A WRISTBAND claiming to boost strength, balance and flexibility has been exposed as a fake.

The ACCC ordered Power Balance Australia to cease marketing its wristbands with claims of boosted sporting performance, and demanded they refund people already duped by the purported benefits.

Sports stars from Brendan Fevola to Damien Oliver have been seen with the faux performance enhancers on their wrists, but their scientific credentials have been well behind their marketing.

ACCC chairman Graeme Samuel said the bands had been exposed as fake and warned people off them as a last-minute gift.

"I'm hoping they are not thinking it's a good idea," he said. "They cost a lot of money for something that may not do anything."

The wristbands were still available for $30 on Power Balance's website on Wednesday afternoon, but claims of their benefits had been removed, and would also be removed from packaging.

"You could buy rubber bands from the newsagent and have a fresh one every day of the year," Mr Samuel said.

Without the science to back up the claims, Power Balance was ordered to repay all buyers who felt they were misled.

Power Balance has admitted its claims had no credible basis and its marketing of the bands could have been misleading. It pledged to remove misleading representations on its website and product packaging.

Consumer group Choice this year called on Power Balance to prove its claims, but it took the ACCC until Wednesday to resolve the matter.

If you would like a refund, contact the Power Balance refund line on 1800 733 436 between 9am and 5pm.

mawbyn@heraldsun.com.au

Originally published as Power bands exposed as fakes