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An International Survey of Image and Performance Enhancing Drug Coaches’ Practices and Services

Ellie Willmott, Luke Cox Orcid Logo, Kim Krigg Orcid Logo, Steve Vigorous, Timothy Piatkowski Orcid Logo

Journal of Drug Issues

Swansea University Author: Luke Cox Orcid Logo

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DOI (Published version): 10.1177/00220426251411514

Abstract

Background: In the absence of governmental harm reduction support, the image and performance enhancing drug (IPED) community has developed its own strategies to mitigate drug-related risks, including the emergence of IPED coaches who provide guidance on drug use. Existing studies on IPED coaching ar...

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Published in: Journal of Drug Issues
ISSN: 0022-0426 1945-1369
Published: Sage Publications 2026
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URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa71145
first_indexed 2025-12-15T10:23:37Z
last_indexed 2026-01-23T06:51:59Z
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spelling 2026-01-22T14:25:27.6363486 v2 71145 2025-12-15 An International Survey of Image and Performance Enhancing Drug Coaches’ Practices and Services 9811ac84cad867903c385bf7086dfd2d 0000-0001-7625-4603 Luke Cox Luke Cox true false 2025-12-15 EAAS Background: In the absence of governmental harm reduction support, the image and performance enhancing drug (IPED) community has developed its own strategies to mitigate drug-related risks, including the emergence of IPED coaches who provide guidance on drug use. Existing studies on IPED coaching are predominantly qualitative, with small, Western-based samples. Methods: This study employed a quantitative, cross-sectional survey to explore the lived experiences of forty-one IPED coaches from diverse global contexts, to examine IPED consumption, related harms, and the scope of coaching services they offer. Results: Coaches reported use of a wide range of injectable and oral steroids, alongside ancillary substances. Coaching practices varied considerably, with client numbers ranging from 0 to over 70. Service provision included bloodwork advice, analysis, and in some cases, drug supply. Conclusion: Findings demonstrate substantial heterogeneity in IPED coaching practices, providing a foundation for the development of a typology that distinguishes informed, evidence-aligned guidance from misinformed or potentially harmful practices within the community. Journal Article Journal of Drug Issues 0 Sage Publications 0022-0426 1945-1369 21 1 2026 2026-01-21 10.1177/00220426251411514 COLLEGE NANME Engineering and Applied Sciences School COLLEGE CODE EAAS Swansea University SU Library paid the OA fee (TA Institutional Deal) Swansea University 2026-01-22T14:25:27.6363486 2025-12-15T10:12:22.5498484 Faculty of Science and Engineering School of Engineering and Applied Sciences - Sport and Exercise Sciences Ellie Willmott 1 Luke Cox 0000-0001-7625-4603 2 Kim Krigg 0009-0002-7045-2259 3 Steve Vigorous 4 Timothy Piatkowski 0000-0002-6177-0266 5 71145__36087__4b3ab59007964af6aab363ab8cc68cbf.pdf 71145.VoR.pdf 2026-01-22T14:22:56.1562287 Output 590576 application/pdf Version of Record true © The Author(s) 2026. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License. true eng https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
title An International Survey of Image and Performance Enhancing Drug Coaches’ Practices and Services
spellingShingle An International Survey of Image and Performance Enhancing Drug Coaches’ Practices and Services
Luke Cox
title_short An International Survey of Image and Performance Enhancing Drug Coaches’ Practices and Services
title_full An International Survey of Image and Performance Enhancing Drug Coaches’ Practices and Services
title_fullStr An International Survey of Image and Performance Enhancing Drug Coaches’ Practices and Services
title_full_unstemmed An International Survey of Image and Performance Enhancing Drug Coaches’ Practices and Services
title_sort An International Survey of Image and Performance Enhancing Drug Coaches’ Practices and Services
author_id_str_mv 9811ac84cad867903c385bf7086dfd2d
author_id_fullname_str_mv 9811ac84cad867903c385bf7086dfd2d_***_Luke Cox
author Luke Cox
author2 Ellie Willmott
Luke Cox
Kim Krigg
Steve Vigorous
Timothy Piatkowski
format Journal article
container_title Journal of Drug Issues
container_volume 0
publishDate 2026
institution Swansea University
issn 0022-0426
1945-1369
doi_str_mv 10.1177/00220426251411514
publisher Sage Publications
college_str Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchytype
hierarchy_top_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
department_str School of Engineering and Applied Sciences - Sport and Exercise Sciences{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Science and Engineering{{{_:::_}}}School of Engineering and Applied Sciences - Sport and Exercise Sciences
document_store_str 1
active_str 0
description Background: In the absence of governmental harm reduction support, the image and performance enhancing drug (IPED) community has developed its own strategies to mitigate drug-related risks, including the emergence of IPED coaches who provide guidance on drug use. Existing studies on IPED coaching are predominantly qualitative, with small, Western-based samples. Methods: This study employed a quantitative, cross-sectional survey to explore the lived experiences of forty-one IPED coaches from diverse global contexts, to examine IPED consumption, related harms, and the scope of coaching services they offer. Results: Coaches reported use of a wide range of injectable and oral steroids, alongside ancillary substances. Coaching practices varied considerably, with client numbers ranging from 0 to over 70. Service provision included bloodwork advice, analysis, and in some cases, drug supply. Conclusion: Findings demonstrate substantial heterogeneity in IPED coaching practices, providing a foundation for the development of a typology that distinguishes informed, evidence-aligned guidance from misinformed or potentially harmful practices within the community.
published_date 2026-01-21T05:34:41Z
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score 11.095902

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