TGA seizes hundreds of potentially dangerous sport supplements from Sydney retail store

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) with the assistance of NSW Police have seized 478 sport supplements containing potentially dangerous substances from a Sydney retail store. 

It is alleged that the supplements were intended for supply to consumers. Some of the supplements are alleged to contain substances which are banned from sale and supply in Australia due to their high risk to consumer health. 

The seizures were made after the TGA and NSW Police executed search warrants at the Sydney retail store on 19 December 2023 as part of ongoing investigations into the alleged importation, manufacture, supply, and advertising of unapproved therapeutic goods.

In Australia, medicines and chemicals are classified into schedules in the Poisons Standard according to the level of regulatory control required to protect public health and safety. Schedule 4 lists substances regulated as prescription-only medicines and schedule 10 lists substances of such danger to public health as to warrant their prohibition from supply and use.

The products seized contained substances included within schedules 4 or 10 and included:

• 1,5‑dimethylhexylamine (DMHA)
• phenpromethamine
• Arimistane
• Levodopa
• Melatonin 
• Tadalafil
• Tryptophan
• Yohimbine

In Australia, sport supplement products formulated or represented as being suitable for therapeutic use are regulated by the TGA. Importers, manufacturers and suppliers of sport supplement products are responsible for ensuring their products are included on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) where required.

Unregulated medicines, including sport supplements, can pose a serious risk to consumers as they:

• may contain little or no active ingredient
• may contain undisclosed and potentially dangerous ingredients
• may have been manufactured poorly and cheaply
• may not do what they claim.

The TGA reminds individuals and businesses that serious penalties can apply for breaches of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989, including fines and civil or criminal court action.

If you suspect non-compliance in relation to therapeutic goods, you can report illegal or questionable practices online to the TGA.

Contact for members of the media:

• Email: news@health.gov.au 
• Phone: 02 6289 7400