The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has issued warning on a substance called GW501516, which belongs to the S0 (Non-approved Substances) category of the 2013 Prohibited List. HKADC warns all athletes that the use of GW501516 and other substances with no current approval by any governmental regulatory health authority for human therapeutic use is prohibited at all times. Also, athletes must beware that such substance can lead to serious health risk. The following is an excerpt of WADA’s alert:

It has come to WADA’s attention that the black market substance GW501516 is being sold to and used by some athletes.

The side effect of this chemical compound is so serious that WADA is taking the rare step of warning “cheats” to ensure that there is complete awareness of the possible health risks to athletes who succumb to the temptation of using GW501516 for performance enhancement.

GW501516 was a developmental drug that was withdrawn from research by the pharmaceutical company and terminated when serious toxicities were discovered in pre-clinical studies.

Clinical approval has not, and will not be given for this substance.

However, GW501516 has been available for some months on the black market, through the Internet and elsewhere. Anti-Doping authorities have already seen its use by athletes, as there are a number of positive cases.