Illegal drugs found in NZ supplement stores

Tamaki Makaurau - Six sports supplements containing illegal drugs have been found for sale in a number of supplement stores in Aotearoa following a Consumer NZ search.

The contaminated supplements were found to contain drugs, including amphetamine-like stimulants to Parkinson’s and ADHD medications. In addition to being illegal, three of the substances are prohibited in sport.

Although it seems unthinkable that illegal drugs could make their way into supplements for general sale, Drug Free Sport New Zealand says they are not surprised at the findings.

Supplements are a threat to clean athletes. DFSNZ advises anyone who plays sport at any level to think carefully before taking supplements. Kiwi athletes are bound by their sport’s anti-doping rules and one dodgy supplement could leave they with a ban from all sport.

DFSNZ is concerned about the target market for some of these problems, which reflects the growing popularity of supplements among the rangatahi.

It’s concerning that some of the supplements look like something a well-meaning parent could buy to support their teen during exam season.

DFSNZ says anyone supporting a young athlete much avoid supplements. A food first approach to nutrition can give rangatahi everything they need to train hard and recover safely.

The Consumer NZ investigation gives credence to a 2016 Australian study, which found that one in five supplements contained substances that are prohibited in sport and unlisted on the label.

Poor manufacturing practices and inadequate labelling and regulation mean that you can never be 100 percent sure what’s inside a supplement. Now there’s proof that the situation here in Aotearoa New Zealand is no different.

Athletes take supplements at their own risk and are 100 percent responsible for what they put in their body, DFSNZ says. Any athletes considering supplements should check DFSNZ’s supplement decision making guide. 

The substances found by Consumer NZ were beta-phenethylamine (pea), octodrine

n-methyltyramine hydrochloride (4-hydroxy-n-methylphenethylamine), deanol (dimethylethanolamine), mucuna pruriens (fabaceae) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (gaba) hordenine.