Unregulated Performance

Jump to a Section

• Research Corner

• HEMA Hot Take

• Coach's Corner

• Conditioning Move of the Week

• Upcoming Events

Research Corner

🧬 What are injectable peptides?

Peptides are short chains of amino acids that influence various biological processes. Some (like insulin) are legitimate and FDA-approved for specific medical conditions. But most peptides marketed to athletes—such as BPC-157, TB-500, GHK-Cu, or growth hormone fragments—are not currently approved for any medical use in humans.

Despite that, members of the public are buying these substances online and self-administering injections for:

• Faster soft tissue healing

• Injury recovery from tendinopathies or ligament sprains

• Fat loss and muscle gain

• Boosted recovery, sleep, or energy

In order to sidestep legal concerns, sketchy online stores advertise them as “research chemicals”, yet make them easily accessible to anyone who wants to add them to their online cart and check out. No prescription, no approval process.

🚨 So What’s the problem?

Here’s what the data - so far. For more reading on this, check out a great 2024 review from the Arthroscopy Journal:

• Wildly inconsistent dosing: Only 8% of peptide samples studied actually contained the amount listed on the label. Some contained zero active compound.

• Contamination and safety issues: Over half were mislabeled, and many contained impurities or additional ingredients not declared on packaging. So what are you actually injecting?

• No long-term safety data: These compounds have never undergone FDA trials for safety, efficacy, or side effect profiles in humans.

• High risk of immune system disruption, infection, and metabolic imbalance: You’re injecting who-knows-what into your body. Even if you manage to inject it safely (so you don’t get an infection), we have literally no idea yet what side effects may occur.

• Ethical and anti-doping risks: Peptides are banned under WADA guidelines, meaning collegiate or professional athletes who inject them may unknowingly fail drug tests and disqualify them from competitions or events.

HEMA Hot Take: Reflection Drives Progress

Fencers are thinkers. We read books that are hundreds of years old, spend hours dissecting the material, and argue about the minutae of interpretation. But we also fight through pain and injuries, often with no formal sports med or rehab support. Those of us in America also deal with the fear and uncertainty of medical costs and a visit to the doctor. That makes us vulnerable to shortcuts—especially if someone promises healing that gets us out of having to take time away from our sport or dedicate to rehab.

Injectable peptides are being marketed directly to non-professional athletes like HEMAists as a way to “get rid of pain” or “optimize recovery.” But the data doesn’t back up the hype. And the risks are not theoretical—they’re already happening.

Let me be blunt: If a company is telling you to inject something into your body that isn’t FDA-approved, with no oversight, no quality control, and no real safety data, that’s not science—it’s exploitation.

Don’t let your injury, your fatigue, or your competitive ambition push you toward a needle full of unknowns.

Coach’s Corner

One thing that makes HEMA unique is also one of its biggest challenges:
We have no central governing body.
No formal medical committees.
No standards for substances, recovery, or training expectations.

That means it’s up to us—coaches, club leaders, and veteran fencers—to set the tone. We don’t get to assume someone else is going to educate our fencers on what’s safe, what’s hype, and what’s harmful.

If we want this sport to grow in a sustainable, professional direction, we need to be the ones drawing the line:

• Saying no to unproven injectables

• Modeling smart recovery, periodized training, and seeking appropriate medical treatment when injured

• Encouraging long-term athlete development over quick fixes with pills and injections

  I know it’s hard to push back when someone says, “Well, it worked for me.”
  But science isn’t about anecdotes. And leadership isn’t about being popular—it’s about protecting the people who trust you.

  So here’s my challenge to every coach reading this:
  Set the bar higher.
  Be the voice in your club that champions evidence over ego.
  Because if we don’t take ourselves seriously, no one else ever will.

Health & Fitness Tips

As a former sports medicine surgeon, I’ve worked with olympic level athletes, college programs, community fencing clubs and now a global fencing community. Here’s what I’ve seen over and over:

There is no injectable substitute for:

• Appropriately scaled training

• Active recovery and rest (load management)

• Good sleep and good food

• Accountability and support from coaches who truly prioritize their athletes’ well being

What feels like a “shortcut” now can absolutely backfire - and in fact, be the thing that ends up keeping you out of the competitive scene for months.

If you’re dealing with a nagging injury or long recovery, talk to someone who can help build a sustainable plan—not someone trying to sell you a syringe.

Conditioning Move of the Week

Tennis Ball Reaction Drills

A classic - grab a tennis ball and work on hand eye coordination, lunge timing, and your reaction time. Check out three drills for this in my latest youtube short:

Training Opportunities