Military Apparel: Ben Roberts-Smith Partners with Gym Supplement Brand

The former Australian special forces soldier Ben Roberts-Smith has entered a promotional partnership with Zero Limits, a gym supplement company. Roberts-Smith is currently awaiting trial on five counts of war crime murder. His new clothing label, Epic 1 Two, sells t-shirts and gym wear to fitness enthusiasts.

An October video shows Roberts-Smith exercising with Chris Katelaris, a right-wing podcaster and fitness coach known as Big Chocky. Katelaris co-owns Zero Limits. Graphics in the footage identify both businesses as collaborators. The clip appears on the Instagram pages of both brands.

Zero Limits previously marketed a pre-workout supplement named "war crimes" in a flavor called "kill or capture cola." The packaging featured a hooded captive in a room with an Australian flag, next to a tall figure in military-style clothing and a balaclava. In a July 26 video, Katelaris held a tub at a gym and re-enacted a Sparta kick while drinking from a prosthetic leg. The product is no longer listed on the company's website, which describes itself as veteran owned and operated.

Roberts-Smith has promoted a different pre-workout drink from the company. An Instagram story from Epic 1 Two showed him drinking the product and directing followers to the Zero Limits website. He also appeared on the Zero Limits podcast last week, hosted by another founder of the supplements company.

Roberts-Smith was arrested in April and charged over three incidents in Afghanistan during 2009 and 2012. AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett stated the allegations involve Afghan nationals shot dead by Roberts-Smith or a subordinate under his command. He denies the charges, saying in a statement: "I categorically deny all of these allegations." A federal court previously found in a civil case that he murdered unarmed civilians, including kicking Ali Jan over a cliff.

Katelaris sells merchandise under his own name, including t-shirts and stubby coolers with the slogan "I stand with BRS." Zero Limits, Katelaris, and Roberts-Smith were approached for comment. Responding through a lawyer, the company did not answer specific questions and encouraged people to check out its products. Katelaris also left questions unanswered and referred to a campaign due the following week.