Statement on the Covid-19 vaccines and the Code

Speaking on whether athletes can use Covid-19 vaccines within the context of the World Anti-Doping Code, Nick Wojek UKAD Head of Science and Medicine said, “WADA is currently liaising with pharmaceutical companies and the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA) to determine whether the constituents of the vaccines in development are prohibited in sport, and whether the technologies being used will pose any complications for detecting doping.”

“We are in regular contact with WADA to obtain progress updates. Whilst it is too early to make a definitive statement on any particular vaccine, WADA has already confirmed that it is extremely unlikely that the RNA- or DNA sequences used for such vaccines violate anti-doping regulations. Equally, the risk that the excipients used for such vaccines will pose issues for clean sport and the anti-doping regulations is anticipated to be small. We await further updates from WADA on the matter before being able to advise athletes on the anti-doping status of any specific vaccine.”