MONTREAL (AP) — The World Anti-Doping Agency has widened its prohibition on blood manipulation and lifted a ban on beta-blockers for five non-Olympic sports.
WADA issued an updated list of banned substances Wednesday that will go into effect on Jan. 1. No major changes were made, with only a few modifications from the 2012 list.
The section on blood manipulation was revised to be more encompassing, banning "any form of intravascular manipulation of the blood or blood components by physical or chemical means."
The list also offers a more precise definition of gene doping to include "the transfer of polymers of nucleic acids or nucleic acid analogues" and "the use of normal or genetically modified cells."
WADA said beta-blockers — drugs which can calm nerves — are no longer prohibited in ninepin and tenpin bowling, powerboating, aeronautics, boules and bridge. The change was made at the request of the international federations.
Beta-blockers remain banned in many sports, including golf and archery.
WADA also added the painkiller tapentadol to a list of drugs that will be monitored but not banned.
