplied is correct and up-to-date, but we’re not responsible for any errors, omissions or inaccuracies.
- If you can't find what you need on Global DRO, please use our Medication query form.
If a medication you've been prescribed for a documented medical condition is banned in sport, you may need to apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) to make sure you're not breaking the Sports Anti-Doping Rules.
Find out who needs a TUE, when, and how to apply at Therapeutic Use Exemptions.

Medication Wallet Guide

Our Wallet Guide is a helpful reminder of rules around common medications and other clean sport information. Download it today, or request a hard copy from us at Resources.