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Fitness supplement withdrawn in NZ

10 Feb 2015

Drug Free Sport NZ welcomes moves to halt sales of the pre-workout supplement Frenzy after tests indicated it may contain a psychoactive substance which is prohibited in sport.

The tests were carried out by the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) for the NZ Herald and the newspaper says they indicated the presence of DMBA, a psychoactive agent.

The Ministry of Health and the Psychoactive Substances Regulatory Authority have confirmed that they’ve requesting retailers remove Frenzy from the shelves.  The Ministry is now in the process of contacting the NZ distributor of the product.

Drug Free Sport NZ chief executive, Graeme Steel, says it’s good to see action being taken on supplements like these.

“The supplement industry is poorly regulated so consumers can never be sure what’s in these products and we know from experience here and overseas that many of these products contain substances which are potentially dangerous and harmful to health.

“Athletes in particular need to be extremely careful when taking supplements because they could inadvertently be taking a substance which is prohibited in sport and that could lead to a positive drugs test and a ban from all sport.  

“Athletes are potentially risking their entire sporting career if they take supplements which have not been rigorously checked,” he says.

Mr Steel says Drug Free Sport NZ is keen to see greater regulation of the supplement industry to give athletes and others more reassurance about what is in these products.

The Psychoactive Substances Authority says that based on Frenzy’s label statement, the ingredient, 4-Methyl-2-Pentanamine Citrate (Pouchung Tea), meets the definition of a psychoactive substance under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2013 (the Act).

The Authority says this substance may also be listed on other product labels as :

  • 4-amino-2-methylpentane citrate
  • AMP citrate
  • 1,3-dimethylbutylamine citrate
  • 4-amino-2-pentanamine
  • Pentergy
  • 4-AMP
  • extracted from pouchong tea.

Drug Free Sport NZ offers a supplement check service which gives athletes advice about the relative risks of certain products.  You can find Drug Free Sport NZ’s supplement check here.

If you have further queries about psychoactive substances, you can contact the Psychoactive Substances Authority here  or visit their website.

You can read more about the NZ Herald investigations into the supplement Frenzy here and more on the dangers of pre workout supplements here.