Rankings / Immune & Inflammation
Systemic glucocorticoids (prednisone / dexamethasone / triamcinolone)
Immune & Inflammation · Glucocorticoid / anti-inflammatory steroid
Tier C-
What this is
WADA coverage: beclometasone, betamethasone, budesonide, ciclesonide, cortisone, deflazacort, dexamethasone, flunisolide, fluocortolone, fluticasone, hydrocortisone, methylprednisolone, mometasone, prednisolone, prednisone and triamcinolone acetonide. Local permitted-route rules are route/time dependent; this row concerns systemic enhancement/recovery use.
Mechanism
Systemic glucocorticoids suppress inflammation and can acutely change pain, energy and recovery perception; chronic or repeated use carries major metabolic and immune costs.
Dose & route
Clinical dosing varies by drug/indication; no performance dose
Citations
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK305894/
- https://www.wada-ama.org/en/resources/scientific-research/potential-direct-and-indirect-ergogenic-effects-glucocorticoids
- https://www.wada-ama.org/en/resources/2026-prohibited-list
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This is an independent synthesis of published research by a non-clinician. Scores are opinions supported by citations, not prescriptions. See the full disclaimer and methodology for how this score was produced and what it does and doesn't mean.