Doped on Endorsements

1 day ago

3 min read

By Shane Gil Sep. 23, 2026

When tennis legend Serena Williams became a celebrity ambassador for telehealth company Ro, she was not promoting shoes or sports drinks. She was promoting access to GLP-1 medications, prescription drugs used to treat specific medical conditions. Professional athletes are powerful advertisers because fans already associate them with typical successful athlete traits, including discipline, health and performance. That influence raises ethical concerns when a product being promoted is a prescription drug. Thus, they should face strict limits on endorsing prescription medications because celebrity marketing can create misleading impressions on products and negatively impact consumers.

GLP-1 medications are prescription drugs used to treat conditions including type 2 diabetes and obesity, per the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Williams claimed that it was an essential health tool for her after she lost 31 pounds following her pregnancy, per People magazine. Ultimately, they are medical treatments, not ordinary wellness supplements, and their risks depend on the patient. In recent years, usage rates have skyrocketed as these drugs became more popular as weight-loss treatments.

GLP-1s are hardly the only example of pharmaceutical advertising involving sports celebrities. According to reporting from PR Newswire and Pharmaphorum, NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal partnered with Eli Lilly to promote another drug called Zepbound. Citeline reports that Olympic champion gymnast Laurie Hernandez appeared in national TV commercials for the prescription diabetes medication Trulicity.

The core issue is the enormous influence that professional athletes have on fans. When an athlete promotes a prescription medication, the celebrity’s credibility can become part of the product’s appeal. This is different from selling shoes or sports drinks because prescription drugs are intended for specific patients under professional medical guidance. These campaigns can encourage dangerous self-diagnosis, including the use of steroids, opioids or stimulants, because an advertisement can make medical decisions seem far too simple.

Broad endorsements reach millions of people, regardless of their individual health needs. Clinical guidance from UCLA Health indicates that for non-diabetic or non-obese individuals taking GLP-1s without medical necessity may experience side effects that can include severe nausea, gastrointestinal complications and rapid loss of muscle.

"I wouldn't want the company to advertise it based on a famous athlete; the company should just explain what it does. It sends a harmful message because using medicine does not always mean it is beneficial, especially if the usage is by self-diagnosis," Sophomore Ian Qiao said.

Athlete-led endorsements can shift the focus away from proven medical evidence towards persuasion based on trends and fame, potentially misleading fans to view clinical drugs as important, must-have items for lifestyle. Furthermore, advertising directly to fans can contribute to the perception that personal doctor’s advice is unnecessary. What is appropriate for a professional athlete with access to top-tier medical monitoring could be unnecessary or severe for the average consumer. Restricting prescription-drug endorsements would not mean eliminating athlete sponsorships. Athletes can promote sportswear, technology, food and other consumer products without turning a prescription treatment into a lifestyle brand. Buying a pair of shoes endorsed by an athlete is fundamentally different from taking a potent clinical medication.

"Pro athletes should not be allowed to advertise prescription drugs to their fans. Serena Williams does not know her audience's condition—if an unprescribed fan took the drug because of her advertisement, they could get dangerously ill," Freshman Quincy Catadel said.

Professional athletes have built brands around discipline, health and performance, but that influence brings greater responsibility when advertising to their fanbases. Athletes, like everyone else, may have legitimate medical needs, but turning those treatments into celebrity products should not be allowed. Sports organizations should enforce limits on athlete endorsements of prescription medications.

About the Contributors

Shane Gil

Staff Writer

Shane Gil is a freshman at Leland High School and a Staff Writer, plays basketball watches tv shows and movies. When not sleeping he can be found hiking with friends, hanging out with friends, or practicing for track and field.