The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) of the United Kingdom has identified the supplement “Jack 3D”, which contains the in-competition prohibited substance Methylhexaneamine (DMAA), as unlicensed medicinal product. Also recently, MHRA has issued warnings on sport supplements containing Ephedrine, Synephrine and Yohimibine (or Yohimbine) which could cause side effects such as kidney failure, seizures and heart complications. Furthermore, MHRA found 84 illegal muscle building products to contain dangerous ingredients such as steroids, stimulants and hormones.

HKADC would like to alert athletes who are using supplements to be aware of the risk of inadvertent doping and that many contains ingredients that are on the Prohibited List. The use of these or similar products may lead to a positive test. According to the principle of strict liability, an athlete is responsible for the presence of prohibited substance in his/her body no matter the athlete intentionally or unintentionally uses a prohibited substance. Adverse effects and serious health risks could also associate with the use of such products.

For details of the warnings issued by MHRA, please refer to this link.