Updated October 2026: this list has been checked against Appendix A of the NFL Policy on Performance-Enhancing Substances (2024 edition; the appendix was last updated Aug. 8, 2022). Substances added or dropped since this page was first published in 2018 are reflected below.
The NFL banned substance list covers a wide range of drugs from steroids to supplements. Players test positive defense is often a variation of, "I didn't know it was in the supplement I took."
It sounds like a questionable defense at first, but see for yourself the vast number of substances players have to be aware of. Here's the this list of all the NFL's banned substances:
The following substances and methods are prohibited by the National Football League:
I. ANABOLIC AGENTS
A. ANABOLIC/ANDROGENIC STEROIDS
| Generic Name | Brand Names (Examples) |
|---|---|
| Androstenediol | Androstederm |
| Androstenedione | Androstan, Androtex |
| Androsterone | — |
| 1-Androstenediol | 1-AD |
| 1-Androstenedione | — |
| 5α-androst-2-ene-17-one | — |
| Bolandiol | — |
| Bolasterone | Myagen |
| Boldenone | Equipoise, Parenabol |
| Boldione | — |
| Calusterone | — |
| Clostebol | Turinabol, Steranabol |
| Danazol | Cyclomen, Danatrol |
| Dehydrochloromethyltestosterone^ | Oral-Turinabol |
| Dehydroepiandrosterone | DHEA, Prasterone |
| Desoxymethyltestosterone | DMT, Madol |
| Dihydrotestosterone | DHT, Stanolone |
| Drostanolone | Drolban |
| Epiandrosterone | — |
| 1-Epiandrosterone | — |
| Epi-dihydrotestosterone | — |
| Epitestosterone | — |
| Ethylestrenol | Maxibolin, Orabolin |
| Etiocholanolone | — |
| Fluoxymesterone | Halotestin |
| Formebolone | Esiclene, Hubernol |
| Furazabol | Miotolon |
| Gestrinone | Tridomose |
| 17-Hydroxypregnenedione | — |
| 17-Hydroxyprogesterone | — |
| Hydroxytestosterone | — |
| 4-Hydroxytestosterone | — |
| 7-Keto DHEA | — |
| Mestanolone | — |
| Methasterone | — |
| Mesterolone | Proviron |
| Methandienone | Danabol, Dianabol |
| Methandriol | Androdiol |
| Methandrostenolone | Dianabol |
| Methenolone | Primobolan |
| Methylclostebol | — |
| Methyldienolone | — |
| Methylstenbolone | — |
| Methyltestosterone | Metandren |
| Methyl-1-testosterone | M1T |
| 7α-Methyl-19-nortestosterone | MENT |
| Methylnortestosterone | — |
| Methyltrienolone | — |
| Mibolerone | Testorex |
| Nandrolone | — |
| 19-Norandrostenediol | 19-Diol |
| 19-Norandrostenedione | 19 Nora Force |
| 19-Norandrosterone | — |
| Norboletone | Genabol |
| Norclostebol | — |
| Norethandrolone | Nilevar |
| 19-Noretiocholanolone | — |
| Normethandrolone | — |
| Oxabolone | — |
| Oxandrolone | Anavar, Lonovar |
| 6-Oxoandrostenedione (4-androstene-3,6,17 trione) | 6-Oxo |
| Oxymesterone | Oranabol |
| Oxymetholone | Anadrol |
| Prostanozol | — |
| Quinbolone | Anabolicum Vister |
| Progesterone | — |
| Stanozolol | Stromba, Winstrol |
| Stenbolone | — |
| Testosterone | Andronate |
| 1-Testosterone | — |
| Tetrahydrogestrinone | THG |
| Trenbolone | Finaject |
and other substances with a similar chemical structure and similar biological effect(s)
B. PROTEIN AND PEPTIDE HORMONES
| Generic Name | Brand Names (Examples) |
|---|---|
| Human Growth Hormone (hGH) | Saizen, Humatrope, Nutropin AQ |
| Animal Growth Hormones | — |
| Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) | Novarel, Menotropins |
| Insulin Growth Factor (IGF-1) | — |
| Erythropoietin (EPO) | — |
| Growth Hormone Releasing Hormones (GHRH) | CJC 1293, CJC-1295, Sermorelin, Tesamorelin |
| Growth Hormone Secretagogues (GHS) | Ghrelin, Ghrelin mimetics (Anamorelin, Ipamorelin), Ibutamoren, Macimorelin, Tabimorelin |
| Growth Hormone Releasing Peptides (GHRP) | Alexamorelin, GHRP-6, Hexarelin, Pralmorelin (GHRP-2), GHRP-1, GHRP-3, GHRP-4, GHRP-5 |
| BPC-157 | — |
C. OTHER ANABOLIC AGENTS (INCLUDING BETA-2-AGONISTS)
| Generic Name | Brand Names (Examples) |
|---|---|
| Clenbuterol^ | — |
| Clomiphene | Clomid |
| Tibolone | — |
D. ANTI-ESTROGENIC AGENTS
| Generic Name | Brand Names (Examples) |
|---|---|
| Aminoglutethimide | Cytadren |
| Anastrozole | Arimidex |
| Androsta-3,5-diene-7,17-dione | Arimistane |
| Bazedoxifene | — |
| Cyclofenil | — |
| Exemestane | Aromastin |
