Are SARMs Legal? (Complete Country List)

SARMs are often described online as a legal middle ground between natural supplements and anabolic steroids. In reality, their legal and regulatory status is considerably more complicated.

Selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) are experimental compounds developed to produce some androgen-like effects while potentially offering greater tissue selectivity than traditional anabolic steroids. They are now widely marketed online as “research chemicals,” often alongside claims about muscle growth, fat loss, and athletic performance.

But “research chemical,” “legal,” and “approved for human use” are not the same thing.

In the United States, the FDA states that SARMs are not approved for human use and has warned about potentially serious adverse effects. In Canada, SARMs have not been authorized for any medical use. Australia regulates SARMs as unapproved therapeutic goods, while New Zealand currently states that importing, selling, or using unapproved SARMs is illegal.

This guide explains what “legal” actually means in the SARM market, how selected countries currently approach these compounds, and why you should check the laws that apply to your specific location and intended use before buying or importing anything.

Are SARMs Considered Dietary Supplements?

No, not by any means. They are considered the exact opposite. They cannot be sold as dietary supplements because they cannot be used in competitive sports. They are banned in competition, and thus the people who sell SARMs, such as SARMs companies, need to say that these are for research only as they are research chemical(s).

For a compound to be classified as such, it needs more research to show the full negative effects as well as the positive effects. As of this moment, they are not supplements.

Are SARMS Legal: A List of Countries

The table below is designed as a high-level regulatory guide, not legal advice.

What are SARMs?

Selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) are experimental compounds designed to activate androgen receptors in a more tissue-selective manner than traditional anabolic-androgenic steroids.

The goal behind their development was to investigate whether it might be possible to obtain some of the beneficial effects of androgen signaling—such as effects on muscle and bone—while reducing some unwanted effects associated with broader androgen activity.

Compounds commonly discussed as SARMs include:

• Ostarine (MK-2866 / enobosarm)
• Ligandrol (LGD-4033)
• Andarine (S-4)
• RAD-140 (Testolone)
• S-23
• YK-11

Not every compound commonly sold alongside SARMs is actually a SARM.

For example, MK-677 (ibutamoren) is a growth hormone secretagogue, while Cardarine (GW-501516) is a PPAR-delta agonist. Both are frequently marketed in the same online ecosystem but belong to different pharmacological categories.

Are SARMs banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)?

Yes, SARMs are banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Researched SARMs show that they will bind to the androgen receptors and cause a massive increase in muscle-building capabilities. For instance, LGD 4033 made by Ligand Pharmaceuticals has been shown to increase lean body mass with very minor potential health risks.

This increased physical function gives you an obvious unfair advantage over your competition. This is why we mostly see professional bodybuilders using SARMs, as well as other fitness enthusiasts.

Why Does SARM Legal Status Vary?

Several factors can affect how a compound is regulated:

Intended use

A chemical intended for laboratory analysis may be treated differently from a product marketed for human consumption.

How it is marketed

A website selling a compound as a research reference material is making a different representation from a website advertising muscle gains, fat loss, or recommended human dosing.

Importation

A compound may be available online but still be restricted when imported into a particular country.

Supply and sale

The legal rules governing a consumer who possesses a compound can differ from the rules governing a business that imports or supplies it.

The specific compound

“SARMs” is a broad category. Individual substances can have different regulatory histories and restrictions.

Why Online Availability Doesn’t Mean a SARM Is Legal

This is one of the most common misconceptions.

A seller can operate a website from one country while shipping into another country with completely different rules.

The fact that a checkout page accepts your address doesn’t demonstrate that the importation or sale is lawful.

Australian regulators specifically warn consumers that products purchased from overseas websites may not have been assessed for safety, quality, or effectiveness and can be stopped at the border.