An Australian coroner has found that unapproved peptide drugs played a part in the death of martial artist and actor Richard Norton, NBC News and The Guardian report. Norton, 75, died on March 30, 2025, at the Alfred hospital in Melbourne.

Coroner David Ryan of the Coroners Court of Victoria released his findings on Wednesday, the outlets report. Norton had been taking the peptides CJC1295 and ipamorelin, and he had doubled his dose, according to the findings described in the reports.

Ryan has recommended that Australia's drug regulator, the TGA, review the products. That review should consider moving peptides from schedule 4, prescription only, to schedule 10, which would allow them only for trials or experimental use. "I am not satisfied that it is appropriate for them to be available to be prescribed by medical practitioners," he wrote, The Guardian reports.

Norton's doctor, Dr Jerzy Muchnicki, "accepted accountability for his actions" and will no longer prescribe peptides, NBC News reports. The Medical Board took no regulatory action but required him to complete training, the paper says. NBC News says it emailed Muchnicki and he did not respond.

NBC News, citing Australia's ABC, says it appears to be the first confirmed death in Australia linked to unapproved peptides. The coroner found the drugs triggered a heart attack, NBC News reports. Norton's wife reported that he collapsed after taking a second dose.

Norton fought Chuck Norris and Jackie Chan on screen and trained stars such as Margot Robbie, NBC News reports. He once worked as a bodyguard for David Bowie.

What we know: A coroner found unapproved peptides contributed to Norton's death and urged a regulatory review.
What we don't: Whether the TGA will act on the recommendation.