WADA Adds BPC-157 to the Prohibited Substances List

The World Anti-Doping Agency added BPC-157 to its Prohibited List as of January 1st, 2022. The peptide is classified in S0, that category relates to substances which are not approved by any governmental health authority for any therapeutic use in humans. This classification means that whenever BPC-157 is found in an athlete's sample, it is considered a violation of the sport's regulations regardless of the intention and the time.

What WADA Decided About BPC-157

WADA's 2022 update placed BPC-157 under Section S0: Non-Approved Substances. The S0 section is a catch-all for pharmacological substances with no current approval by any governmental regulatory health authority. Before 2022, BPC-157 was not explicitly named on the list, though WADA's general prohibition on unapproved substances already covered it in principle. The 2022 decision removed any ambiguity.

USADA published a specific advisory noting that BPC-157 is a prohibited peptide that creates risk for athletes. The advisory warns that dietary supplements and wellness products sometimes contain BPC-157 without declaring it on the label.

The S0 Category Explained

S0 covers substances not approved for human therapeutic use by any governmental regulatory health authority. Unlike categories S1 through S9, S0 does not require evidence of performance enhancement. The mere fact that BPC-157 lacks regulatory approval anywhere in the world is enough. No Therapeutic Use Exemption can be granted for S0 substances because there is no approved medical indication to support one.

The Department of Defense Operation Supplement Safety program (OPSS) pointed out BPC-157 as a banned peptide and non-licensed drug present in health and wellness goods, calling upon military personnel to steer clear of using it.

What This Means for Athletes

Any athlete subject to WADA testing, from Olympic competitors to collegiate athletes under USADA oversight, faces a potential anti-doping violation if BPC-157 appears in a sample. The ban applies both in-competition and out-of-competition. According to BSCG, athletes should be aware that BPC-157 may be present as a contaminant in supplements and wellness products that do not declare it on the label, which makes third-party testing of supplements especially important for tested athletes.

The penalty for a first S0 violation typically ranges from two to four years, depending on the circumstances and the athlete's ability to demonstrate how the substance entered their body.

What This Means for Research Buyers

The restriction imposed by WADA exclusively applies to athletes and armed forces personnel under anti-doping programs. So it does not make the buying and possessing of BPC-157 for research purposes illegal in the United States. Research quality BPC-157 continues to be sold by suppliers like the ones we review on this site with the label of "for research purposes only".

However, the WADA ban indicates a wider regulatory stance. Regulators are keeping noted on BPC-157 now than five years ago, and since it is classified as "non-approved," there is presently no country that has authorized BPC-157 to be used therapeutically in human beings.

Timeline of BPC-157 Regulatory Actions

1. Pre-2022 BPC-157 not explicitly named on the WADA Prohibited List, though covered in principle under S0
2. January 1, 2022 WADA adds BPC-157 by name to the S0 Non-Approved Substances category
3. 2022 USADA publishes athlete advisory specifically about BPC-157
4. 2023 OPSS flags BPC-157 in supplement products sold to military personnel
5. June 1, 2024 Australia TGA schedules BPC-157 under Schedule 4, restricting possession