Young Singapore bodybuilder died from taking illicit drug to lose weight: Coroner

Published Oct 16, 2026, 08:59 PM

Updated Oct 16, 2026, 08:59 PM

A 20-year-old bodybuilder died after taking DNP, an illegal weight-loss drug. The coroner said it caused a “substance related accident” and warned against steroids and DNP.

He first struggled to breathe on Dec 22, 2024, then collapsed after transfer from Mount Elizabeth to TTSH. He was agitated, sedated, had a cardiac arrest, and died at 9.20am.

Police found 34 medicines at home, but DNP was only in his urine and stomach samples. His mother raised concerns about TTSH care and possible pressure or foul play, and a follow-up hearing is set for Oct 26.

SINGAPORE – His parents had plans to open a gym for him to pursue his passion for bodybuilding.

But in his pursuit of his goals, the 20-year-old polytechnic student had turned to an illicit drug that ultimately killed him.

On Oct 16, State Coroner Adam Nakhoda found that the youth, who cannot be named due to a gag order, had taken 2,4-Dinitrophenol , or DNP.

The substance has been banned by the Food and Drug Administration in the US for almost 90 years and is listed under the Poisons Act in Singapore.

It is so dangerous that there are no legitimate medical uses for it in humans, and no effective antidotes or treatments for those poisoned by it.

Yet, it is still falsely marketed by illicit sellers as a fast and safe weight-loss drug.

The youth was hospitalised on Dec 22, 2024, after he went to the emergency department in the early hours of the morning, saying he had difficultly breathing.

Hours later, his heart stopped and they could not resuscitate him.

In his findings, the coroner said the youth was a competitive bodybuilder who trained intensely for long hours, especially when he neared a competition date.

His family knew he had been taking supplements, but did not question him as they trusted him.

The coroner said that according to medical reports, the youth had previously seen several doctors and denied taking illicit drugs and steroids.

This was despite numerous irregularities found in his blood and urine tests.

He had also informed a clinic that he had a previous prescription for weight loss medication from MaNaDr Clinic, which had its license revoked in December 2024 for multiple lapses.

In September 2024, his mother noticed his breathing had become heavy.

He told her he was taking fat burners and she asked him to stop, after which his breathing returned to normal.

On Dec 21, 2024, his parents saw him when they returned home that evening.

They said he appeared normal and ate some watermelon, followed by donuts.

But they noticed he looked tired, though they did not question him about it.

In the early hours of Dec 22, 2024, while his family was asleep, the youth went to the emergency department of Mount Elizabeth as he had difficulty breathing.

He told the doctors he had taken fat burners, but was unable to say exactly how much he had consumed or what they contained.

He was found to have a fever, shortness of breath and was alert but unable to keep his eyes open.

Because of this, there were plans for his urgent admission to intensive care.

But when the doctor called the youth’s father at around 4.30am, he said their insurance did not cover a private hospital ward and asked for his so n to be transferred to Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH).

The youth was taken by ambulance and handed over to TTSH at around 5.15am.

As they tried to treat him, he became increasingly agitated and physically aggressive, and had to be chemically sedated .

At around 8.40am, he suffered a cardiac arrest. After 40 minutes of resuscitation, he was pronounced dead at 9.20am.

After his death, the police seized 34 types of medications and substances from his home.

Many of these were for managing the side effects of taking performance enhancing steroids.

While DNP was not found among the seized medications, it was detected in urine and stomach samples taken from the youth after his death.

The death report found that DNP ultimately killed him. The other medications and substances were therapeutic and did not cause or contribute to his death.

The coroner said the police had seized the youth’s phone but could not unlock it.

As a result, the source of the various substances, including the DNP, could not be established.

It could also not be ascertained if the youth knew that he was consuming DNP.

Police investigations did not suspect foul play.

The coroner said it was a profound tragedy that someone so full of potential had died so young.

He added that the youth’s death must serve as a reminder that using substances such as steroids and DNP to achieve one’s goals in bodybuilding or other sports is dangerous.

The death was ruled as a substance-related accident.

After the findings were delivered, the youth’s mother who was present in court said she took issue with TTSH’s care.

She also alluded that her son may have been coerced and made to consume DNP while under tremendous pressure to maintain a certain weight and physique.

She said there was a person from the bodybuilding community behaving suspiciously at the youth’s wake.

The coroner noted there was no evidence that the youth was given DNP against his will , though such a scenario would point to foul play.

He suggested that the mother give a statement to the police and he would reopen the inquiry if necessary.

The mother agreed to do so.

A follow-up court session for the case has been slated for Oct 26.

David Sun is The Straits Times’ crime correspondent. He has a background in criminology and is a licensed private investigator.

