Former Olympian Now Studies Cannabis After Career Under Ban

From Banned Substance to Research Focus

Zeiger's transition from athlete to cannabis researcher tracks the plant's journey from Schedule I to Schedule III. As a competitor, cannabis appeared on World Anti-Doping Agency prohibited lists alongside performance-enhancing drugs. A positive test meant suspension, lost sponsorships, and career damage. Now she directs clinical studies examining cannabinoid applications for pain management, recovery, and inflammation in athletic populations.

The Canna Research Foundation, which Zeiger founded, focuses on filling evidence gaps left by decades of federal prohibition. Most current cannabis research in sports relies on self-reported surveys rather than controlled trials. Rescheduling to Schedule III under the DEA's proposed rule would ease research barriers. How? By reducing regulatory overhead for investigators.

Rescheduling as a Research Catalyst

Schedule III classification would lower administrative friction for universities and research hospitals conducting cannabis trials. Under Schedule I, investigators face multi-agency approval processes, limited access to standardized product, and heightened scrutiny from institutional review boards. Schedule III drugs—testosterone, ketamine, anabolic steroids—carry simpler pathways for clinical research.

Zeiger noted in the op-ed that rescheduling "will not answer every question overnight, but it will make it easier." The comment underscores a reality familiar to researchers: access to federal grants, streamlined DEA licensing, and broader institutional support hinge on scheduling status. For athlete-focused studies, where dosing precision and product consistency matter, the shift could accelerate longitudinal trials.

The Athlete-Cannabis Use Case

Endurance athletes report using cannabis for inflammation control, sleep quality, and pain relief during recovery windows. Anecdotal accounts dominate the literature. Peer-reviewed evidence? It's thin. Zeiger's foundation has published survey data showing that roughly 26% of endurance athletes incorporate cannabis into training or recovery protocols, often without medical oversight.

The therapeutic hypothesis centers on cannabinoid interaction with the endocannabinoid system, which regulates pain signaling and inflammatory response—THC and CBD both modulate these pathways, though mechanisms differ. Controlled trials comparing cannabinoid interventions against NSAIDs or opioid protocols in athletic populations are scarce, a gap Zeiger's work aims to close.

Policy Lag and Rational Healthcare

Zeiger's op-ed frames rescheduling as a step toward "more rational healthcare policies" for athletes navigating pain management. Current anti-doping rules treat cannabis as a substance of abuse rather than a therapeutic tool, despite growing state-level legalization and shifting public health perspectives. WADA's in-competition ban remains in effect, even as out-of-competition use becomes permissible in many jurisdictions.

A tension exists between federal rescheduling and international sports governance. It creates a patchwork for athletes. A U.S.-based competitor using CBD for tendonitis faces no domestic legal risk but could trigger a positive test under WADA protocols if trace THC appears in the product. Zeiger's research agenda includes bioavailability studies to help athletes avoid inadvertent violations.

What Researchers Are Watching

The DEA's final rule on rescheduling, expected later this year, will set the timeline for expanded clinical access. If finalized as proposed, Schedule III status takes effect within 60 days of publication in the Federal Register. Research institutions would then begin revising protocols to take advantage of simplified approval pathways.

For Zeiger and similar investigators, the next variable is funding. Federal agencies including NIH have historically prioritized cannabis harm research over therapeutic applications. A scheduling shift may not immediately redirect grant dollars, but it signals policy alignment that could unlock private and state-level funding streams. Athletes continue self-experimenting in the absence of clinical guidance. That's a risk Zeiger's career now works to mitigate.