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.

Peptides entered the spotlight as performance enhancers due to their ability to stimulate natural processes in the body, such as growth hormone release, without the severe side effects associated with anabolic steroids. However, like all PEDs, the use of peptides in sports is subject to ethical debates, regulatory scrutiny, and the ongoing efforts of organizations like WADA to maintain fair competition.

Today, peptides are recognized for their potential in treating a wide range of conditions, from metabolic disorders to chronic diseases, due to their specificity and reduced side effects compared to other therapeutic agents. Their use as PEDs reflects the broader challenges facing sports organizations and regulatory bodies in ensuring a level playing field, as athletes seek new ways to enhance performance beyond traditional training and nutrition.

Note: Human Growth Hormone (HGH) is a peptide hormone, and it became available for medical use in a significant way during the 1960s. HGH, also known as somatotropin, is produced by the pituitary gland and plays a crucial role in growth, body composition, cell repair, and metabolism. It’s composed of a single chain of 191 amino acids, making it a relatively large peptide.

Before the development of recombinant DNA technology, HGH was extracted from the pituitary glands of cadavers for medical use. However, this source of HGH was limited and carried risks, such as the transmission of rare and fatal brain diseases, most notably Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD).

The introduction of recombinant HGH occurred in the mid1980s. In 1985, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first recombinant HGH brand, Somatrem, for use in treating growth hormone deficiency in children and adults, significantly improving the safety and availability of HGH treatment. This recombinant technology allowed for the production of HGH in bacteria, specifically E. coli, making it safer and more accessible for patients who needed it. The development of recombinant HGH was a landmark achievement in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, highlighting the capabilities of genetic engineering to produce complex and medically valuable proteins.