World Anti-Doping Agency Removes CBD From Banned Substances List

Gage Peake October 4, 2017

UFC star Nate Diaz speaks during a UFC 202 mixed martial arts news conference, Thursday, July 7, 2016, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Call it a first step in the right direction.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is removing cannabidiol—the pain-relieving, non-intoxicating cannabis compound—from its list of banned substances in 2018.

WADA, which governs drug testing in the Olympics, also sets the standard for anti-doping guidelines in many sports leagues, like the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and others around the world.

Currently, under the United States Anti-Doping Agency and UFC rules, cannabis and its metabolites are prohibited. Starting next year, however, CBD will be allowed, while synthetic cannabis and cannabis products rich in psychoactive THC will remain banned.

Here is the passage of the new WADA 2018 Prohibited List that references cannabinoids:

From wada-ama.org

Each year WADA releases a prohibited list of banned substances, as the agency frequently looks at changes in the medical world and relates them to its banned substance list.

“Annually, the Prohibited List review involves a very extensive stakeholder consultation process over the course of nine months,” said Director General Olivier Niggli in his official statement. “In reviewing the List, experts examine such sources as: scientific and medical research; trends; and, intelligence gathered from law enforcement and pharmaceutical companies in order to stay ahead of those that endeavor to cheat the system.”

How big of a deal is this? Cannabis-friendly athletes like Nate Diaz, who garnered worldwide attention after vaping CBD at a post-fight press conference, should be pleased with the news. He and his brother have been cannabis advocates in the mixed-martial arts world for more than a decade.

Diaz was given a public warning by USADA after he admitted to consuming CBD in competition during the press conference, while his brother Nick was suspended for five years by USADA after repeatedly failing drug tests for cannabis in 2015.

cbd drug testing MMA sports

Gage Peake

Gage Peake is a former staff writer for Leafly, where he specialized in data journalism, sports, and breaking news coverage. He's a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's College of Journalism and Mass Communications.

View Gage Peake's articles

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ALAN GANN

WE NEED ACCESS TO THE WHOLE PLANT SO WE CAN LIVE WHOLE LIVES!! ALL WE WANT IS TO LIVE AND NOT NEEDLESSLY SUFFER DOING IT!! CBD DOES NOT HELP ALL ONLY SOME I HAVE CRPS/RSD AND WHOLE PLANT CANNABIS IS THE ONLY THING THAT HELPS NOT CBD!! PLEASE HELP US LIVE, PLEASE HELP MAKE WHOLE PLANT CANNABIS LEGAL!! HELP STOP THE NEEDLESS SUFFERING FOR MANY LIKE MYSELF!! #MakeItLegal #MakeCannabisLegal https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/9a6debbb508dcf87ceebb517b247f1e56d78f50989d16febffe6033259ccc503.jpg
- Kenny Hotz
  
  We need people to take the caps lock off, it doesn’t help.
  - ALAN GANN
    
    I AM A DISABLED VETERAN WITH AN OLD LAPTOP SETUP BY THE VA TO HELP ME DO ALL I CAN ONLINE BECAUSE I ONLY HAVE ONE WORKING ARM!! THAT IS WHY IT IS IN ALL CAPS!! SORRY THAT SOME NEED HELP OTHERS DO NOT!! THANKS FOR BEING UNDERSTANDING!! WE NEED MORE LIKE YOU AROUND!! WE ARE NOT ALL LIKE AND JUST BECAUSE THINGS ARE NOT ALL ALIKE THERE MAYBE A REASON WHY!! TRY THINKING BEFORE YOU JUDGE!! SORRY FOR JUMPING BUT SO MANY BITCH IF I COULD BE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE I WOULD!! HOPE YOU HAVE A REALLY REALLY GREAT DAY KENNY!! I KNOW I WILL BE!! https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/c725ea7d761cc3d01efa03b09253f31fc95e4bd15127633ad396b8746e425d30.jpg
    - James Pollin
      
