SOLDIERS on overseas duty have had protein powders and creatine supplements confiscated from them as they left the country.

The Department of Defence has admitted that dietary supplements and muscle-building powders have been "forbidden" for all troops serving in Chad.

Body-building soldiers and other troops who keep in shape by lifting weights had sought to bring supplements with them earlier this year, a routine search of their baggage discovered.

The Department of Defence said: "The director of the Defence Forces medical corps has recommended that all personnel should be discouraged from the use of dietary supplements/ muscle-building agents of any kind unless taken under medical advice.

"The director has also advised that their use by personnel deployed on overseas duty should be forbidden. Any person who believes that he or she requires supplements are advised to consult with a military medical officer who will advise accordingly."

Hundreds of Irish soldiers involved in lifting weights and other competitive sports are known to take advantage of creatine or protein powders to help recovery and boost muscle growth.

The powders are completely legal and are sold openly in health-food shops around the country. They are used by professional rugby stars, GAA players and even secondary-school children.

While some minor health fears have been raised about the use of creatine in the past, no such concerns have ever been associated with the use of protein powders.

One soldier, who served in Chad, said: "They're using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. They've got it into their head that there is a similarity between creatine and protein powders on one hand and steroids on the other hand.

"The troops who had the material confiscated were made to feel as if they had done something wrong but they are taking these same supplements at home every day. It would be a lot worse if they made no attempt to keep themselves in good physical condition."

The Department of Defence said it had sought a recommendation from the director of the Defence Forces medical corps after the bags of soldiers were searched on the way to Chad.

It said: "This recommendation stems from a routine search of baggage for personnel deploying to Chad with the 99th Infantry Battalion earlier this year during which military police personnel noted food supplements being consigned with luggage.

"Upon medical advice, the officer commanding directed that food supplements were to be removed from baggage and their consignment to Chad was not permitted. As this issue had not been foreseen, personnel for this flight would not have been notified in advance."

The Defence Forces' Cmdt Gavin Young said the ban on the use of dietary supplements had a sound medical basis. "Given the harsh physical environment troops deploy to and given all personnel are taking malarial prophylaxis, their use may nullify diagnostic medical tests or may interact with medicines taken on prescription," he said.

The supplements ban is the latest bizarre directive to affect the troops serving overseas in tough desert conditions in Africa.

They have also been prohibited from playing a number of contact sports, including rugby, soccer and volleyball, because of fears of injury.

As revealed in the Sunday Tribune last week, 34 soldiers have had to be repatriated from Chad at a cost of more than €60,000. A number of those were on medical grounds relating to fractures incurred through falls.

Minister for defence Willie O'Dea told the Dáil: "The reality in Chad is that the ground is extremely hard... While we would prefer it if there was no ban on any type of sporting activity, the force commander has a duty of care for the health and safety of the troops under his command."