New York Police Department (NYPD) Deputy Chief Michael Marino refused to accept departmental punishment that would dock him 30 days pay and place him on one year probation (”Steroid Cop will fight the rap,” August 15). 

Marino was on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) for which he obtained a topical testosterone cream from a Lowen’s Pharmacy. Unfortunately, Lowen’s Pharmacy was implicated in a high-profile steroid scandal involving the illegal distribution of anabolic steroids and human growth hormone. The steroid hysteria involving cops on steroids unfairly maligned the media, the public, and NYPD against steroid use for any reason - even legitimate medical reasons.

NYPD Internal Affairs cleared Marino of legal wrongdoing since he had a prescription for testosterone; he also provided medical records substantiating a legitimate indication for the anabolic steroid testosterone.

The basis of the punishment offered to Marino in the NYPD plea agreement is based on an alleged violation of NYPD’s drug use policy; NYPD claims he used testosterone for bodybuilding purposes. The NYPD used the fact that Marino was passionate about weightlifting to substantiate their case.

Fortunately, Deputy Chief Marino has refused the plea agreement and is challenging the NYPD drug use policy at a departmental trial. We hope that the NYPD chooses to permit the therapeutic use of testosterone in men diagnosed with low testosterone even if they enjoy weightlifting and/or bodybuilding. Clearly, if TRT is an acceptable medical treatment, then a patient’s decision to weightlift or bodybuild should not affect the legitimacy of the treatment.