      Thank you for your service sir it is greatly appreciated
      - ALAN GANN
        
        https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/3751bb45cfbc3a952736e35c6b41e4f8e49159106ba39e54e1ad1cbcf55056ec.jpg THANK YOU FOR THE KIND WORDS SIR!! MANY DO NOT KNOW WHAT TWO SMALL WORDS CAN MEAN!! MAYBE ONE DAY THERE WILL BE NO MORE LIKE ME (VETERANS) AND THAT WILL BE A GREAT DAY FOR THE HUMAN RACE!! THAT WOULD MEAN NO MORE WAR NO MORE KILLING IN THE NAME OF PROFITS!! BUT I DO THANK YOU TOO SIR!! HOPE YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES HAVE A HAPPY AND HEALTHY LIFE!! #MakeCannabisLegal #ResistTheGreedAndCorruption
      - Jeff Lane
        
        AlPennG, I agree with you all the way from one veteran to another.
        I wish that the FEDS would just sit back in and with the whole group and
        say, Hey !!, We all know the weed plant helps so many people and we the people
        and the government could make a lot of money and help get the USA out of dept.
        Also we will be helping millions and millions of people.
    - Aaron K Mulheron Jr.
      
      Dont mind him maturity is his disability. Thanks for at least trying to protect us and still voicing your much needed opinion. Im straight from the ghetto and even i know cbd dont do the job completely as we need a balance of thc with it to make things right. Just like the song it takes 2 to make a thing go right. Lol i have protein s deficiency which has diabetic symptoms. I found out that edibles work much better than smoke or vape and it last longer. My favorite are the taffies.
      - ALAN GANN
        
        COULD NOT AGREE MORE WITH YOU SIR!! STAY STRONG!! ONE DAY WE WILL ALL E ABLE TO GET ACCESS TO THE HELP WE ALL NEED IN LEGAL CANNABIS!! TOGETHER WE WILL MAKE IT HAPPEN!! #MakeItLegal https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f88962e738af58f2721fd310e1b8562699f02b9829414786babc857c278c849d.jpg
      - Anita Jacquet
        
        Really? I get what ur saying about the THC, edibles and all (I prefer those too), but why do u have to speak so rudely and disrespectfully? I thought online communities such as this one were supposed to stay civil in their postings. Just saying
      - Kenny Hotz
        
        What is immature about my post? All caps is considered rude, without knowing the backstory of him after the fact…….How was it immature?
    - Jeff Lane
      
      Right on AlPennG.!!
    - Anita Jacquet
      
      Thank u for ur service and protecting us and the freedom we r blessed with bc of those such as u.
    - Anita Jacquet
      
      Apologies, that last post about the rudeness was supposed to go to AaronKMulheronJr
    - Kenny Hotz
      
      I am a 100% disabled vet too. No need to play the victim card here. It was a pretty harmless remark and I am sorry you are offended that someone would take what is considered rude and turn it into a sympathy talking point. I didn’t judge you. I don’t know you and cant judge you but that didn’t stop you from judging me. Stay strong brother, hope the VA helps you. Go in peace.
      - ALAN GANN
        
        NOT PLAYING THE VICTIM CARD JUST TELLING WHY IT WAS ALL CAPS AND STATING FACTS AND IT IS NOT A HARMLESS REMARK!! I GET IT SO MANY TIMES FROM SO MANY THOUGHTLESS PEOPLE BEFORE THEY REALIZED THERE MAY BE A REASON WHY IT IS THAT WAY!! IF EVERYTIME YOU WANTED TO SPEAK YOUR MIND IDIOTS ALWAYS TRIED TO GET OFF POINT AND ONLY GO AFTER YOU FOR USING CAPS BECAUSE YOU HAVE A DISABILITY YOU WOULD BE UPSET BY IT ALSO!! PLUS I DO NOT NEED ANY SYMPATHY FOR TELLING SOMEONE TO GET BACK ON POINT AND STOP WORRYING SOMEONE IS DIFFERENT THEN THEM!! I WAS JUST STATING A FACT AS TO WHY MY TYPING IS THE WAY IT IS!! THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS SOME THINK RUDE AND ME I THINK WHEN SOMEONE TALKS DOWN TO ME FOR THE WAY I TYPE THAT IS RUDE!! SORRY FOR THE HARSH WORDS BUT YOU CAN SEE IT IS SOMETHING I DEAL WITH FAR TOO OFTEN!! HOOAH BROTHER STAY STRONG TOO!! SORRY TO HEAR YOU ARE DISABLED ALSO!! HOPE THINGS GET BETTER AND PLEASE NEXT TIME YOU SEE SOMETHING LIKE THIS JUST TRY TO THINK WHAT THE PERSON ON THE OTHER SIDE IS ALL ABOUT BEFORE YOU GET OFF POINT!! IF YOU LOOK AT ANY AND ALL POSTS OF MINE THEY ARE ALL JUST LIKE THESE!! (IN CAPS)
      - Kenny Hotz
        
