Mother questions source of illegal drug that killed bodybuilder son, 20: 'Under tremendous pressure to keep physique'

The mother of a 20-year-old bodybuilder who died from the effects of an illegal weight-loss compound in December 2024 questioned how her son had obtained it.

The coroner's inquiry concluded on Friday (Oct 16) that he died from 2,4-Dinitrophenol (DNP) toxicity, but police were unable to find the source of the drug during investigations.

"The fact is that there are youth in Singapore who can get such and be given such [illicit drugs] even despite authorities' best efforts, and that would be something that continues to affect our family," his mother told the court tearfully, according to CNA.

She also wondered if her son had been "encouraged" or "made" to take DNP while preparing for a bodybuilding competition, noting that he was "under tremendous pressure to keep to a certain weight and a physique".

She also wished to give the police a statement with further evidence, and the coroner's court fixed a future date for her to do so.

The state coroner added that the inquiry could be reopened to consider further evidence if necessary.

34 types of medications, DNP not among them

According to the coroner's report, the youngster went to the emergency department of Mount Elizabeth Hospital in the early hours of Dec 22, 2024, after having difficulty breathing.

The polytechnic student, who cannot be named due to a gag order, told doctors he had taken "fat burners", but could not name them, reported The Straits Times.

At around 5.15am, he was transferred to Tan Tock Seng Hospital but suffered a cardiac arrest over three hours later and was unable to be resuscitated.

DNP was detected in his urine and stomach samples.

Police seized 34 types of medications and substances from his home, many of which were for managing the effects of taking steroids, but did not find DNP among them.

They also could not unlock his phone.

The coroner's inquiry was unable to ascertain if he knew he was taking DNP, but police do not suspect foul play.

His death was ruled a substance-related accident.

DNP is listed under the Poisons Act in Singapore, and has been banned for human use by the US Food and Drug Administration since the 1930s.

Despite its toxicity, it continues to be illegally sold for weight loss purposes and may also appear undisclosed in bodybuilding supplements.

2024 年 12 月，一名 20 岁的健美运动员因服用非法减肥药而死亡，他的母亲质疑儿子是如何获得这种药物的。

验尸官于周五（10 月 16 日）得出结论，他死于 2,4-二硝基苯酚 (DNP) 中毒，但警方在调查中未能找到该药物的来源。

据亚洲新闻台报道，他的母亲含泪告诉法庭：“事实是，即使当局尽了最大努力，新加坡仍然有一些年轻人能够获得并被提供此类（非法毒品），这将继续影响我们的家庭。”

她还想知道她的儿子在准备健美比赛期间是否被“鼓励”或“逼迫”服用DNP，并指出他“承受着巨大的压力，要保持一定的体重和体型”。

她还希望向警方提供一份包含更多证据的声明，验尸官法庭已为她安排了日后提交声明的日期。

州验尸官补充说，如有必要，可以重新展开调查，以考虑更多证据。

34种药物，其中不包括DNP

根据验尸官的报告，这名年轻人于 2024 年 12 月 22 日凌晨因呼吸困难前往伊丽莎白山医院急诊科就诊。

据《海峡时报》报道，这名理工学院学生因受到禁言令约束而不能透露姓名，他告诉医生自己服用过“减肥药”，但无法说出具体是哪些药物。

凌晨 5 点 15 分左右，他被送往陈笃生医院，但三个多小时后心脏骤停，抢救无效身亡。

在他的尿液和胃液样本中检测到了DNP。

警方从他家中查获了 34 种药物和物质，其中许多是用于控制服用类固醇副作用的，但没有在其中发现 DNP。

他们也无法解锁他的手机。

验尸官的调查未能确定他是否知道自己服用了DNP，但警方并未怀疑存在谋杀或其他犯罪行为。

他的死因被判定为与毒品有关的意外事故。

DNP在新加坡《毒药法》中被列入管制药品名单，并且自20世纪30年代以来就被美国食品药品监督管理局禁止用于人类。

尽管它具有毒性，但仍被非法出售用于减肥，并且可能以未公开的形式出现在健美补剂中。