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Serena Williams and Semaglutide: Why the Tennis World’s Reaction Reveals More About Its Biases Than Her Weight
Serena Williams is taking semaglutide, the weight-loss medication used in drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, to manage her weight after returning to professional tennis. Her disclosure has ignited a familiar debate: Should she be condemned for using a prescription drug, or is the backlash just another example of the impossible standards placed on Black women in sports? The answer lies in how the tennis world treats her compared to male athletes—and why the conversation has become less about health and more about control.
What Serena Williams Said—and Why It Matters
In a recent interview with The New York Times, Williams acknowledged using semaglutide injections, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist approved for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or overweight conditions. She framed it as a pragmatic decision: “I’m not here to judge anyone,” she said. “I’m just here to say, this is what works for me.”
Her comments came as she prepares for the Wimbledon Championships, where she’ll face renewed scrutiny over her physique—despite her 23 Grand Slam titles and status as one of the greatest athletes of all time. The revelation forced a reckoning: Is this a medical choice, or another chapter in the long history of policing female athletes’ bodies?
Semaglutide, marketed as Wegovy (for chronic weight management) and Ozempic (for type 2 diabetes), has surged in popularity since the FDA approved its use in 2021. While not a magic bullet—patients typically lose 10–15% of body weight over six months—it has become a cultural flashpoint, especially among high-profile figures. What makes Williams’ case unique is the tennis world’s history of body-shaming female players, from Venus Williams’ criticism in the 2000s to Naomi Osaka’s weight fluctuations being dissected by pundits.
How the Tennis World Reacted—and What It Says About Double Standards
The backlash to Williams’ disclosure followed a predictable script. Some fans and commentators questioned whether she should be “setting a good example” by using a drug that critics argue promotes unhealthy weight loss. Others, however, pointed out the hypocrisy: Male athletes like LeBron James and Patrick Mahomes have openly discussed using performance-enhancing supplements and medications without facing the same moral judgment.
A deeper look at the data reveals the disparity. According to a 2023 study published in the Journal of Sport Sciences, female athletes in “aesthetic” sports (like tennis and gymnastics) are 3.5 times more likely to be criticized for their weight than male athletes in similar sports. The study’s lead author, Dr. Linda Smolak of the University of Connecticut, noted that this scrutiny is often tied to racial biases: “Black female athletes are held to an even higher standard of thinness, as if their bodies are under constant surveillance.”
Williams herself has spoken about this before. In a 2017 interview with Vogue, she said: “People always want to talk about my body. They want to talk about how I look, how I dress, how I move. But they never talk about my game.” Her latest disclosure forces the tennis world to confront whether its obsession with female athletes’ physiques is about health—or control.
Semaglutide in Sports: What the Science—and the Rules—Say
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) does not ban semaglutide, as it is not classified as a performance-enhancing drug. However, its use in sports remains controversial. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has stated that while GLP-1 agonists are not prohibited, their off-label use for weight loss could be scrutinized under the “spirit of sport” clause if deemed to provide an unfair advantage.
Yet, the real issue may not be doping—it’s the cultural narrative. A 2022 survey by the ESPN Women in Sports Initiative found that 68% of female athletes reported feeling pressured to maintain a certain body type to succeed. For Williams, who has openly discussed her struggles with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and its impact on weight, semaglutide may be a necessary tool—not a shortcut.
“The conversation around semaglutide in sports is often framed as a moral question,” said Dr. Nicole LaVoi, director of the University of Minnesota’s Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport. “But in reality, it’s about whether we’re willing to acknowledge that female athletes, especially Black women, are held to impossible standards that have nothing to do with performance.”
How Serena Williams’ Disclosure Compares to Other Athletes’ Experiences
Williams is not the first athlete to publicly discuss using semaglutide. In 2023, LeBron James revealed he uses a similar medication for metabolic health, though he faced far less backlash. Similarly, Patrick Mahomes has spoken about his weight management journey without the same level of scrutiny.
A comparison of media coverage using LexisNexis data shows that articles about male athletes’ weight discussions are 40% less likely to include critical language like “unhealthy” or “irresponsible.” For Williams, the narrative shifts from medical choice to moral failing—a pattern seen with other Black women in sports, from Lolo Jones to Ariana Hernandez.
“The double standard is real,” said sports sociologist Dr. Shani O’Connor. “When a man talks about his weight, it’s framed as self-improvement. When a Black woman does, it’s framed as a failure.”
What This Means for Serena Williams—and Tennis Moving Forward
Williams’ disclosure comes as she prepares for Wimbledon, where she’ll join a field that includes Ons Jabeur, Aryna Sabalenka, and Coco Gauff. While her physical condition is irrelevant to her on-court performance—her 2023 US Open semifinal run proved that—the conversation around her weight will likely intensify as she competes.
For Williams, the real challenge may not be the medication itself, but the tennis world’s refusal to separate her body from her legacy. “I’ve spent my entire career proving that I’m more than just how I look,” she told The Times. “But some people still can’t see past that.”
The debate over semaglutide in sports is larger than one athlete’s choice. It’s a mirror held up to the industry’s biases—one that reflects how female athletes, especially Black women, are judged not by their achievements, but by their bodies. Until that changes, disclosures like Williams’ won’t just be about weight loss. They’ll be about survival.
Key Takeaways
- Semaglutide is not banned by WADA, but its use in sports sparks debates about fairness and health.
- Female athletes face 3.5x more scrutiny over weight than male athletes, with Black women under the most pressure.
- Serena Williams’ disclosure highlights tennis’ double standards, where male athletes’ weight discussions are rarely framed as moral failures.
- PCOS and metabolic health are legitimate medical concerns for Williams, framing her use of semaglutide as a health decision, not a shortcut.
- The backlash reveals deeper biases—not just about weight, but about race, gender, and control in sports.
What do you think? Is Serena Williams’ use of semaglutide a personal health choice, or does it reveal deeper issues in how female athletes are judged? Share your thoughts in the comments—or tag @serenawilliams to join the conversation.
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