Complete List of Banned Pre Workouts 2025: FDA Warnings & Illegal Ingredients
The pre-workout supplement industry has faced significant regulatory scrutiny over the past decade, with over 50 products banned or recalled due to dangerous ingredients. This comprehensive list documents products banned by the FDA, WADA, DoD (Department of Defense), and international health authorities through 2025.
Many of these products contained stimulants linked to cardiovascular events, liver failure, and deaths. If you're using any supplement on this list, you should stop immediately and consider safe legal alternatives.
articleDMAA-Containing Products (FDA Ban: April 2013)
DMAA was banned by the FDA in 2013 after being linked to cardiovascular events and deaths. The Department of Defense banned it from military exchanges in December 2011 after two soldiers died from heart attacks.
| Product Name | Manufacturer | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Jack3d | USPlabs | Discontinued |
| Hemo Rage Black | Nutrex | Discontinued |
| Hemo Rage Black Ultra Concentrate | Nutrex | Discontinued |
| Lipo-6 Black | Nutrex | Discontinued |
| Muscletech Neurocore | Muscletech | Discontinued |
| Muscle Warfare Napalm | Muscle Warfare | Discontinued |
| Gaspari Nutrition Spirodex | Gaspari | Discontinued |
| 1 MR (Original Formula) | BPI Sports | Reformulated |
Criminal Prosecution: USPlabs (Jack3d, OxyElite Pro) was criminally indicted in 2015. The company destroyed $8 million worth of products.
articleDMBA-Containing Products (FDA Ban: April 2015)
DMBA (1,3-dimethylbutylamine) was determined by the FDA in 2015 to be unsafe and unapproved. The FDA issued warning letters to 25 companies.
| Product | Manufacturer | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Muscle Sports Rhino | Muscle Sports | Discontinued |
DMBA is chemically similar to banned DMAA and appears on the DoD Prohibited Dietary Supplement Ingredients list.
articleDMHA-Containing Products (FDA Ban: April 2019)
DMHA (2-aminoisoheptane) was classified by the FDA as unsafe and adulterated in April 2019. Warning letters were issued to Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals, IQ Formulations, Metabolic Nutrition, and others.
| Product | Manufacturer | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Chaos and Pain Cannibal Ferox AMPED | Chaos and Pain | Discontinued |
| Dark Energy | Unknown | Illegally available |
| 1MR OG (2024-2025) | BPI Sports | Contains DMHA - WARNING |
2024-2025 Note: BPI Sports brought back 1MR with DMHA, making it still in violation of FDA regulations.
articleSARMs - FDA Warning Letters 2017-Present
SARMs are prohibited by WADA, FDA, and DoD. The FDA issued warning letters to Infantry Labs LLC, IronMagLabs, and Panther Sports Nutrition in October 2017.
| SARM | Other Names | Known Risks |
|---|---|---|
| Ligandrol | LGD-4033 | Liver toxicity, lipid changes |
| Ostarine | MK-2866, S-22 | Liver toxicity, cardiovascular risk |
| Testolone | RAD-140 | Liver toxicity, cardiac risk |
| Andarine | S-4 | Vision changes, liver toxicity |
| Cardarine | GW-501516 | Carcinogenicity (animal studies) |
| Ibutamoren | MK-677 | Insulin resistance |
Notable Case: Enhanced Athlete CEO was sentenced to 3 years in prison for selling SARMs containing DNP.
articleOxyElite Pro - Hepatotoxicity Crisis (2013)
The OxyElite Pro Super Thermo Reformulation (containing Aegeline) was linked to 29 cases of severe acute liver failure in Hawaii in 2013, with 7 cases requiring emergency liver transplantation.
- Manufacturer: USPlabs
- Banned Ingredient: Aegeline (synthesized from bael fruit)
- Status: Discontinued
- Hospitalization Rate: 86%
- Median Peak ALT: 2,242 U/L
articleWADA Prohibited Stimulants Found in Supplements
These stimulants are banned for athletic competition but still found in supplements:
| Stimulant | Alternative Names | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Eria Jarensis Extract | N,N-Dimethylphenethylamine | WADA Prohibited (S6) |
| Higenamine | Norcoclaurine | WADA Prohibited |
| Oxilofrine | Methylsynephrine | WADA Prohibited + FDA Warning |
| N-Methyl Tyramine | NMT | WADA Prohibited |
| Adrafinil | CRL-40048 | WADA Prohibited |
2025 Study: Dr. Pieter Cohen found 33% of Eria Jarensis products contained undeclared stimulants, including 2 with banned DMAA.
articleDoD Military Banned Supplements List
The Department of Defense maintains a Prohibited Dietary Supplement Ingredients list that all Service Members must avoid:
- DMAA (1,3-dimethylamylamine) - Banned Dec 2011
- DMHA (2-aminoisoheptane) - Banned 2019
- DMBA (1,3-dimethylbutylamine) - Banned 2015
- All SARMs - Prohibited
- Ephedra/Ephedrine - Banned
- DNP (2,4-Dinitrophenol) - Extremely toxic
Service Members who test positive for prohibited substances face discharge, loss of benefits, and potential court-martial.
help_outlineFrequently Asked Questions
menu_bookReferences & Sources
- [1]FDA Information on DMAA(FDA, 2013)
- [2]OPSS Prohibited Dietary Supplement Ingredients(DoD OPSS, 2024)
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