Ben Roberts-Smith has joined a promotional collaboration with Zero Limits, a gym supplement business that previously marketed a pre-workout product named “war crimes”. The former soldier, one of Australia’s most decorated living soldiers, is awaiting trial on war crimes charges. His recently launched clothing label, Epic 1 Two, makes t-shirts and gym wear.
A video posted in October showed Roberts-Smith exercising alongside Chris Katelaris, a right-wing podcaster and fitness coach known as “Big Chocky”, and others. Katelaris co-owns Zero Limits. Graphics paired the supplements company’s name with Epic 1 Two, and both businesses were identified as collaborators. The footage appears on both brands’ Instagram grids.
In earlier months, Zero Limits repeatedly advertised the “war crimes” supplement online in a flavour called “kill or capture cola”. Its packaging showed a hooded captive seated in a room with an Australian flag, alongside a tall figure dressed in military-style clothing and a balaclava. In a July 26 promotional video, Katelaris held a tub at a gym and invoked drinking from a prosthetic leg, re-enacting a Sparta kick and executing a workout.
The product is no longer listed on the website of Zero Limits, which describes itself as veteran owned and operated. Roberts-Smith is not shown using, mentioning or endorsing that supplement. He has, however, promoted a different pre-workout drink from the company. In an Instagram story posted through Epic 1 Two and subsequently shared by Zero Limits, he drank the other product, praised the business and directed followers to its website. He also appeared last week on the Zero Limits podcast, hosted by another founder of the supplements company.
Roberts-Smith was arrested in April and charged with five counts of war crime murder concerning three incidents during his Afghanistan service in 2009 and 2012. AFP commissioner Krissy Barrett said in April that the allegations concerned Afghan nationals shot dead either by Roberts-Smith or by a subordinate under his command while he was present. He denies the charges. In a statement following his arrest, he said: “I categorically deny all of these allegations”. He also said he intended to clear his name and remained proud of his Afghanistan service.
In an earlier defamation case, the federal court found that Roberts-Smith had murdered unarmed civilians while serving with the Australian Special Air Service Regiment in Afghanistan. Those findings were made under the civil balance of probabilities standard. The court found that he kicked Ali Jan in the chest, causing him to fall backwards over a cliff, and then ordered another soldier to shoot him dead.
Separate media reporting accused Roberts-Smith of shooting an unarmed prisoner with a prosthetic leg. Soldiers subsequently used the leg as a drinking vessel. Katelaris also sells merchandise supporting Roberts-Smith under his own name, including t-shirts, hats, hoodies and stubby coolers bearing the slogan “I stand with BRS”.
Zero Limits, Katelaris and Roberts-Smith were approached for comment. Responding through a lawyer, the company did not address specific questions and instead encouraged people to check out its products. Katelaris, responding through the same lawyer, also left the specific questions unanswered and referred to a campaign due the following week.
