September 30, 2008
An IFBB pro bodybuilder convicted of GHB/GBL distribution and sentenced to over 10 years in prison was released early due to his history of steroid use and his muscle dysmorphia. Ironically, Justin Rys’ steroid use and participation in bodybuilding worked to his benefit in the New Zealand criminal justice system!!
A New Zealand “3 News” video report describes how “megarexia” and Rys’ desire to become a pro bodybuilder caused him to become addicted to GHB/GBL (aka Fantasy) and start illegally importing GHB/GBL (”Mr. Big,” September 29).
Some people become addicted to alcohol, some addicted to gambling. Justin is addicted to weight gain, an addiction labelled megarexic. His addiction saw him thrown in jail for importing illegal drugs with a $2 million street value, all intended for himself, in his attempt to become a champion bodybuilder.
September 30, 2008
Individuals who purchased steroids earlier this year at bodybuilding gyms in Opelousas, Eunice and Krotz Springs (Louisiana) may currently be “monitored” by the St. Landry Sheriff Department. This is a consequence of a major steroid bust in Louisiana last summer that uncovered a staggering (!) $15,000 in anabolic steroids and resulted in six arrests thus far.
The steroid bust by the St. Landry Sheriff Department was the result of a seven-month investigation that involved local distributors of Generic Labs Pharmaceuticals. Some of the customers identified as buying steroids were local high school football players.
The Daily Advertiser reported today that St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby Guidroz and his detectives are still “monitoring” at least 100 customers/clients who purchased anabolic steroids in an effort to arrest more steroid distributors Read more
September 27, 2008
The popular documentary about anabolic steroids can be purchased at the 2008 Olympia Expo in Las Vegas this weekend. “Bigger Stronger Faster*” is a critical exploration of anabolic steroids and performance enhancing drugs in sports and society which tackles many more serious ethical and political issues along the way. The producers of this steroid documentary have a booth (#146) at the 2008 Olympia Expo (September 26-27) where visitors can purchase a copy of the DVD prior to its official nationwide release on September 30, 2008. The Bigger Stronger Faster DVD can also be pre-ordered from Amazon
I have had the privilege of corresponding with the producers throughout the production and release of this terrific film. I have previously interviewed the director, Christopher Bell, and also had the chance to spend a couple of hours with him in the Magnolia Pictures press conference at the Orleans Hotel & Casino watching the bonus features that are included in the DVD version in addition to the feature presentation.
I also visited again with Tamsin Rawady and Alex Buono, the talented filmmakers who collaborated with Chris Bell to create “Bigger Stronger Faster*”. Tamsin and Alex bring a unique perspective to the documentary as outsiders to the world of anabolic steroids.
September 26, 2008
In April 2008 the Wall Street Journal reported that steroid-induced muscle gains may be permanent. MESO-Rx identified the unnamed and unpublished research study belonging to Swedish researcher Anders Ericsson of the Umea University. Ericsson’s October 2006 doctoral thesis was entitled “Strength training and anabolic steroids: a comparative study of the trapezius, a shoulder muscle and the vastus lateralis, a thigh muscle, of strength trained athletes”.
Anders Ericsson will discuss his research and its implications at the American Physiological Society conference in Hilton Head, South Carolina this weekend (September 24-27, 2008).
Dr. Eriksson will discuss the team’s study, “Anabolic Steroids Withdrawal in Strength Trained Athletes: How Does It Affect Skeletal Muscles?,” at a conference sponsored by the American Physiological Society. The conference, The Integrative Biology of Exercise V, will be held September 24-27, 2008 in Hilton Head, SC.
The possibility that anabolics steroids could have permanent effects on muscular development and/or performance enhancement runs contrary to widely held belief that one loses all of the results gained from steroids once the drug is discontinued Read more
September 25, 2008
William Llewellyn and Ronny Tuber recently tested 14 anabolic steroid products from various underground labs (UGLs) for toxic heavy metals and quantification of steroid dosing. Twenty-one percent of the steroid products were contaminated with lead, tin, mercury, and/or arsenic; 64% were significantly underdosed or overdosed. Most notably, the names of the UGLs that “failed” the quality control testing analysis were omitted.
