SINGAPORE - The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) issued a warning over three bodybuilding products on Friday (Oct 20).

It said that these products, Enhanced Athlete Cardarine, Enhanced Athlete Ligandrol and Enhanced Athlete Mutant YK-11, contain chemicals still under research which have not been approved for medical use in Singapore.

"These chemicals can cause serious harm," said the HSA.

For example, one of the chemicals, GW501516 (Cardarine), has been found to be toxic and has been reported to cause cancers in animal studies.

The products are sold online by Enhanced Athlete Singapore, the authority added.

In 2013, the World Anti-Doping Agency issued an alert on Cardarine, which was deemed a "black market substance", to warn users of the serious dangers associated with its use, said the HSA.

The authority has received feedback that the products, sold locally on social media platforms, are marketed to increase muscle mass and strength as well as enhance athletic performance.

Each product is labelled "Not for human use/consumption" and carries warnings of side effects, including serious bodily injury and death.

There are no dosing instructions on the product labels.

Said the HSA: "Given these warnings on the label, consumers taking these products are risking their health and safety."

HSA advised consumers to stop taking these products immediately and consult a doctor if they feel unwell.

It also urged individuals to avoid using drugs or potent chemicals to enhance athletic performance or to increase muscle mass and strength.

It warned against buying health products from unknown websites or from people posting offers on discussion forums or blogs, as these products may contain potent ingredients or be counterfeit or sub-standard.

"Consider buying from websites with an established retail presence in Singapore," it added.

Consumers can visit www.healthdangers.sg to learn more about the dangers of buying health products from dubious sources.