Healthnews24South Africa's supplement answer desk

Are prohormones in supplements illegal in South Africa?

Healthnews24 editorial deskUpdated 2 min read
Answer first

Anabolic steroids are prescription-only medicines in South Africa, so a supplement containing them is an unregistered medicine and cannot lawfully be sold as a food supplement. Prohormones are treated the same way in sport, where they are prohibited. We did not verify the exact schedule for each prohormone, so avoid any product that promises steroid-like results.

  • Geyer et al. (2004): 14.8% of 634 non-hormonal supplements contained undeclared anabolic-androgenic steroids.
  • Duiven et al. (2021): 38% of 66 Dutch web-shop supplements for fat loss, muscle or hormones contained undeclared doping substances.
  • SAIDS reported 6 Craven Week steroid positives from 122 tests in 2018.
  • Prohormones and DHEA are in AIS Group D and prohibited in sport.

No. Anabolic-androgenic steroids are scheduled medicines under the Medicines and Related Substances Act, available on prescription for medical use. A tub, capsule or "testosterone booster" that contains one is an unregistered medicine masquerading as a supplement. Prohormones (precursors converted into steroids in the body, such as DHEA-type compounds) are treated as anabolic agents by WADA and are prohibited in sport. The exact schedule number for each individual prohormone was not verified for this answer, so check with a pharmacist or SAHPRA if you need certainty.

Why do they still turn up?

Because enforcement is thin and online sellers are hard to police. Geyer and colleagues (2004), in an IOC-funded study, tested 634 non-hormonal supplements from 215 suppliers in 13 countries and found 14.8% contained undeclared anabolic steroids. Rates were highest in products from the Netherlands (25.8%), and in companies that also sold prohormones (21.1%, against 9.6% for companies that did not). Duiven and colleagues (2021) found 38% of 66 fat-loss, muscle and hormone products from Dutch web shops contained undeclared doping substances.

What does this mean for South African athletes?

SAIDS applies strict liability: the athlete is responsible for what is in their sample. Schoolboy rugby shows the stakes. SAIDS reported steroid positives at Craven Week every year in the 2014-2018 period, including 6 from 122 tests in 2018, and in 2026 an 18-year-old Junior Springbok prop returned an adverse A-sample for an anabolic steroid. SAIDS has also criticised a "win at all costs" culture. Read supplements for schoolboy sport for the parent's perspective.

What are the health risks?

Even when a product is correctly labelled, steroid-type compounds can cause:

  • Suppressed natural testosterone and fertility problems in men
  • Acne and hair changes; virilisation (deep voice, hair growth) in women
  • Cholestatic liver injury (see supplements and liver injury)
  • Mood changes, raised blood pressure and cholesterol changes

Adolescents are at particular risk because growth and hormone systems are still developing.

Do "natural testosterone boosters" work?

For healthy men with adequate zinc, there is no good evidence that zinc or ZMA raises testosterone. Herbal boosters such as Tribulus and maca are in AIS Group D because of contamination risk, not because they work. See ZMA: does it work.

How can you protect yourself?

  • Avoid anything marketed as a prohormone, "pro-anabolic" or "legal steroid".
  • Be sceptical of products that deliver big muscle gains with no training or diet changes.
  • If you are tested, use single-ingredient, batch-tested products only.
  • If you suspect you have taken a contaminated product, stop it, keep the batch, and speak to a doctor or SAIDS.

If you are under 18, the safest course is no performance supplements at all; SAIDS recommends against them. For the broader list, see which supplements are banned in South Africa.

Sources

  1. Geyer et al. (2004) Analysis of non-hormonal nutritional supplements for anabolic-androgenic steroids. Int J Sports Med 25:124
  2. Duiven et al. (2021) Undeclared doping substances are highly prevalent in commercial sports nutrition supplements. J Sports Sci Med 20:328
  3. Sport24 (Oct 2018): Six test positive for steroids at Craven Week, SAIDS 2017/18 annual report
  4. Australian Institute of Sport Supplement Framework: Group D
  5. SAIDS (South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport) FAQ: supplements, strict liability, medication check

Educational information only, not medical advice. Speak to a doctor, pharmacist or registered dietitian before using supplements if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, under 18, taking medication, or living with kidney, liver or heart disease.

Cite this page: Healthnews24, “Are prohormones in supplements illegal in South Africa?”, updated 27 October 2026, https://www.healthnews24.co.za/answers/are-prohormones-and-steroids-in-supplements-illegal-south-africa/. Plain-text version: /answers/are-prohormones-and-steroids-in-supplements-illegal-south-africa.md