- The owner of a Texas-based sports supplement company pleaded guilty on Tuesday to selling drugs around the US that have not been approved by the FDA and labeling them as "dietary supplements."
- Brett Becker, 32, was the owner of Accelerated Genetix, LLC, a company that produced and sold sports and dietary supplements through various outlets.
- Selective Androgen Receptor Modules, or SARMs, are a classification of drugs that have similar properties to anabolic
steroids . The drugs are prohibited by the US Anti-Doping Agency both in-and-outside of competition and have not been approved by the FDA.
The owner of a Texas sports supplement company pleaded guilty to selling unapproved new drugs throughout the US and intentionally misleading the FDA and consumers, according to a release from the Department of Justice on Tuesday.
Officials said Brett David Becker, 32, and his company, Accelerated Genetix, LLC, sold Selective Androgen Receptor Modules (SARMs) such as Ostarine and Ligandrol to consumers through retail outlets and on the internet, specifically in the Western District of Virginia where the case was litigated. In connection with his guilty plea, Becker also agreed to forfeit about $3.5 million, the approximate amount of money Accelerated Genetix earned from its sales of the drugs.
According to The Farr Institute, an online health organization that conducted research on healthcare products, SARMs are a classification of drugs that have anabolic, or muscle building, properties similar to steroids.
SARMs have not approved by the FDA for consumption or recreational purposes. In 2017 the FDA sent a letter of warning to a separate sports supplement provider regarding the risks of life-threatening reactions to SARMs drugs including liver toxicity, heart attacks, and strokes.
"Becker and his company put their customers' health at risk by unlawfully distributing drugs without FDA approval," said Acting United States Attorney Bubar. "This case is particularly troubling, given the FDA's explicit and repeated warnings about the dangers of SARMs. FDA regulations are integral to safeguarding consumers, and I am proud of our federal team that took on this investigation to ensure the processes and the public are protected."
Additionally, the US Anti-Doping Agency prohibits all of the athletes in its jurisdiction from using SARMs both in-and-outside of competition. SARMs may be forbidden from competition, but that has not stopped bodybuilders from gaining interest in the new drug. According to Google Trends, online searches for the drugs have steadily increased in the past five years.
According to the Marine Corp Community Services, SARMs are often marketed to bodybuilders as an alternative to steroids, or even as "legal steroids." In his guilty plea, Becker admitted to labeling the SARMs drugs at his company as "dietary supplements" to sway its buyers into believing the drugs were safe and legal. Becker also admitted to manufacturing a custom order of a product that included SARMs despite knowing it was illegal to sell.
"Drugs masquerading as dietary supplements sidestep the FDA approval process and put consumers at risk," said Acting Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Bossert Clark of the Justice Department's Civil Division. "The Department of Justice will continue to work with FDA to ensure a safe and effective drug supply."
According to the DOJ, Becker's sentencing is currently set for March 15, 2021.