The history of peptides as both medications and performanceenhancing drugs (PEDs) is intertwined with the broader evolution of drug use in sports and medicine. Peptides, consisting of short chains of amino acids, play various roles in the human body, from acting as hormones to facilitating biochemical functions crucial for health and performance.
Note: The first peptide made available for prescription is insulin, a critical peptide hormone for the regulation of blood glucose levels. Insulin was discovered by Frederick Banting and Charles Best in 1921, and it was first used to treat a diabetic patient in 1922.
The journey of peptides from scientific discovery to their application in medicine and sports has been marked by significant milestones. While specific dates and figures for the “first” peptide are hard to pinpoint due to the vast array of naturally occurring peptides and their roles in biology, the scientific exploration into synthetic peptides and their medicinal uses has accelerated over the last few decades. The development of peptide drugs involves rigorous research, clinical trials, and regulatory approval processes to ensure their safety and efficacy for medical use.
In sports, the use of peptides as performance-enhancing drugs gained prominence alongside the rise of anabolic steroids and other PEDs. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) added anabolic steroids to its list of banned substances in 1975, following the development of reliable tests for these drugs. This move marked a significant effort to combat doping in sports. The first comprehensive drug testing of Olympic athletes occurred in 1972, focusing on narcotics and stimulants, laying the groundwork for future doping control efforts.
By the 1980s, the modern age of drug testing began, notably at the 1983 Pan American Games, where surprise steroid testing led to a significant number of athletes withdrawing from the competition. This event underscored the growing concern over PED use in sports and the evolving strategies for detection.
