Sports and Entertainment

Angélique Richardson
July 2026

 Peptides seem to be everywhere at the moment – particularly in health, fitness, recovery and performance circles. A quick scroll through social media will reveal countless claims about their ability to support weight loss, muscle growth, injury recovery, sleep and cognitive performance. But for athletes, the issue is not simply whether a peptide is effective. The more important questions are:

  • Is it safe?
  • Is it properly regulated?
  • Is it permitted under anti-doping rules?

Not all peptides are the same. Some peptide-based medicines are legitimate prescribed treatments, but the wider market now includes injectable products and supplements promoted through clinics, wellness channels and social media, often with claims that go beyond the available evidence.

That creates two obvious risks for athletes.

First, there is a health and quality-control risk. Products sold online or through informal wellness routes may not be approved medicines, and there may be no guarantee that the product contains what it says it contains, or that it has been properly tested for quality, safety or efficacy.

Second, there is an anti-doping risk. A product does not become permitted simply because it is described as “recovery”, “wellness” or “injury support”. The WADA Prohibited List includes categories covering non-approved substances and certain peptide hormones, growth factors, related substances and mimetics.

Athletes also need to remember the principle of strict liability: they are responsible for substances found in their system, even where a product was recommended by someone else or taken with no intention to cheat.

A few practical points:

  • Know exactly what you are taking.
  • Do not rely on social media claims or informal recommendations.
  • Be particularly cautious with injectables.
  • Check the anti-doping status before use.
  • Remember your responsibilities. Athletes remain responsible for substances found in their system, regardless of how they got there.
  • Take specialist advice early, especially where a product is being suggested as part of a recovery, treatment or rehabilitation plan.

This is an area where athletes, clubs and support teams should pause before proceeding. A peptide may be available, popular or widely discussed online, but that does not mean it is safe, regulated or permitted in sport.

If you have any questions about peptide use, supplement risk or anti-doping obligations, please feel free to get in touch with Angelique Richardson, Senior Associate in Lawrence Stephens’ Sports and Entertainment team.