Fatal Toxicity From Banned Diet Drug Triggers Coroner Inquiry
A 20-year-old competitive bodybuilder died from 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) toxicity on Dec. 22, 2024, after seeking emergency treatment for breathing difficulties. State Coroner Adam Nakhoda ruled the student’s death a substance-related accident on Oct. 16. Because of a court-issued gag order, the polytechnic student cannot be named in public reports.
It is falsely marketed by illicit sellers as a fast and safe weight-loss drug.
During intense preparations for bodybuilding competitions, the youth spent long hours training.
His family trusted him and did not question the supplements he used. In September 2024, his mother noticed his breathing had become heavy. Police later recovered 34 types of medications and substances from his home, many of which were for managing the side effects of taking performance-enhancing steroids.
On the morning of Dec. 22, 2024, the student went to the emergency department of Mount Elizabeth Hospital reporting difficulty breathing. There were plans for his urgent admission to intensive care, but his father requested a transfer to Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) as their insurance did not cover a private hospital ward. The youth was taken by ambulance and handed over to TTSH at around 5:15 am. He became increasingly agitated and physically aggressive, and had to be chemically sedated. At around 8:40 am, he suffered a cardiac arrest.
After 40 minutes of resuscitation, he was pronounced dead at 9:20 am. Post-mortem toxicology screenings detected DNP in urine and stomach samples taken from the youth after his death. The police seized the youth’s phone but could not unlock it. As a result, the source of the various substances, including the DNP, could not be established. It could also not be ascertained whether the youth knew that he was consuming DNP.
Family Questions and Upcoming Court Proceedings
During the coroner’s inquiry, the victim’s mother said she took issue with TTSH’s care. She said there was a person from the bodybuilding community behaving suspiciously at the youth’s wake.
The mother agreed to do so. A follow-up court session for the case has been scheduled for Oct. 26. Police investigations did not suspect foul play.