GLP-1 Weight-Loss Drugs to Remain Permitted in Sports
Athletes can continue using common weight-loss medications through 2027 while the agency monitors their effects.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Weight Loss
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The World Anti-Doping Agency will allow the continued use of weight-loss medications like Ozempic and Mounjaro in competition as of January 1, 2027. These drugs, known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, will be added to a monitoring program for further study rather than being prohibited.
Why it matters
Current medical evidence does not meet the necessary criteria to justify a ban on these weight-loss drugs for athletes. Placing them under a monitoring program allows experts to track their use and potential effects without restricting access for those managing health conditions.
The World Anti-Doping Agency updated its list for the 2027 cycle after determining current scientific evidence was insufficient to support a ban. GLP-1 receptor agonists have instead been placed into a monitoring program to further evaluate their effects.
The players
World Anti-Doping Agency
An international organization responsible for promoting, coordinating, and monitoring the fight against doping in sport.
The details
GLP-1 receptor agonists function by mimicking hormones that regulate appetite and blood sugar, which can lead to weight loss. For a substance to be prohibited, it must meet two of three criteria set by the agency: it must demonstrate performance enhancement, pose health risks to the athlete, or violate the spirit of sport. Because these requirements are not currently met, the agency will use the 2027 monitoring period to gather more comprehensive research on the drugs.
Timeline
The 2027 prohibited substance list takes effect globally on January 1, 2027.
Health Landscape
This decision reflects the evolving challenge of regulating medications that are increasingly common for chronic disease management. By choosing monitoring over a ban, the agency aligns its policy with the current lack of definitive clinical data on these drugs in athletic populations.
Athletes who manage weight or metabolic health with GLP-1 agonists can continue their prescribed treatment regimens under this updated policy. If you use these medications, it remains important to have regular conversations with your physician regarding potential side effects and performance impacts.
The takeaway
The agency's decision highlights the critical distinction between therapeutic use and potential performance enhancement in sport. Readers should continue to monitor future agency guidance for any updates to substance categories that may change with ongoing research.
Further reading
For more information on the current science surrounding appetite regulation, visit our Weight Loss section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Times of India.
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