world
Athlete Publicizes GLP-1 Medication Use Ahead of Tennis Return
A 44-year-old professional tennis player returned to competition after nearly four years away and disclosed use of a GLP-1 weight-loss drug. The player won an opening doubles match at one tournament but lost the next. Sports officials are monitoring whether such medications affect performance.
thenation.comAudio version
Tap play to generate a narrated version.
Developing·Limited corroboration so far. This page will refresh as more sources emerge.
A 44-year-old tennis player returned to competition last week after nearly four years away and disclosed prior use of a GLP-1 medication to lose 34 pounds. The player and a 19-year-old partner defeated the third-seeded team in their opening match at the Queen’s Club tournament. The same player lost the first doubles match at the Berlin Open this week.
The player serves as a paid spokesperson for a telehealth company that markets GLP-1 medications. A publicist declined to confirm whether the player continues to take tirzepatide. The World Anti-Doping Agency has stated it is monitoring potential misuse of GLP-1 drugs but currently permits athletes to take them. No studies have tested these medications in elite athletes.
Experts differ on whether GLP-1 medications confer athletic advantages. One pharmaceutical consultant who has advised WADA said the substances would likely provide little benefit to athletes. GLP-1 drugs can reduce lean body mass by 25 to 35 percent, according to a March meta-analysis.
Athletes using the medications would need to adjust diet and training to preserve muscle. WADA is funding a trial examining how semaglutide affects runners’ body composition and performance. Pharmaceutical companies are also testing new weight-loss drugs and combinations intended to maintain strength.
