Andy: I liked the drink so much I bought the company!
Murray has shares in the ‘elixir’ that helped him overcome injury
IT’S the elixir Sir Andy Murray credits with helping save his career.
But 24 hours after the tennis legend was photographed drinking a new supplement, it has emerged he has shares in the company that makes it.
TRR Nutrition Advanced Collagen was launched this week with the celebrity backing of Scotland’s leading sports star and former Chelsea FC doctor Eva Carneiro.
Sir Andy paid fulsome tribute to its virtues, revealing he has been taking a daily dose while recovering from hip surgery.
His remarkable return to the sport comes only nine months after he tearfully announced his imminent retirement due to injury.
But documents show Sir Andy holds a 12.5 per cent stake in the small London-based company Nutraformis Ltd, which is behind the brand name TRR Nutrition. The former Wimbledon champion from Dunblane, Perthshire, bought the shares in February this year, after the Advanced Collagen product was apparently formulated especially for him.
A source said: ‘A couple of years ago, Andy was looking around for products that could alleviate his condition or prolong his career.
‘His nutritionist Glenn Kearney got talking to these guys who had collagen-based products. Andy has around 40 other investments and has a good track record, particularly in the area of health.
‘He liked the company and it was a show of faith from the outset in what they were already doing with collagen. Andy would not be comfortable putting his name to something he didn’t use himself.’
Collagen is a protein that is a key component of skin but also of ligaments and tendons. Some research has suggested taking supplements may help build muscle mass and speed up recovery from injury.
TRR Nutrition’s product comes in the form of a daily liquid dose fortified with the spices turmeric and ginger, plus other nutrients including copper and vitamin C. It comes with price tag of £38.99 for a pack of ten.
Launching the product, Sir Andy said: ‘After my hip operation, to get back to the highest level of fitness, I knew I would have to train incredibly hard and push my body. I wanted to leave no stone unturned.
‘At the beginning of 2018, my nutritionist approached Nutraformis and asked them to develop a pro-athlete liquid collagen supplement with a combination of active nutrients specifically formulated for me.
‘Collagen supplementation might be a relatively new addition to sports nutrition, but with the growing research and support from my team, I believe it is set to play an important role in the future.’
The company says Dr Carneiro – who left Chelsea in 2015 following a very public run-in with manager Jose Mourinho during a match – helped develop the product.
She now runs a private sports science practice in London and has a 5 per cent stake in Nutraformis.
Sir Andy, 32, is aiming to compete at the top level by early 2020, hopefully at the Australian Open in January.
‘I wanted to leave no stone unturned’