WADA issues substance alert

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has issued the following information, which is being transmitted to UEFA's 53 member national associations, as well as to men's and women's clubs still involved in this season's UEFA competitions.

"It has come to WADA's attention that the black market substance GW501516 is being sold to and used by some athletes," reads WADA's statement. "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"GW501516 was a developmental drug withdrawn from research by the pharmaceutical company and terminated when serious toxicities were discovered in pre-clinical studies.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."

WADA is the independent international organisation created in 1999 to promote, coordinate and monitor the fight against doping in sport in all its forms. The agency is composed and funded equally by the sports movement and governments of the world. Its key activities include scientific research, education, development of anti-doping capacities and monitoring of the World Anti-Doping Code – the document harmonising regulations regarding anti-doping in all sports and all countries.