Gencore Global CEO linked to illegal steroid sales network
The founder of UK wellness firm Gencore Global is allegedly operating an illegal steroid marketplace using the company's influencer network, exposing the business to severe legal and reputational risk.
Darren Wicks, the founder and chief executive of UK-based wellness company Gencore Global, has been identified as the administrator of an underground Telegram network selling illegal steroids and prescription drugs.
The channel, currently operating under the name Anabolic By Nature, uses Gencore’s influencer marketing structure to drive traffic and sales. Investigators identified at least six administrators of the illegal marketplace who share identifying usernames or images with Gencore’s official ambassadors, employees, or affiliates. These individuals boast a collective following of more than 180,000 across TikTok and Instagram.
Evidence from the chat logs shows Wicks actively managing the illicit operation. He alerts members to stock levels, defends delivery delays, and offers advice on transporting steroids through airports. In one video response to a user concerned about travelling to Egypt, Wicks said: “I promise you now, I’ve flown to Dubai on three separate occasions, and every time I’ve taken all my meds with me, all my anabolics with me, and all my supps with me, and not once have I been stopped.”
The illegal operation mirrors Gencore’s legitimate business practices. Wicks encourages chat members to sign up as Gencore ambassadors, and the illicit sales website offers a 12% commission on referrals. The network markets anabolic steroids alongside unregulated experimental peptides like BPC-157 and TB-500, and prescription-only medicines including the weight-loss drug tirzepatide and human growth hormone.
This dual operation presents severe corporate and legal liabilities. In the UK, it is illegal to sell, supply, or distribute anabolic steroids without a licence, and importing unauthorised prescription medications is unlawful. Despite this, Gencore has been expanding its mainstream commercial footprint. The company recently exhibited at FitXpo North West, sponsored a racehorse, and launched a combat sports promotion. It is also scheduled to attend the National Running Show in Birmingham next year.
The use of social media to facilitate this trade highlights a growing regulatory challenge at the intersection of wellness and illicit substances. Geoff Bates, a lecturer in public health policy at the University of Bath, noted a distinct overlap between steroid use and the wellness industry. “People using steroids often think of themselves as doing it for wellbeing reasons as part of a general fitness programme,” he said. “Some of these drugs can be used to
