Australia’s elite athletes face doping risks from unregulated supplements—with many products hiding their true ingredients
In the high-stakes world of elite sports, supplements promise speed, strength, and endurance. But a new study shows they might also deliver something else: suspension.
A sweeping analysis commissioned by Sport Integrity Australia has revealed that one in three uncertified sports supplements sold in Australia contain substances banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Even more troubling? Most of those banned ingredients aren’t listed on the label.
That means an athlete shopping online for a legal edge could unknowingly buy their way into a doping violation.
And the risk isn’t small—it’s built into the system.
When Muscle Turns to Mayhem
The study, conducted by Human and Supplements Testing Australia, tested 200 sports supplements available across online and in-store channels. The results: 35% contained one or more WADA-prohibited substances. Of those, 57% didn’t list the banned compounds on the product packaging or website.
Athletes caught with banned substances in their system, even unknowingly, face serious consequences. Under global anti-doping rules, strict liability applies—meaning athletes are responsible for anything found in their bodies, no matter how it got there.
And these aren’t obscure compounds either. One supplement marketed as a “muscle builder” tested positive for ostarine, an anabolic agent that typically requires a prescription. The same product also contained 1,4-dimethylpentylamine, a stimulant prohibited for sale and use in Australia altogether.
Fat Burners, Muscle Builders: The Red Zone
Not all supplements are created equal—and some are far riskier than others.
The study found that:
-
53% of supplements marketed as muscle builders contained banned substances.
-
49% of fat-burning products tested positive as well.
-
Products marketed as “pre-workouts” or performance boosters were also flagged as high risk.
These categories often target athletes on the edge—looking to cut weight, gain lean mass, or squeeze out that last drop of explosive energy before competition. But they’re also the most likely to land a competitor in regulatory hot water.
“An athlete purchasing an uncertified product online has a one-in-three chance that the product contains a WADA-prohibited substance,” the report states bluntly.
Education, Enforcement, and a New CEO
The findings come at a pivotal time for Sport Integrity Australia (SIA), which appointed Sarah Benson as its new Chief Executive Officer in March 2025. A former explosives chemist turned integrity chief, Benson inherits a landscape where the science of performance enhancement is moving faster than many regulations can follow.
“This survey shows that the risk of using a non-certified sports supplement product remains high,” the agency said in a statement.
SIA’s Chief Science Officer, Dr Naomi Speers, put it more bluntly: “Using supplements always carries risk. Fat-burning, muscle-building, and pre-workout products are particularly risky.”
While most of the banned compounds detected were naturally occurring, two supplements did contain synthetic stimulants at high levels—a clear violation that could prompt future enforcement action.
The Integrity Gap: Labels Lie
Possibly the most damning finding in the report is the disconnect between labeling and reality. Of all the products that tested positive for WADA-prohibited substances, 57% didn’t declare them anywhere. Not on the box. Not online.
That’s more than a quality control issue—it’s a systemic breakdown.
In a marketplace where supplement companies are rarely held to the same pharmaceutical-grade standards, there’s little incentive to ensure accurate disclosure. And with many products manufactured overseas or sold through third-party retailers, accountability gets murky fast.
What Happens Now?
The report calls for two urgent steps:
-
Education campaigns targeted at athletes and support staff.
-
Regulatory enforcement focused on products containing illegal or dangerous stimulants.
But the takeaway is crystal clear. For elite athletes, the supplement aisle isn’t just a convenience—it’s a minefield.
Until the industry cleans up its act—or regulators catch up—certified products remain the only safe bet. Athletes who reach for anything else might be rolling the dice with their careers.
