Serena Williams has long been vocal about using a weight-loss drug that is deemed controversial. While the returning legend insists on focusing on the positives of this drug, former tennis star Greg Rusedski suspects that the medication might face scrutiny from WADA and ultimately get banned.
Williams has been an outspoken supporter of Zepbound, a drug that is part of the group called GLP-1 medications, which were originally produced for diabetic treatment but are now popular as weight-loss drugs. The GLP-1 drugs help send signals to the brain that tell the body that it has had enough food. It therefore helps in reducing appetite, which ultimately contributes to weight loss.
Last year, the 23-time Grand Slam champion partnered with a telehealth service called Ro, which provides access to these medications and also counts Williams’ husband, Alexis Ohanian, as a board member. On several occasions, Williams has endorsed the GLP-1 drug and claimed that its usage has helped her shed an enormous amount of weight.
As Williams continues to support GLP-1 usage, not everyone within the sports world is convinced that the drug has earned its rightful place in professional sports. Ex-British No. 1 Rusedski has shared his thoughts on the matter, predicting that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) will consider banning the drug, while also cutting Williams some slack on the issue.
During the latest episode of Off Court With Greg Rusedski, the Brit said:
“We’ve talked about the weight loss drugs. Right now, they are not banned; they are legal to take. She’s not breaking anything, but WADA is looking into this because they are thinking, ‘This might be a slight unfair advantage.'”
He further said:
“If you can take a pill, get your body weight down to a certain extent, and some players might use it to thin out very quickly because they want to get their weight ratio. I think it will be banned in time, but at the moment Serena is doing absolutely nothing wrong.”
As per WADA’s 2026 monitoring program, the markers of semaglutide and tirzepatide, the active ingredients found in GLP-1 brands such as Ozempic and Zepbound, are being monitored both in and out of competition. Despite not being on the organization’s list of prohibited substances, WADA is keeping an eye on these drugs and is actively collecting data to determine their long-term relevance.
Serena Williams Talks About The Benefits Of GLP-1
Williams has been an ambassador of the GLP-1 drug ever since using it first after her pro tennis career came to an end back in 2022. During an interview, Williams spoke about the benefits of the medication and revealed how it helped her feel lighter and move better after having tried other medications, which failed to bring great results:
“My body was missing something particular after having my child, and to be slightly older as a woman, there are lots of things that happen to your body and I think my body was just needing a GLP-1 to just get back to where I needed to be and I’ve never felt better, I’ve felt lighter, happier, and just healthier, and I can move more and can train more.”
Williams has endorsed the drug frequently on her social media and continues to appear occasionally in their promotional campaigns.
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