New rules set for supplement sales

Sharjah: A new set of regulations will soon be implemented in order to restrict the sale of steroids, hormone supplements and vitamins within fitness centres in Sharjah.

Salem Bin Mohammad Al Owais, Chairman of Sharjah Municipality Council, recently submitted the proposal to ban and restrict a number of sport-enhancing medicines and herbs. This was approved on Wednesday by the Sharjah Executive Council.

"The Executive Council has approved the ban but it will be taken into effect within the coming weeks. Many changes are now being made with regard to the sale of medicines, vitamins and herbs in gymnasiums and fitness clubs, and we will issue a circular to these outlets on the new set of regulations once they are finalised," said a senior official at Sharjah Municipality, who declined to be named.

Currently, gymnasiums and fitness clubs are selling such sport enhancing drugs under the counter, despite being warned by the authorities.

A joint committee was responsible in writing a detailed report about the current state of medicines that are sold in fitness clubs. The committee was made up of Sharjah Municipality in coordination with the Sharjah Medical Zone, Economic Department and the Preventive Medicine Department of Ministry of Health (MoH).

"A new set of fines will also be announced along with the list of medicines, including steroids and stimulants, which are prohibited to be sold by fitness clubs," he said, adding that the upcoming ban aims to monitor the activities of sport facilities.

Sport facilities have become under the scrutiny of authorities as steroids and other enhancement drugs are sold by trainers and bodybuilders in a bid to make quick cash.

Some of the medications sold by fitness clubs pose a potential hazard, and the MoH had also previously warned people from using such drugs as they can cause osteoporosis, kidney failure, hypertension and cancer.