| Fadrozole | Afema |
| Formestane | Lentarone |
| Fulvestrant | Faslodex |
| 17β-hydroxy-androst-1,4,6-trien-3-one | Androstatrienedione |
| Letrozole | Femara |
| Ospemifene | — |
| Raloxifene | Evista |
| Tamoxifen | — |
| Testolactone | Teslac |
| Toremifene | Acapodene |
| Vorazole | Rivizor |
E. SELECTIVE ANDROGEN RECEPTOR MODULATORS (SARMS)
| Developmental Code | Brand Names (Examples) |
|---|---|
| Enobosarm | Ostarine |
| GTx-007, S-4 | Andarine, S-4 |
| LGD-4033 | Ligandrol |
| RAD-140 | Testolone |
and other substances with a similar chemical structure and similar biological effect(s)
II. MASKING AGENTS
DIURETICS
| Generic Name | Brand Names (Examples) |
|---|---|
| Acetazolamide | Amilco |
| Amiloride | Midamor |
| Bendroflumethiazide | Aprinox |
| Benzthiazide | Aquatag |
| Bumetanide | Burine |
| Canrenone | — |
| Chlorothiazide | Diuril |
| Chlorthalidone | — |
| Cyclothiazide | Anhydron |
| Ethacrynic Acid | Edecrin |
| Flumethiazide | — |
| Furosemide | Lasix |
| Hydrochlorothiazide | Aprozide |
| Hydroflumethiazide | Leodrine |
| Indapamide | Lozol, Natrilix |
| Methyclothiazide | Aquatensen |
| Metolazone | Zaroxolyn |
| Polythiazide | Renese |
| Probenecid | Benemid |
| Quinethazone | Hydromox |
| Spironolactone | Aldactone |
| Triamterene | Jatropur, Dytac |
| Trichlormethiazide | Anatran |
and other substances with a similar chemical structure and similar biological effect(s)
III. STIMULANTS
| Generic Name | Brand Names (Examples) |
|---|---|
| Adrafinil | — |
| Adrenaline | — |
| Amfepramone | — |
| Amiphenazole | — |
| Amphetamine^ | Greenies, Speed, Adderall |
| Amphetaminil | — |
| Armodafinil | Nuvigil |
| Benfluorex | — |
| Benzphetamine | — |
| Benzylpiperazine | — |
| Bromantan | — |
| Cathine | — |
| Clobenzorex | — |
| Cropropamide | — |
| Crotetamide | — |
| Dimethylamphetamine | — |
| Ephedrine^ | Ma Huang, Chi Powder |
| Etamivan | — |
| Etilamphetamine | — |
| Etilefrine | — |
| Famprofazone | — |
| Fenbutrazate | — |
| Fencamfamin | — |
| Fencamine | — |
| Fenetylline | — |
| Fenfluramine | Phen-Fen, Redux |
| Fenproporex | — |
| Furfenorex | — |
| Heptaminol | — |
| Isometheptene | — |
| Levmetamfetamine | — |
| Lisdexamfetamine | Vyvanse |
| Meclofenoxate | — |
| Mefenorex | — |
| Mephentermine | — |
| Mesocarb | — |
| Methamphetamine^ | — |
| 2-amino-6-methylheptane | Octodrine |
| P-Methylamphetamine | — |
| Methylephedrine | — |
| Methylhexaneamine (Dimethylpentylamine) | — |
| 3-Methylhexan-2-amine (1,2-Dimethylpentylamine) | — |
| 4-Methylhexan-2-amine (1,3 Dimethylpentylamine) | — |
| 5-Methylhexan-2-amine (1,4 Dimethylpentylamine) | — |
| Methylphenidate | Ritalin, Daytrana, Metadate, Methylin |
| Modafinil | Provigil |
| Nikethamide | — |
| Norfenefrine | — |
| Norfenfluramine | — |
| Octopamine | — |
| Oxilofrine | — |
| Parahydroxyamphetamine | — |
| Pemoline | — |
| Pentetrazol | — |
| Phendimetrazine | — |
| Phenmetrazine | — |
| Phenpromethamine | — |
| Phentermine | Fastin, Adipex, Ionamin |
| 4-Phenylpiracetam | Carphedon |
| Prenylamine | — |
| Prolintane | — |
| Propylhexedrine | — |
| Pseudoephedrine^* | Sudafed, Actifed |
| Selegiline | — |
| Sibutramine | — |
| Strychnine | — |
| Tuaminoheptane | — |
^ Subject to minimum analytical thresholds as determined by the NFL and NFLPA.
* Except as properly prescribed by club medical personnel.
IV. DOPING METHODS
The policy also bans methods, not just substances. In summary, Appendix A prohibits:
- Introducing a prohibited substance into the body by any means, including through a supplement or other product that contains one.
- Blood doping, and artificially increasing the uptake, transport or delivery of oxygen (supplemental oxygen excepted).
- Substituting, diluting, adulterating or otherwise tampering with a specimen, including catheterization and urine substitution.
- Intravenous infusions, unless legitimately received, medically indicated and given under a licensed physician's supervision; any other use requires a therapeutic use exemption.
- Gene doping, including agents that alter gene expression, such as GW 1516 and AICAR.
Source: NFL Policy on Performance-Enhancing Substances, 2024, Appendix A (hosted by the NFLPA).