Tramadol is an opioid analgesic and is classified as a prescription only medicine in the UK. Tramadol misuse is of concern because of the risks of physical dependence, opiate addiction, and overdose. It can also be purchased online which means that some athletes may have access to the drug outside their medical team.

For these reasons we have key messages for tramadol:

• Tramadol will be prohibited in-competition from 1 January 2024
• If you are asked to provide a urine or blood sample by UKAD or another Testing Agency, and tramadol is present in your sample, you could face a ban from sport
• Tramadol is an opioid analgesic and is classified as a prescription only medicine in the UK. If you regularly use tramadol for pain relief, speak to your doctor about alternative medication that is permitted in sport
• Strict liability applies to all athletes under the Anti-Doping Rules, so it is your responsibility to know what goes in your body
• Always check the anti-doping status of medicine before using it

For more information, click here: A reminder about the status of tramadol on the 2024 WADA Prohibited List | UK Anti-Doping (ukad.org.uk)