发布于 2026 年 10 月 16 日晚上 8:59

更新于2026年10月16日晚上8:59

一名20岁的健美运动员服用非法减肥药DNP后死亡。验尸官称这是一起“药物相关事故”，并警告人们不要滥用类固醇和DNP。

他于2024年12月22日首次出现呼吸困难，随后从伊丽莎白山医院转至陈笃生医院后昏倒。他情绪激动，被注射镇静剂后心脏骤停，于上午9点20分去世。

警方在其家中搜出34种药物，但DNP仅在其尿液和胃液样本中检出。其母亲对陈笃生医院的医疗护理以及可能存在的压力或谋杀行为表示担忧，后续听证会定于10月26日举行。

新加坡——他的父母计划为他开一家健身房，让他追求自己对健美的热情。

但这位 20 岁的理工学院学生在追求目标的过程中，染上了毒品，最终导致了他的死亡。

10 月 16 日，州验尸官亚当·纳霍达发现，这名因禁言令而不能透露姓名的年轻人服用了 2,4-二硝基苯酚（DNP）。

该物质已被美国食品药品监督管理局禁用近 90 年，并在新加坡被列入《毒药法》管制清单。

它非常危险，对人类没有任何合法的医疗用途，也没有有效的解毒剂或治疗方法来治疗中毒者。

然而，一些不法商贩仍然将其错误地宣传为一种快速安全的减肥药。

2024年12月22日凌晨，这名青年因呼吸困难前往急诊室就诊，随后被送往医院。

几个小时后，他的心脏停止了跳动，他们无法将他救活。

验尸官在调查结果中表示，这名青年是一名竞技健美运动员，经常进行长时间的高强度训练，尤其是在比赛日期临近时。

他的家人知道他一直在服用保健品，但因为信任他，所以没有过问他。

验尸官表示，根据医疗报告，这名青年此前曾看过几位医生，并否认服用过非法药物和类固醇。

尽管他的血液和尿液检查结果显示存在诸多异常情况。

他还告知一家诊所，他之前在 MaNaDr 诊所开过减肥药处方，该诊所因多次违规于 2024 年 12 月被吊销执照。

2024年9月，他的母亲发现他的呼吸变得沉重。

他告诉她他正在服用减肥药，她让他停止服用，之后他的呼吸就恢复正常了。

2024年12月21日，他的父母当晚回家时见到了他。

他们说他看起来很正常，吃了一些西瓜，然后又吃了甜甜圈。

但他们注意到他看起来很疲惫，尽管他们没有就此询问他。

2024 年 12 月 22 日凌晨，趁着家人熟睡，这名青年因呼吸困难前往伊丽莎白山医院急诊科就诊。

他告诉医生他服用过减肥药，但无法确切地说出服用了多少，也无法说明药的成分。

他被发现发烧、呼吸急促，意识清醒但无法睁开眼睛。

因此，医院制定了紧急送他入院重症监护的计划。

但当医生在凌晨 4 点 30 分左右打电话给这名年轻人的父亲时，他说他们的保险不包括私立医院病房，并要求将他的儿子转到陈笃生医院 (TTSH)。

凌晨 5 点 15 分左右，这名青年被救护车送往陈笃生医院。

在他们试图对他进行治疗的过程中，他变得越来越烦躁，并出现肢体攻击行为，不得不使用药物镇静剂。

早上8点40分左右，他心脏骤停。经过40分钟的抢救，于上午9点20分被宣布死亡。

他死后，警方从他家中查获了 34 种药品和物质。

其中许多药物用于控制服用兴奋剂类固醇的副作用。

虽然在缴获的药物中没有发现 DNP，但在该青年死后采集的尿液和胃液样本中检测到了 DNP。

死亡报告显示，DNP最终导致了他的死亡。其他药物和物质具有治疗作用，并未导致或促成他的死亡。

验尸官表示，警方已扣押了这名青年的手机，但无法解锁。

因此，包括 DNP 在内的各种物质的来源无法确定。

也无法确定这名青年是否知道自己正在服用 DNP。

警方调查并未怀疑存在谋杀或其他犯罪行为。

验尸官表示，一位如此前途无量的人英年早逝，是一场巨大的悲剧。

他还补充说，这名年轻人的死亡必须提醒人们，使用类固醇和DNP等物质在健美或其他运动中实现目标是危险的。

该死亡事件被判定为与毒品有关的意外事故。

调查结果公布后，到庭旁听的这名青少年的母亲表示，她对陈笃生医院的护理有异议。

她还暗示，她的儿子可能在巨大的压力下被迫服用DNP，以保持一定的体重和体型。

她说，在年轻人的守灵仪式上，有一名来自健美界的人行为可疑。

验尸官指出，没有证据表明这名青年是被违背意愿注射了DNP（非药物麻醉剂），尽管这种情况表明存在谋杀嫌疑。

他建议这位母亲向警方作证，如有必要，他将重新展开调查。

母亲同意了。

该案的后续庭审定于10月26日举行。

大卫·孙是《海峡时报》的犯罪记者。他拥有犯罪学背景，并且是一名持证私人侦探。