Mother of bodybuilder, who died at 20 from effects of banned weight-loss substance, questions how he got illicit drug

The final cause of death was dinitrophenol toxicity. Dinitrophenol is a substance listed under the Poisons Act. It is used as a weight-loss agent, but is prohibited due to concerns of toxicity. It has been banned for human use in the United States since 1938.

The youth had dreams of becoming a professional bodybuilder, and his mother had plans to help open a gym for him to run so he could excel at his chosen path, according to the coroner’s report.

He was noted to be extremely disciplined in what he ate when preparing for bodybuilding competitions, Judge Nakhoda said in the findings.

However, during a clinic visit in August 2024, he reported issues with uncontrollable binge-eating that he attributed to the stress of competition preparations. He asked for and was prescribed weight-loss medication, which was not linked to the toxic substance.

Months later, in the early hours of Dec 22, 2024, he was hospitalised after experiencing heart palpitations, difficulty breathing, feverishness and excessive sweating.

His condition deteriorated in the hospital and he suffered a cardiac arrest, with resuscitation efforts ending after 40 minutes. He was pronounced dead the same morning.

After his death, a fatal amount of dinitrophenol was detected in toxicology tests.

Judge Nakhoda found that it was probable the youth had taken dinitrophenol shortly before he died, as the substance was found in a sample of stomach contents taken after his death, and in the hospital, he showed symptoms of having consumed the drug.

The youth had also told hospital staff that he had taken “fat burners”, although there was no evidence the staff knew it was dinitrophenol.

Judge Nakhoda said it was uncertain whether the youth himself knew he had taken dinitrophenol, since no evidence of it was found in substances seized from his bedroom.

Since dinitrophenol is not allowed for clinical use in Singapore, the drug is only available illicitly, said the state coroner.

He added that while the sale and use of dinitrophenol is banned in several countries, it is still sold clandestinely online under different names, with the promise of fast weight loss.

He also noted that 34 types of medication and substances were seized from the youth’s bedroom and kitchen of his family home. These included prescription medication for conditions like breast cancer, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and asthma.

There was no evidence that the youth suffered from any of the conditions these medicines were meant to treat.

Judge Nakhoda cited a medical report on the medication and substances found in the youth’s home, in which doctors observed that bodybuilders aim to develop a muscular physique with a “shredded” appearance.

This requires increasing muscular mass while reducing body fat, and bodybuilders are known to engage in the “off-label” use of medicines to accelerate this, the medical report stated.

Another class of substances is then used to address the adverse effects arising from the “off-label” use of the medicines, said the doctors.

The doctors also said it was known that bodybuilders were highly vulnerable to muscle dysmorphia.

Judge Nakhoda said the youth’s immense drive, dedication and discipline in his chosen sport of bodybuilding was undeniable.

“It is a profound tragedy that someone so full of potential passed away so young,” he said.