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HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) regulatory status

Current status of HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) in the United States: FDA approved. In sport: WADA prohibited. Details, sources, and the dated timeline follow.

By the PeptideAgent Editorial Team. Draft, pending editorial review.  Last verified

What is the current status of HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin)?

Regulatory: FDA approvedWADA: WADA prohibitedVerified: Verified Sep 23, 2026
FDA and compounding
hCG is FDA approved as Pregnyl and Novarel (urinary derived chorionic gonadotropin) and Ovidrel (recombinant choriogonadotropin alfa). On March 23, 2020 these products transitioned from drug approvals to biologics license applications under the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act. FDA states that biological products are not eligible for the 503A or 503B compounding exemptions, so compounded hCG, which had been common in testosterone and weight loss clinics, became unlawful at that point. FDA has separately stated that over the counter hCG diet products are illegal and that hCG is not approved for weight loss. It is not on the FDA Category 2 list because it is an approved biologic rather than a bulk drug substance nomination.
WADA
WADA prohibited
Access path
  1. Prescription from a urologist, endocrinologist, or reproductive specialist filled at a retail or specialty pharmacy as Pregnyl, Novarel, or Ovidrel.
  2. Telehealth testosterone clinics can prescribe brand hCG but cannot lawfully supply compounded hCG.
  3. hCG diet products sold without a prescription are illegal and do not contain effective hCG.

Full HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) page: evidence, dosing in the literature, and sources

How has the status of HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) changed over time?

  1. WADA

    WADA publishes the 2027 Prohibited List

    WADA published the 2027 Prohibited List on September 21, 2026, and it takes effect January 1, 2027. The S2 peptide hormone and growth factor classes are unchanged. BPC-157 is still named under S0, and MOTS-c is still named under S4.4 as an activator of AMP-activated protein kinase. WADA added a note that many peptides without approval for human use fall under S0 or another section, and that a peptide not named on the list may still be prohibited. GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide and tirzepatide are still not on the list.

    Source: WADA 2027 Prohibited List
  2. WADA

    WADA 2026 Prohibited List takes effect

    The 2026 WADA Prohibited List took effect on January 1, 2026 and continues to prohibit the S2 peptide hormone and growth factor classes (GHRH analogs, growth hormone secretagogues, GH fragments, IGF-1 and analogs, MGF, thymosin beta-4 and derivatives, hCG and GnRH-class releasing factors in males), myostatin inhibitors, insulin and the AMPK activator MOTS-c under S4, desmopressin under S5, and BPC-157 under S0. GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide and tirzepatide are not on the list.

    Source: WADA Prohibited List
  3. WADA

    WADA 2025 Prohibited List keeps peptide hormones and growth factors banned at all times

    The 2025 WADA Prohibited List took effect on January 1, 2025. Section S2 (peptide hormones, growth factors, related substances and mimetics) covers GHRH analogs such as CJC-1295, sermorelin, and tesamorelin, growth hormone secretagogues such as ipamorelin, GHRP-2, GHRP-6, hexarelin, and ibutamoren (MK-677), growth hormone fragments such as AOD-9604, growth factors including IGF-1 and its analogs, MGF, and thymosin beta-4 (TB-500), and chorionic gonadotropin and releasing factors such as gonadorelin and kisspeptin (prohibited in males). Myostatin inhibitors such as ACE-031 fall under S4, insulin under S4 metabolic modulators, desmopressin under S5, and BPC-157 remains an S0 non-approved substance.

    Source: WADA Prohibited List

Sources

Numbered citations in the answers above point here, followed by the regulatory sources on record for HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) and the source of each dated event.

  1. [1]FDA prescribing information for Pregnyl (chorionic gonadotropin) for injection, via DailyMedFDA, 2025
  2. [2]FDA prescribing information for Novarel (chorionic gonadotropin) for injection, via DailyMedFDA, 2025
  3. [3]FDA consumer update: Avoid dangerous HCG diet products (hCG is not approved for weight loss; over the counter hCG products are illegal)FDA, 2025
  4. [4]FDA: Compounding and the FDA, questions and answers (biological products are not eligible for the 503A or 503B compounding exemptions)FDA, 2026
  5. [5]WADA Prohibited List, section S2 peptide hormones, growth factors, related substances and mimeticsWADA, 2026
  6. [6]FDA prescribing information for Ovidrel (choriogonadotropin alfa injection), via DailyMedFDA, 2023
  7. [7]WADA 2027 Prohibited ListWADA, 2026