Best Peptides for Athletic Performance: Ranked by Evidence (2026)
Peptides marketed for performance are almost all unapproved and prohibited by WADA, including GH secretagogues, BPC-157, TB-500 and IGF-1 analogs. The ordering below is by strength of evidence and regulatory status, not by brand.
The ranking
| Compound | FDA status | Evidence level | PubMed papers | Tagged trials |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Somatropin | FDA-approved | FDA-approved product | 420 | 72 |
| Tesamorelin | FDA-approved | FDA-approved product | 95 | 23 |
| Sermorelin | Approved, discontinued | Previously approved | 25 | 0 |
| ACE-031 | Investigational (development stopped) | Clinical trials / approved abroad | 12 | 2 |
| GHRH | Natural hormone (analogs approved) | Preclinical or minimal | 2,508 | 181 |
| Follistatin-315 | Not approved (research only) | Preclinical or minimal | 2,974 | 90 |
| Follistatin | Not approved (research only) | Preclinical or minimal | 2,974 | 90 |
| Hexarelin | Not approved (research only) | Preclinical or minimal | 291 | 58 |
| GHRP-6 | Not approved (research only) | Preclinical or minimal | 639 | 42 |
| AICAR | Not approved (research only) | Preclinical or minimal | 2,433 | 18 |
| MGF | Not approved (research only) | Preclinical or minimal | 194 | 6 |
| MOTS-c | Not approved (research only) | Preclinical or minimal | 259 | 5 |
| TB-500 | Not approved (research only) | Preclinical or minimal | 602 | 3 |
| MK-677 | Not approved (research only) | Preclinical or minimal | 30 | 3 |
| Ipamorelin | Not approved (research only) | Preclinical or minimal | 51 | 2 |
| CJC-1295 | Not approved (research only) | Preclinical or minimal | 35 | 2 |
| GHK-Cu | Not approved (research only) | Preclinical or minimal | 83 | 1 |
| BPC-157 | Not approved (research only) | Preclinical or minimal | 222 | 0 |
| Pentadecapeptide BPC-157 | Not approved (research only) | Preclinical or minimal | 173 | 0 |
| GHRP-2 | Not approved (research only) | Preclinical or minimal | 15 | 0 |
| SLU-PP-332 | Not approved (research only) | Preclinical or minimal | 10 | 0 |
| Follistatin-344 | Not approved (research only) | Preclinical or minimal | 5 | 0 |
| HGH fragment 176-191 | Not approved (research only) | Preclinical or minimal | 1 | 0 |
| PEG-MGF | Not approved (research only) | Preclinical or minimal | 1 | 0 |
| IGF-1 LR3 | Not approved (research only) | Preclinical or minimal | — | — |
| KPV | Not approved (research only) | Preclinical or minimal | — | — |
| Ac-KPV-NH2 | Not approved (research only) | Preclinical or minimal | — | — |
| B7-33 | Not approved (research only) | Preclinical or minimal | — | — |
Why each of the top 6 ranks where it does
1. Somatropin
FDA-approved product: FDA-approved; NORDITROPIN, NORDITROPIN FLEXPRO, NORDITROPIN NORDIFLEX. PubMed lists 420 records (72 tagged as clinical trials) and ClinicalTrials.gov 818 registered studies. A recent trial report: Efficacy and Safety of Weekly Somatrogon vs Daily Somatropin in Children With Growth Hormone Deficiency: A Phase 3 Study. (J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2022). Registered study: NCT07359625 (na), recruiting.
2. Tesamorelin
FDA-approved product: FDA-approved; EGRIFTA. PubMed lists 95 records (23 tagged as clinical trials) and ClinicalTrials.gov 24 registered studies. A recent review: Therapeutic Peptides in Orthopaedics: Applications, Challenges, and Future Directions. (J Am Acad Orthop Surg Glob Res Rev, 2026). Registered study: NCT03150511 (phase2), recruiting.
3. Sermorelin
Previously approved: Approved, discontinued. PubMed lists 25 records (0 tagged as clinical trials) and ClinicalTrials.gov 27 registered studies. A recent review: Therapeutic Peptides in Orthopaedics: Applications, Challenges, and Future Directions. (J Am Acad Orthop Surg Glob Res Rev, 2026). Registered study: NCT02271282 (phase1), completed.
4. ACE-031
Clinical trials / approved abroad: Investigational (development stopped). PubMed lists 12 records (2 tagged as clinical trials) and ClinicalTrials.gov 4 registered studies. A recent trial report: Myostatin inhibitor ACE-031 treatment of ambulatory boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy: Results of a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. (Muscle Nerve, 2017). Registered study: NCT01239758 (phase2), terminated.
5. GHRH
Preclinical or minimal: Natural hormone (analogs approved). PubMed lists 2,508 records (181 tagged as clinical trials) and ClinicalTrials.gov 95 registered studies. A recent review: Growth hormone-releasing hormone and cancer. (Rev Endocr Metab Disord, 2025). Registered study: NCT03096847 (phase3), completed.
6. Follistatin-315
Preclinical or minimal: Not approved (research only). PubMed lists 2,974 records (90 tagged as clinical trials) and ClinicalTrials.gov 15 registered studies. A recent review: Follistatin and follistatin-like 3 in metabolic disorders. (Prostaglandins Other Lipid Mediat, 2023). Registered study: NCT07285629 (early phase1), completed.
With an FDA-approved product
- Somatropin — FDA-approved; NORDITROPIN, NORDITROPIN FLEXPRO, NORDITROPIN NORDIFLEX
- Tesamorelin — FDA-approved; EGRIFTA
Where to go next
Overview of the category: Athletic Performance peptide therapy. Prescribers: clinic directory. Seller facts and prices: vendor directory and price tracker.
Frequently asked questions
Which athletic performance peptides are FDA-approved?
Somatropin, Tesamorelin have an FDA-approved product, each for a specific labeled indication — not necessarily for athletic performance in general.
How is this list ordered?
By regulatory status first (FDA-approved, previously approved, in clinical trials or approved abroad, preclinical), then by the number of PubMed-indexed clinical-trial papers. It ranks evidence, not sellers, and no company can pay to change the order.
Can I buy these online?
FDA-approved drugs require a prescription. Products sold as "research peptides" are labeled not for human use and are not FDA-approved; see each compound page for its status and our vendor directory for documented facts about sellers.