The Colombian authorities are now investigating the origins of funds belonging to Venezuelan influencer Sascha Patricia Barboza Schmidt, better known as Sascha Fitness, after it was discovered that her dietary supplements distributed under her name lack health registration.
The National Institute for Food and Drug Surveillance (Invima) has issued a health alert regarding the illegal commercialization of products from the Hydrolyzed – Sascha Fitness Colombia brand. These dietary supplements, promoted by the renowned content creator Sascha Fitness, do not have valid health registration and pose a health risk to consumers.
Invima has warned that the products from the Hydrolyzed – Sascha Fitness Colombia brand, advertised as dietary supplements on the official commercial platform Sascha Fitness Colombia, lack current health registration. This indicates that they have not been evaluated for quality, safety, and efficacy, which poses a risk to the health of consumers. Additionally, critical factors such as their composition and the conditions of storage, transportation, and distribution remain unknown.
The products under this alert include BCAA Natural Lima-Limon, BCAA Natural Mango Coconut, BCAA Natural Pineapple, BCAA Natural Piña Colada, BCAAA Natural Watermelon, and BCAA Grape, marketed under the BCAA – Sascha Fitness Colombia brand. The investigation by Colombian authorities into who is behind these companies has revealed the names of Waldo Enrique Ordoñez Matheus and Andrés Eduardo Ordoñez Matos, the father-in-law and husband, respectively, of the Marabina.
Waldo Ordoñez Matheus is under investigation in Venezuela for corruption and overpricing in the construction of stadiums for the 2007 Copa América, particularly regarding the Metropolitan Stadium of Mérida. In his ownership company that executed this work, Pavimentadora Onica S.A., his young son also appears as a shareholder. In connection with this case, a travel ban was imposed on Ordoñez Matheus on May 4, 2022, along with the then-president of the Venezuelan Olympic Committee, Eduardo Esteban Álvarez Camacho, his governmental partner at the time.
Waldo Enrique Ordoñez Matheus, father-in-law of Sascha Fitness
The route of money transfers from the two Ordoñez has led to a company registered in a tax haven that appeared in the Paradise Papers: Thirty Fitness Investments LTD, where Sascha Fitness and her husband are listed as shareholders. This company has been requested by Colombian authorities to provide its financial information. The trail of funds stemming from Venezuelan corruption also points to NutriCorp LLC, another company with the same shareholders but based in Florida.
Thirty Fitness Investments of Sascha Fitness
In light of this situation, Invima advises the public to refrain from purchasing products from this brand and to discontinue use immediately if they are consuming them. It is crucial to always verify the health registration and authenticity of such products through the official Invima website.
The agency also calls on retailers to refrain from distributing and selling the previously mentioned illegal products, as their sale may lead to the implementation of health safety measures.
Sascha Fitness, for her part, has responded to these accusations by asserting that she has all the necessary permits and registrations from Invima for marketing her products in Colombia. However, Invima insists that the dietary supplements of the brand do not meet legal requirements and pose a health risk to consumers.
Invima also warns about the presence of fraudulent products in the black market, where some retailers acquire Sascha Fitness products through purchases on her website and then ship them to Colombia without the necessary permits. Therefore, consumers are advised to exercise caution when purchasing medicines or dietary supplements without valid health registration, as they may contain ingredients that could jeopardize their health.