The chemist to the stars behind a controversial chain of "hydration clinics" has been charged after allegedly stealing more than $250,000 worth of prescription drugs, including peptides and steroids, from the chemist linked to the Essendon drug scandal.
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Models, soap stars and DJs such as Pia Miller and Ruby Rose are customers at the iv.me Hydration Clinic, which markets itself as part of the "wellness" movement and offers intravenous vitamin infusions as an energy boost, detox or hangover cure.
The treatments have faced staunch criticism from doctors and health authorities, who question whether clients are being told about the risks of side effects from the drips, which they say have no real benefits.
Now the clinic is under another cloud as its director, 27-year-old pharmacist Shadi Kazeme, faces legal action after claims she stole more than a quarter of a million dollars worth of drugs and peptides.
The alleged theft is detailed in documents filed in the Victorian County Court by compounding pharmacist Nima Alavi, who is suing Ms Kazeme for the value of the drugs he says went missing from his South Yarra business.
Mr Alavi became renowned as a key figure in the Essendon drugs saga, after the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority claimed he provided banned drug thymosin beta-4 to sports scientist Stephen Dank to inject in players.
Fairfax Media can also reveal that Victoria Police is investigating the alleged theft as a criminal matter and has laid charges against Ms Kazeme, who will face the Melbourne Magistrates Court in August.
Court documents lodged as part of the civil action show Ms Kazeme started working at Mr Alavi's Como Compounding Pharmacy in January 2014.
It is claimed that Ms Kazeme began "appropriating by theft" vast amounts of drugs, including prescription medicine, from the pharmacy over a 15-month period until June 2015.
When Mr Alavi demanded compensation from Ms Kazeme for the "misappropriated" stock, court documents allege she refused to comply and told him that she had sold the drugs.
As damages, Mr Alavi is seeking reimbursement for the drugs, which he says are worth $285,391.05.
The list of missing drugs has been lodged in court as part of the lawsuit.
As well as various antibiotics and steroids, court documents claim Ms Kazeme stole three substances that became well-known throughout the Essendon scandal: AOD-9604, Melanotan II and thymosin beta-4.
Ms Kazeme is also alleged to have stolen $98,420 worth of the human growth hormone Scitropin, and $41,520 of the peptides GHRP-2 and GHRP-6.
The iv.me Hydration Clinics have come under fire this year. NSW Health closed down the company's Sydney-based office when a woman was hospitalised following an intravenous vitamin infusion.
Ms Kazeme is currently listed as "suspended" on the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency register of practitioners, indicating that she is also under investigation by the professional body.
An AHPRA spokesperson said it did not comment on individual matters.
When contacted, a receptionist at iv.me's South Yarra office said the clinic was still taking appointments.
Leading doctor Ken Harvey, from Monash University, had earlier alleged that Ms Kazeme and iv.me had broken the law by advertising claims that are likely to be false, misleading or deceptive, or create an unreasonable expectation of benefit.
The IVs and shots, which cost up to $349 a hit, make various bold claims, including that they can quickly boost immunity and energy.
The clinic's Instagram account is littered with endorsements by actresss, socialites and models, as well as pictures of fruit and vegetables with needles and drips.
Home and Away star Pia Miller posted a photo of herself hooked up to an iv.me drip, explaining that she was feeling "pretty run down with a cold" and that her infusion included vitamin C, B complexes, magnesium, calcium, and zinc.
Former Deal or No Deal suitcase model Chelsea Butler is also a client, as is Wheel Of Fortune co-host Laura Csortan.
Ms Kazeme and iv.me have so far not responded to requests for comment. She is yet to file a defence to Mr Alavi's claims.
Mr Alavi's solicitor declined to comment as the matter is before the courts.