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Recreational drugs

Don't risk it

Hands Holding a Suspicious Package

Testing positive for a recreational drug can result in a ban from all sport.

Recreational drugs are banned in sport in-competition*. If you use recreational drugs, you're taking a risk.

Recreational drugs include cannabis, amphetamines, BZP, MDMA, heroin and cocaine. Some of these, for example cannabis, can stay in your system for a long time after you take them. The only way to 100% avoid a positive test is by not using.

*In-competition means from 11.59pm on the day before your competition to the end of your competition and its sample collection process.

Substances of abuse

In 2021, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) recognised that some substances are “frequently abused in society outside the context of sport” and added the Substances of Abuse category to the Prohibited List.

All four substances in this category – THC (cannabis), MDMA, heroin and cocaine - remain banned in sport in-competition. However, athletes who test positive for a Substance of Abuse may be eligible for a reduced sanction if they can prove that they took the substance out-of-competition and not to enhance sporting performance.

Understand the consequences of doping

Cannabis