The tennis world is waiting with bated breath for Serena Williams to reveal which tournament she will make her professional comeback in. However, some are also wondering whether the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) will reprimand the legendary American for using Ro’s GLP-1, a weight loss drug.
According to journalist Jon Wertheim, the answer is no. He revealed that weight loss drugs are not on WADA’s banned substances list.
In his column for Sports Illustrated, Wertheim asserted that Williams will have no trouble due to her usage of GLP-1, as she gears up for a comeback. He wrote:
“You could argue that a drug that enables you to lose a substantial percentage of your body weight is a clear performance enhancer. I discussed this with the ITIA in Australia, and per WADA, weight loss drugs are currently on the monitor list. Which is to say, anti-doping authorities are studying them, but as of today, they are not on the banned list.”
“So, for all the potential complications and potholes, it’s important to know that Williams’s comeback will not be impeded by her GLP-1 usage,” he added.
Last August, Serena Williams revealed losing 31 lbs in eight months because of GLP-1, for which the former World No. 1 received a lot of flak. Her husband, Alexis Ohanian, is an investor in the telehealth company, Ro.
Jon Wertheim Speculates Serena Williams’ Comeback Goals
Earlier this week, journalist Ben Rothenberg reminded everyone that February 22 is the day that Serena Williams officially becomes eligible to play on the tour and at Grand Slam tournaments.
In August 2025, her name was found in the ITIA’s International Registered Testing Pool (IRTP). The ITIA rules state that a player must be available for at least six months of testing before they are allowed to participate in a tournament. This six-month period ends on February 22.
In the same column, Jon Wertheim tried to guess what must be on the 23-time Major champion’s mind regarding her comeback, writing:
“Comeback is a sexy word. But it takes many forms. Does comeback mean Williams plays doubles, perhaps with her sister, with eyes on Wimbledon and/or the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics? Does comeback mean she puts herself back on the whereabouts list so she can play the mixed event at the U.S. Open?”
“Does comeback mean she pulls a Lindsey Vonn and gears up for one last hoorah (i.e. Wimbledon 2026)? Williams whisperers are quick to note that her last match—a defeat to Harmony Tan, unworthy of a seven-time champion—still sticks in her craw. Or does she go full-bore and try to resume a legitimate singles career? My guess is some version of the first three,” he added.
Williams last played at the 2022 US Open, losing to Ajla Tomljanović in the third round. In the last six months, she has dodged the question about her comeback.
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