MESO-Rx has uncovered the identities of the labs that failed the tests based on a February 28, 2007 Body of Science forum post by Ronny Tober. We contacted William Llewellyn alerting him to this publicly posted information. He wanted readers to realize that there are serious “chain of custody” issues involved in the testing of such underground anabolic steroid products. This is the reason that he is unable to reveal and/or confirm the identities of the products that failed the testing.
The steroid samples tested were tested at the request of a popular Scandinavian board and obtained on the European black market. As such, there are no guarantees that the chain of custody has been preserved. In the underground androgen black market, it is not uncommon for counterfeit products of other underground products to be distributed. The products tested may or may not be original products produced by the company on the label. It is with this understanding that MESO-Rx is releasing the following information.
September 23, 2008
Most bodybuilders who use anabolic steroids manufactured by underground labs (UGLs) in the United States are primarily concerned with whether or not the product is accurately dosed with the anabolic steroid listed on the label. Some more health conscious steroid users are also concerned about potential health risks arising from the contamination of UGL steroid products with bateria and/or heavy metals. Fortunately, bacterial contamination is not a common problem since most UGLs effectively sterilize the product by adding ingredients such as benzyl alcohol, etc. However, few people have actually considered the potential toxicity of using anabolic steroids contaminated with heavy metals. Given that most of the steroid powder is illicitly imported from China, the possibility of contamination with lead, tin, mercury, arsenic, etc. is a real possibility.
September 19, 2008
Jeffrey J. Rock, better known as Gavin Kane in the bodybuilding world, was recently sentenced to 5 years probation and 15 months community and home confinement for his role in the Internet distribution of Jintropin human growth hormone in the United States. Jeffrey Rock operated as an internet HGH source using the alias Propeptides. He marketed human growth hormone to bodybuilders through Gavin Kane Enterprises and RockHard Physique and related websites, GavinKane.com and Propeptides.com.
Jeffrey Rock aka Propeptides was one of the major players involved in the distribution of Jintropin brand human growth hormone in the United States; he worked directly with GeneScience Pharmaceuticals in China to import/smuggle and distribute HGH to bodybuilders in the U.S. Rock was indicted on six charges including one count of smuggling human growth hormone into the United States, two counts of distribution of growth hormone and three counts of money laundering. Rock faced a total of 60 years in prison and $1.5 million in fines. He faced 20 years in prison for the single count of smuggling HGH alone under federal sentencing guidelines.
September 19, 2008
The Rodney Philon case is one illustration of the disparity in federal sentencing for anabolic steroid related crimes. Pasco County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Rodney Philon decided to share 10 tablets of Dianabol (methandrostenolone) with a fellow weightlifter at a Tampa Bay area gym; unfortunately the weighlifter was a DEA confidential informant. A SWAT team was sent to arrest Rodney Philon at his home, federal prosecutors indicted Philon of steroid distribution charges, and Rodney Philon was ultimately sentenced to 2 years probation with a requirement of 6 months home detention. All for 10 tablets of Dianabol.
September 12, 2008
A judge dismissed the criminal indictments against the principals in the Signature Pharmacy steroid distribution case citing the incompetence of Albany County District Attorney David Soares. Soares is the lead prosecutor for a small county in New York who had taken it upon himself to spend possibly millions of dollars of Albany residents taxpayer money to carry on a nationwide steroid witch hunt dubbed “Operation Which Doctor“. Critics of the steroid witch hunt, opponents of anti-steroid legislation and voices in Albany law enforcement have long been critical of David Soare’s incompetence.
The ruling means that prosecutor David Soares can no longer seek charges against Stan and Naomi Loomis, the Signature Pharmacy owners, pharmacist Michael Loomis or Signature Pharmacy employees Kirk Calvert and Anthony Palladino.
September 10, 2008
The man that law enforcement officials identified as running a “steroid factory” in his basement has pleaded guilty to to possession with intent to distribute anabolic steroids and unlawful possession of firearms by a convicted felon. He sourced steroids over the Internet using email accounts in the names of gearhustle@cyber-rights.net and gearhustle@safe-mail.net (”Sayreville man admits running steroids lab in his basement,” September 9).
