Sports supplements containing "banned poisons" and illegal ingredients have been seized from stores around Canberra, and health authorities are warning consumers some of the chemicals present can have serious health effects.
ACT Health was alerted to the sale of illegal products in Canberra after a public tip-off, and began seizing products labelled to contain substances such as selective androgen receptor modulators, and chemical stimulants which are linked to an increased risk of heart attacks or strokes.
Chief Health Officer Paul Kelly urged Canberrans who own sports supplements, particularly those which aid weight loss, to check the ingredients list.
"Some of the things we've seized have contained claims of fat-burning, body-building-type chemicals and some of these are either prescription only medications, or indeed banned poisons," he said.
"There is this myth out there that in small doses it's fine. There's no evidence that's the case.
"Some of these substances have been shown to cause cancer in animals."
Authorities stressed while it was illegal for supplement stores to supply these substances, it was also illegal for people to possess them without a prescription.
"Buyer beware, really check what is in those supplements," Dr Kelly said.
"I would suggest people go to our website … check the chemicals, and if it matches with what is on the supplements, then you should stop taking them."
ACT Health is currently testing a number of different supplements seized in its laboratory.
"Over the next few months, we'll be making decisions as to whether prosecutions are warranted, in which case we'll be moving ahead with that," Dr Kelly said.
