Cardarine (GW501516)
Muscle Building · PPAR-delta agonist (not a SARM)
Tier B
What this is
One of very few performance compounds with explicit published cancer warnings from its originating pharma company. WADA issued an unusual notice specifically warning athletes about cancer risk beyond just the anti-doping violation. Commonly mislabeled as a SARM — mechanism is entirely different (PPAR-δ, not AR). Do not use.
Mechanism
PPAR-delta agonist; increases fatty acid oxidation, mitochondrial biogenesis, endurance; originally GSK developed for dyslipidemia; DISCONTINUED 2007 AFTER LONG-TERM RODENT STUDIES SHOWED TUMOR FORMATION IN MULTIPLE ORGANS
Dose & route
Typical illicit: 10-20 mg/day (DO NOT USE)
Citations
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23399566/
- https://www.wada-ama.org/en/news/2013-advisory-note-gw501516
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18997154/
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This is an independent synthesis of published research by a non-clinician. Scores are opinions supported by citations, not prescriptions. See the full disclaimer and methodology for how this score was produced and what it does and doesn't mean.