WADA widens ban on blood manipulation

Published Sep. 26, 2012 2:21 p.m. ET

foxsports

The World Anti-Doping Agency has widened its prohibition on blood manipulation and lifted a ban on beta-blockers for five non-Olympic sports.

WADA issued an updated list of banned substances Wednesday that will go into effect on Jan. 1. No major changes were made, with only a few modifications from the 2012 list.

The section on blood manipulation was revised to be more encompassing, banning ''any form of intravascular manipulation of the blood or blood components by physical or chemical means.''

The list also offers a more precise definition of gene doping to include ''the transfer of polymers of nucleic acids or nucleic acid analogues'' and ''the use of normal or genetically modified cells.''

WADA said beta-blockers - drugs that can calm nerves - remain banned in many sports, including golf and archery.