Pharmacy Times outlines anti-doping role for pharmacists

Pharmacy Times on April 13 published an interview that put pharmacists closer to the center of anti-doping compliance, arguing that athletes’ medication and supplement decisions increasingly require support from the full care team. Greta Neimanas, identified by the publication as PLY, said pharmacists, providers and even parents can help athletes navigate anti-doping rules through routine checks of prescriptions, over-the-counter products and supplements. The article lands as the 2026 World Anti-Doping Agency prohibited list is already in force. WADA says the prohibited list is updated each year on Oct. 1 and takes effect on Jan. 1 of the following year, and the 2026 list has been in effect since Jan. 1, 2026. ### Why are pharmacists being pulled into anti-doping decisions? (pharmacytimes.com) Greta Neimanas told Pharmacy Times that anti-doping compliance is not only an athlete issue but an athlete-support issue. The interview said athlete support personnel include pharmacists, providers and parents, and framed their role as helping athletes avoid preventable violations tied to everyday treatment decisions. (wada-ama.org) USADA makes the same point in materials for clinicians. The agency says healthcare professionals treating athletes governed by World Anti-Doping Agency rules are subject to anti-doping policies, and it warns that failures can lead to anti-doping rule violations and sanctions for both the athlete and physician. ### Which products create the biggest day-to-day risk? WADA-linked guidance and national anti-doping materials point first to medications and supplements. (pharmacytimes.com) The WADA athlete and support personnel guide says the prohibited list identifies banned substances and methods, while federation and national guidance warns that over-the-counter medicines and supplements can contain prohibited ingredients, including substances not declared on a label. (icompeteclean.usada.org) Sport Integrity Canada says athletes should exercise a high degree of care with medications, supplements and sport nutrition products. Its 2026 prohibited-list notice says Global DRO can help athletes and support personnel determine whether specific medications are prohibited under the current WADA list. ### What tools did Pharmacy Times say clinicians can actually use? Pharmacy Times named three tools in the interview: Global DRO, Supplement Connect and HealthPro Advantage. (wada-ama.org) Neimanas said Global DRO is a searchable database that lets users quickly check whether medications are permitted, while Supplement Connect flags risks associated with dietary supplements. The article also described HealthPro Advantage as a free, accredited e-learning course for health professionals on anti-doping rules and best practices. (sportintegrity.ca) USADA separately maintains healthcare-professional resources built around the same problem. Its public materials tell clinicians that athletes are strictly responsible for prohibited substances found in their bodies, regardless of intent, which is why medication review before treatment matters. ### What does this change at the point of care? Pharmacy Times’ reporting points toward a more formal medication-review role for pharmacists before products are dispensed or administered. (pharmacytimes.com) That means checking prescriptions, nonprescription drugs and supplements against anti-doping resources before an athlete uses them, rather than treating anti-doping as a separate compliance step after care is delivered. (icompeteclean.usada.org) A 2018 paper in the Canadian Pharmacists Journal described pharmacist assessment as a way to prevent inadvertent prohibited-substance use among competitive strength athletes. The paper said pharmacists are positioned to evaluate medications and advise on safer alternatives when athletes face anti-doping restrictions. ### Where is this heading in 2026? Pharmacy Times has continued to build coverage around sports pharmacy in 2026. (pharmacytimes.com) The outlet’s Sports Pharmacy Summit coverage said pharmacists, athletic trainers, physicians, dietitians and performance specialists met in Fort Lauderdale in April to discuss anti-doping, supplement safety and athlete care. The next reference point remains the anti-doping rulebook itself. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) WADA says the prohibited list is updated annually on Oct. 1, and USADA and other national bodies continue to publish healthcare guidance and searchable medication resources tied to the current 2026 list. (wada-ama.org) (pharmacytimes.com)