Beta Blockers - WADA Guidelines

Right. Beta Blockers are not banned in track and field. Although they can decrease the feelings of nervousness or stage fright before a competition, I can't think of track and field event that they would probably improve performance in (or make significantly more dangerous) to warrant being banned. On the other hand, beta blockers CAN DECREASE performance in many track and field events. (Note: If athletes have to take beta blockers for medical reasons, they should never discontinue taking the drug abruptly, including not wanting the drug's effects during a competition. Patients, including athletes, have died suddenly from heart problems because they stopped taking their beta blocker abruptly on their own.)

Also, athletes should be sure not to get beta BLOCKERS, which aren't banned in track and field, mixed up with beta AGONISTS, which ARE banned in most cases, and have an opposite effect.

This is from the 2013 WADA Prohibited List. They removed a few sports/competitions from the list for 2013.

BETA BLOCKERS

Unless otherwise specified, beta-blockers are prohibited In-Competition only, in the following sports.

• Archery (FITA) (also prohibited Out-of-Competition)

• Automobile (FIA)

• Billiards (all disciplines) (WCBS)

• Darts (WDF)

• Golf (IGF)

• Shooting (ISSF, IPC) (also prohibited Out-of-Competition)

• Skiing/Snowboarding (FIS) in ski jumping, freestyle aerials/halfpipe and

snowboard halfpipe/big air

Beta-blockers include, but are not limited to, the following:

Acebutolol, alprenolol, atenolol, betaxolol, bisoprolol, bunolol, carteolol, carvedilol, celiprolol, esmolol, labetalol, levobunolol, metipranolol, metoprolol, nadolol, oxprenolol, pindolol, propranolol, sotalol, timolol.