Alfred Scarpa admitted possessing and planning to distribute 40,000 doses of anabolic steroids. He also admitted illegally possessing two .40-caliber handguns in violation of a law prohibiting convicted felons from having guns.
Alfred Scarpa was arrested in a steroid bust during the height of Operation Raw Deal raids by federal agents. DEA agents searched the New Jersey home of electrician Alfred Scarpa on September 20, 2007 after obtaining a search warrant. Agents discovered a fully operational underground steroid lab in “plain view” inside his house, locked in the basement; large quantities of steroid tablets were also discovered in “plain view” hidden inside a cabinet. Read more
September 10, 2008
Two amateur bodybuilders told a federal judge about the widespread use of anabolic steroids in competitive bodybuilding. They explained to District Judge Richard Schell that all competitive bodybuilders use anabolic steroids including one of the most famous bodybuilders in the history of the sport – Arnold Schwarzenegger (”Two sentenced for roles in steroids ring run by Plano bodybuilder David Jacobs,” September 5).
“I felt like I did what I had to do,” Mr. Smith said. “Any person you see on stage in those competitions, even [California] governor [Arnold] Schwarzenegger, you can’t get to that size naturally. There’s not one of those people up there who doesn’t take performance enhancing drugs. I got wrapped up in the sport.”
[...]
“I had to do it to be competitive in the sport,” [Jamie Mongeau] told the judge. “I’ve taken responsibility for what I’ve done. I’ll never go that way again.”
Judge Schell advised Brandon Smith to find another hobby to pursue instead of bodybuilding.
September 7, 2008
Canadian filmmakers Nenad Barjaktarovic and Shane Smith have created a 12-week internet “reality series” documenting the motivations and experiences of first-time steroid user Peter Brown in “Steroids Saved My Life.” Peter Brown is a recent Vancouver Film School graduate from New Brunswick who has embarked on a 12-week anabolic steroid cycle in the online video series literally on steroids.
Anabolic steroid users have prolificly posted online diaries outlining their protocols and results on various bodybuilding forums over the years. Some first time steroid users have also shared their experiences as well with some touting positive outcomes and others reporting disastrous experiences.
The reality series (through its protagonist Peter Brown) effectively distills the basic motivations behind the typical individual who chooses to use anabolic steroids for non-medical purposes. Brown is neither a bodybuilder or an athlete and has no aspirations to become either. The project practically ignores any stigma associated with steroids resulting from societal demonization of androgens. It delves directly into the motivations and the decision-making process that led to his use of steroids.
September 4, 2008
Mathias Bolton was wrongly attacked and beat in his residence by at least two police officers. He blames anabolic steroids for causing one of the officers to attack him in a lawsuit filed last week; no explanation was provided explaining why the other officer(s) attacked him (”Cop “shot up” before attacking: Claims ‘roids fueled beating on wrong man,” September 3).
The lawsuit claimes Vargas was a target of a Jersey City Police Department investigation into steroid use by cops and “was using a steroid, testosterone or other prescription substance when he assaulted Mr. Bolton which was a proximate cause of his attacking and beating Mr. Bolton.”
September 4, 2008
The $6 million University Interscholastic League (UIL) anabolic steroid testing program in Texas high schools has been besieged with criticism lately. The steroid testing program only found two positive results in 10,117 samples tested during the first semester. Furthermore, Texas UIL misled the general public about the scope of the testing program. Texas UIL lists 36 banned steroids in their steroid testing program. UIL spokeswoman Kim Rogers revealed last month that, in reality, the program only tests for 10 banned steroids. We have previously listed the numerous shortcomings of the Texas high school steroid testing program and explained in detail why the steroid testing would be ineffective. Today, we learned about another problem with steroid testing…
A Texas high school was caught cheating in the administration of the random steroid testing to their student athletes. Officials at Pecos High School apparently gave advance notification to athletes subject to steroid testing. The UIL publicly reprimanded Pecos High School and placed them on probation for one year for violating the State’s steroid testing policy Read more
