Short answer: The four-letter type of PED clued in recent LA Times crosswords is ROID. Context and quick guidance:

• In contemporary crosswords, "PED" often stands for performance-enhancing drugs, and the common four-letter fill is ROID (short for steroid). This matches multiple recent puzzle references and solver databases for LAT clues around November 2025.

If you’d like, I can:

• Show alternate four-letter PED fills that appear in other publications (e.g., MoS puzzle data or other outlets) with citations.
• Walk through solving technique for similar clues (how setters clue abbreviations and common crossword shorthand).