A beloved Aussie stuntman and actor’s death was caused by a popular unapproved peptide, a Victorian coroner has found, paving the way for a crackdown on their use.
Melbourne martial artist Richard Norton, who had worked with the likes of Margot Robbie, Jackie Chan and Chuck Norris, died in March 2025 after a prescribed, but unapproved peptide triggered an anaphylactic reaction.
The death of the 75-year-old — who was taking the injectables for “muscle growth and healing” — sent shockwaves through the entertainment and martial arts world.
He was a bodyguard for the Rolling Stones, James Taylor, David Bowie and Fleetwood Mac; trained actors including Margot Robbie, Scarlett Johansson, Liam Neeson and Charlize Theron; and worked closely on films with Chuck Norris, the Hollywood Reporter and an archive of his old website stated.
The coronial investigation into his death comes amid growing concern about unapproved performance and image-enhancing peptides and could see the popular muscle-growth injectable used by Norton, CJC1295 & Ipamorelin, criminalised.
In findings handed down on Wednesday, Victorian Coroner David Ryan questioned the use of various schemes – set up to allow patients with little other treatment options to access drugs yet to be approved in Australia – to legally import certain peptides.
He recommended the Therapeutic Goods Administration consider further restrictions on CJC1295 & Ipamorelin, such as reclassifying it as a schedule 10 poison – a major move which would effectively criminalise their supply.
“I am not satisfied that it is appropriate for them to be available to be prescribed by medical practitioners,” the coroner found.
“It is not clear to me how their safe use can be clinically indicated given the acknowledged uncertainties as to their therapeutic benefit and their risks (as yet not fully known) to the safety of patients.”
The TGA has been informed of at least three other anaphylaxis cases linked to CJC1295 & Ipamorelin.
Coronial documents show Norton was prescribed the peptide on March 11 by Dr Jerzy Muchnicki, with the drug then delivered to him by a compounding pharmacy in Queensland.
Norton told Dr Muchnicki he was responding well but, in a call with a nurse on March 28, he said he was injecting double the dose and asked for a new script to cover a dropped vial.
Dr Muchnicki issued the script without speaking to Norton, alongside ones for two other unapproved peptides — BPC157 & Thymosin B4 and TB-500.
Norton collapsed at home that night shortly after injecting and despite the efforts of emergency services and his wife Judy Norton, who performed CPR on him, died at The Alfred two days later.
The coroner heard an expert report into Dr Muchnicki’s conduct found “there is insufficient evidence that CJC1295/Ipamorelin is safe, effective or beneficial for human use” but the doctor’s clinical care was “at a standard reasonably expected of him”.
That report, commissioned by the doctor’s watchdog AHPRA, noted Norton had been prescribed peptides previously, was informed of their experimental nature and risks including anaphylaxis and gave written informed consent.
It did find Dr Muchnicki did not meet standards relating to assessing risks for issuing replacement scripts and record keeping, but the doctor watchdog ruled “regulatory action” beyond education was not warranted.
The coroner heard the doctor had accepted accountability for his actions, expressed sorrow for the impact on Norton and his family, and no longer prescribes peptides.
A TGA spokesman told the Herald Sun they will consider the coroner’s findings and said health professionals were responsible for their independent clinical decisions.
“The TGA has repeatedly warned consumers about the risks of unapproved peptides,” he said.
“We are continuing to assess the risks associated with these products and considering whether further regulatory or other measures may be appropriate.”
Peptides, small proteins that can trigger certain processes in the body, have exploded in popularity on social media, where misleading posts make unproven claims about their appearance and bodybuilding benefits.