Ben Roberts-Smith collaborates with gym business run by influencer that sold ‘war crimes’ pre-workout supplement

Zero Limits supplements is co-owned by rightwing podcaster and fitness coach Chris Katelaris, also known as ‘Big Chocky’

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Ben Roberts-Smith has collaborated with a gym supplements company run by a rightwing influencer which recently sold a pre-workout product called “war crimes”.

Roberts-Smith, one of Australia’s most decorated living soldiers who is currently awaiting trial on war crimes charges, has recently launched an apparel brand, Epic 1 Two, producing T-shirts and gym wear.

In October, he also appeared in a social media video collaboration between his brand and Zero Limits supplements, co-owned by the rightwing podcaster and fitness coach Chris Katelaris, also known as “Big Chocky”.

Roberts-Smith, Katelaris and others were filmed during a gym workout, with on-screen graphics reading “Zero Limits Supplements x Epic 1 Two”. Both brands were labelled “collaborators” on the video, which is also published on the Instagram grids of both brands.

Months earlier, Zero Limits had repeatedly posted online about a product titled “war crimes”, an energy supplement in the flavour “kill or capture cola”. Its label depicted a hooded captive on a chair in a room with an Australian flag on the wall, and a tall figure wearing a balaclava and military-style clothing.

In a video on 26 July, Katelaris promoted the product while holding a tub at the gym.

“You wanna drink out of a prosthetic leg? You wanna re-enact a Sparta kick? You wanna execute your workout?” he said.

Zero Limits, which says it is “veteran owned and operated”, does not currently list the “war crimes” product on its website, and Roberts-Smith is not shown endorsing, referencing or using that particular product.

The former soldier has praised another product from Zero Limits, posting an Instagram story – since shared by the brand – from Epic 1 Two’s Instagram page of himself drinking a separate pre-workout drink.

Roberts-Smith gave the brand a “massive shout out” and told followers to “get on their website and take a look”, sharing a link to its website. Roberts-Smith also last week appeared on the Zero Limits podcast, hosted by another founder of the supplements company of the same name.

Roberts-Smith was in April arrested and charged with five counts of war crime – murder, in relation to three incidents stemming from his service in Afghanistan in 2009 and 2012.

He has denied the charges, saying in a statement after his arrest: “As I’ve always maintained: I categorically deny all of these allegations … I will be taking this opportunity to finally clear my name. I’m proud of my service in Afghanistan.”

The three incidents allegedly involved Afghan nationals being shot dead by Roberts-Smith, or a subordinate under his command, while he was present, the AFP commissioner, Krissy Barrett, said in April.