Maximuscle founder Zef Eisenberger has been killed attempting a British land speed record ©Facebook

Zef Eisenberger, the founder of sports nutrition company Maximuscle, once at the centre of a doping scandal involving some of Britain’s leading athletes, has been killed attempting a British land speed record.

The 47-year-old died yesterday at Elvington Airfield, near York, when his "went out of control at high speed at the end of a run" yesterday.

Eisenberg was involved in a "near-death" 230 miles per hour crash at the same airfield in 2016. 

Motorsport UK announced that Eisenberg was attempting to break the British land speed record in a Porsche 911 Turbo S when he was killed.

The organisation paid tribute to the “much-loved member of the motorsport community and confirmed a full investigation into the crash had begun.

Maximuscle said it was “devastated” at the news of the Eisenberg's death, who had “worked tirelessly” on his “brainchild” during his ownership of the company.

Twenty years ago, several leading British athletes endorsed Maximuscle’s products, including Olympic silver medallist Mark Richardson and European champion Dougie Walker.

But they were among several sportsmen and women who used Maximuscle products to fail drugs tests – mostly for nandrolone - and be banned.

Eisenberger also insisted that none of Maximuscle’s products used by the athletes contained banned performance-enhancing drugs.

Olympic silver medallist Mark Richardson was several British athletes who endorsed Maximuscle products but later failed drugs tests ©Getty Images
Olympic silver medallist Mark Richardson was several British athletes who endorsed Maximuscle products but later failed drugs tests ©Getty Images

But Richardson and Walker both endorsed supplements in a catalogue published by Maximuscle that did advertise product containing banned substances - and an encyclopaedia on how to use steroids.

Eisenberg claimed Richardson's dietary supplements could have been spiked, otherwise he speculated that the positive result was caused by a flaw in test procedures.

At the time, Maximuscle claimed it was the only company in its industry to test every batch it produces for nandrolone contamination.

"We look after more than 300 world-class athletes and it's inevitable there will be a minute percentage who will test positive [for reasons unconnected with the product]," Eisenberg said.

The controversy, however, did not hard the company’s reputation too badly.

Eisenberger had founded Maximuscle in 1995 on £3,000 ($3,900/€3,300) and sold it in 2011 to GlaxoSmithKline for £162 million ($210/€178 million).

Eisenberg later ran the Madmax Race Team, which attempts speed records with motorbikes and cars.

Eisenberg left behind his partner Mirella D'Antonio and two children.