        My comment alone, not knowing you or your situation was harmless. I didn’t talk down to you and your reply did nothing but demonize me for something I could not possibly have known. Again, I didn’t judge you, I judged the caps which is considered rude with the exception of someone in your situation(we now know). I understand you are frustrated having to say over and over why you type in caps. I hate having to explain myself as well to the countless people that want to know why and how it happened when I just want to live my life, but I try not to let the anger beat me. You ask me to think about the other person on the other side of the computer when I make a comment, but you made no such effort to think of me when explaining your situation, you copy/pasted me into a category of a relentless asshole who has no feelings(or something like that). I have never seen a post by you, I am fairly new to the community. I now know and would never say anything knowing what I know now. So can we put this to rest?
        
        Also, I would love to update your laptop if am able. I am pretty good with electronics and I know the VA will never update your laptop to something more user friendly. I do not like seeing my brothers in arms having to deal with a sub standard VA system when I can help it. Let me know if you would accept assistance if I can give it.
  - Aaron K Mulheron Jr.
    
    Wow it’ll been nicer if you just responded to the relating matter instead of trying to get laughing points…when trying to be funny goes wrong. Once again you prove how low people of this world can be yet we always screaming we want peace or maybe you was just high and needed a laugh for yourself.
    - Anita Jacquet
      
      I didn’t think AlPennG was trying to b funny. The post struck me as very sincere and quite serious.
    - Kenny Hotz
      
      I wasn’t going for a laugh. CAPS are consider rude. But you don’t hold the same standard for yourself by only responding to the matter eh?
  - Rodney M
    
    Really? Caps bother you? SHUTTHEFUCKUP, how’s that?
    - Kenny Hotz
      
      My reply bothers you? You people are easily triggered. How about sucking my balls? How is that?
      - ALAN GANN
        
        LETS JUST ALL STAY ON POINT!!
  - leaflysocial
    
    Hi Kenny, ALL CAPS comments are typically a violation to terms and conditions. @AlPennG:disqus is a valued user on Leafly, and is a disabled veteran who can only use all caps, so an exception has been made. You can read his own statement in a reply to you here. There are many U.S. veterans who use and benefit from cannabis for several reasons, despite many obstacles in obtaining cannabis. Their viewpoints are important to the legalization conversation, and definitely need to be considered as we move toward safe, accessible cannabis that is truly for all.
    
    If you have questions about Leafly review policies, check out Terms of Use (section 5.2) – https://www.leafly.com/company/tos – or shoot us an e-mail at reviews@leafly.com.
    - Kenny Hotz
      
      It was a pretty harmless statement. Everyone wants to riot at the drop of a hat and seems in life, that is what happened here as well. No one cares that I am a 100% disabled vet because I didn’t tell anyone, nor did he, which would have been a much easier fix than a rant against me.
      - ALAN GANN
        
        I DO AGREE BUT I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO START EVERY POST WITH I AM A DISABLED VETERAN AND ON AND ON SIR!!
      - Kenny Hotz
        
        If you get as much bad feedback as you seem to. A simple reply or starting statement of I have no choice but to type all caps would save you some time and be a little less stressful. Some times a little goes a long way.
- Jeff Lane
  
  I hear you all the way, we really do need the whole plant.
  From : U.S.A.- D.A.V.
- Anita Jacquet
  
  I’m with u there. It’s my antidepressant, anti-anxiety, and anti-PTSD. Works better than ANY pharmaceutical I’ve ever tried for my mental health issues. Whole plant is absolutely essential.
Samantha Cook

Look no more. Visit /AnnCannMed/ for your health prescriptions and medical purchases. Quick and easy ordering, very helpful and pleasant support.
Joshua Perry

The website is a neat one. Very good company by the way. Cbd Rich oil has literally changed my life. I was able to abandon some strong opiates, and my health is doing just fine. Highly recommend!
My Name 2

We have been selling CBD oil for the last 8 months and have been blown away at the things it has done for us and for our customers. I am glad it is catching on. This is a great read.

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