Ben Roberts-Smith has collaborated with a gym supplements company run by a right-wing 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 right-wing 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.
"War crimes, it's the pre-workout for you."
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.
Roberts-Smith was previously found in a defamation suit – using the civil standard of the balance of probabilities – to have murdered unarmed civilians while serving in the Australian Special Air Service Regiment (SAS) in Afghanistan.
The federal court found to the lower civil standard that Roberts-Smith kicked Afghan man Ali Jan in the chest, sending him falling backwards over a cliff before he landed on the ground. The court found that Roberts-Smith then ordered another soldier to shoot him dead.
Roberts-Smith was also accused in media reporting of shooting an unarmed prisoner who had a prosthetic leg. The leg was later used as a drinking vessel by soldiers.
Zero Limits, Katelaris and Roberts-Smith were contacted for comment.
In a statement via a lawyer, Zero Limits did not respond to specific questions, only answering: "The products are great, make sure you check them out."
In a statement via the same lawyer, Katelaris also did not respond to specific questions, but said: "If you thought this was wild, wait until next week's campaign drops."
Katelaris lists himself as a "co-owner" of the supplements brand in his Instagram bio. He also promotes a range of merchandise under his own name in support of Roberts-Smith, including "I stand with BRS" t-shirts, hats, hoodies and stubby coolers.
