01/06/2026
What Are SARMs?
SARMs (Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators) are drugs designed to mimic some of the muscle-building effects of anabolic steroids. They were originally developed by pharmaceutical companies in the hope of treating conditions such as muscle wasting, osteoporosis, and age-related muscle loss.
In simple terms:
SARMs tell your body to build muscle and strength in a similar way to steroids, but they were marketed as being more targeted and having fewer side effects.
Examples include:
* Ostarine
* Ligandrol
* Andarine
* RAD-140
Despite claims online, none of these substances are approved as safe muscle-building supplements.
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Why Are SARMs Prohibited in Sport?
SARMs are prohibited by World Anti-Doping Agency because they can:
* Increase muscle mass
* Increase strength and power
* Improve recovery from training
* Potentially allow athletes to train harder and more frequently
These effects can provide an unfair advantage over athletes who train and compete clean.
For kickboxing, where speed, power, strength, recovery and weight management are critical, SARMs can directly enhance performance.
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The Biggest Risk: Athletes Often Don’t Realise They’ve Taken Them
Many anti-doping cases do not involve athletes deliberately trying to cheat.
A common scenario is:
Example 1: The Gym Supplement
A kickboxer buys a “natural muscle-building” supplement online.
The label says:
* Testosterone booster
* Lean muscle formula
* Hardcore shred
* Strength matrix
What the athlete doesn’t know is that the product contains Ostarine or Ligandrol, even though it isn’t declared on the label.
The athlete is tested at a WAKO event.
The result comes back positive.
The athlete receives a ban.
The explanation:
“I didn’t know it was in the supplement.”
Unfortunately, under anti-doping rules, athletes are responsible for everything they put into their bodies.
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Example 2: Advice from the Gym
A coach or training partner says:
“It’s not steroids. It’s just a SARM. Loads of people use them.”
The athlete takes a short cycle before a major championship.
Even if they only use it for a few weeks, SARMs can remain detectable for a long time.
A positive test can lead to:
* Suspension
* Loss of titles or medals
* Disqualification from Team GB selection
* Significant reputational damage
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Example 3: Contaminated Fat Burners
An athlete is trying to make weight.
They buy a fat burner marketed online as:
* “Extreme shred”
* “Competition cut”
* “Rapid fat loss”
The product is contaminated with a prohibited substance, including a SARM.
The athlete has never knowingly taken a banned drug but still fails a doping test.
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Common Myths
“They’re legal, so they must be allowed.”
False.
Many substances are legal to buy but are still banned in sport.
“They’re safer than steroids.”
Not necessarily.
SARMs can still cause:
* Hormonal disruption
* Reduced natural testosterone production
* Mood changes
* Liver issues
* Cardiovascular risks
Many products sold online have never undergone proper safety testing.
“I only used it in training, not competition.”
Anti-doping rules apply year-round for prohibited anabolic agents.
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What Kickboxing GB Athletes Should Do
Before Taking Any Supplement
Ask:
1. Do I actually need it?
2. Is it batch tested?
3. Could it contain prohibited substances?
Use recognised testing programmes such as:
* Informed Sport
No supplement is completely risk-free, but batch-tested products significantly reduce the risk.
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Key Message for Athletes and Coaches
If a supplement promises rapid muscle gain, dramatic fat loss, steroid-like results, or extraordinary strength increases, treat it as a red flag.
SARMs are prohibited because they can enhance performance and undermine fair competition. More importantly, many athletes who test positive never intended to cheat—they simply trusted the wrong supplement, website, coach, or social media influencer.
For Kickboxing GB athletes, the safest approach is:
Food first. Training second. Recovery third. Supplements only when genuinely needed and independently tested.
A single contaminated supplement can cost an athlete years of hard work and the opportunity to represent Great Britain on the international stage.
