October 24, 2009
Dr. Jesse Haggard is quickly becoming a martyr to the cause of medical steroids. There is no better example of the excesses of the modern day steroid witch-hunt than the federal government’s prosecution of the Arizona naturopathic physician.
Dr. Haggard is being prosecuted by the federal government for allegedly prescribing anabolic steroids “outside the usual course of professional practice” and “not for legitimate medical purposes”. Yet Dr. Haggard not only met the standard of care but often established the medical standard of care with off-label prescribing of anabolic steroids supported by scientific and clinical evidence.
In a recent communication, Dr. Haggard warned healthcare practitioners that evidence-based prescribing of anabolic steroids can not be advised in the present-day climate of steroid hysteria. Haggard advocates steroid law reform as the solution that will allow medical practitioners to prescribe anabolic steroids more freely, and without restraint, in appropriate medical conditions Read more
October 7, 2009
United States Magistrate Judge David Baker refused to release Dr. Jesse Haggard at a detention hearing at the U.S. Courthouse in Orlando. Dr. Haggard has been detained without bail as a flight risk pending his transfer to Mobile, Alabama sometime in the next 10-14 days. Federal prosecutors argued that Haggard knew he was under federal investigation at the time he moved to Costa Rica and that Haggard knew he should have surrendered based on postings on his personal blog and legal documents he signed before he left. Magistrate Judge Baker was not influenced by defense arguments that Haggard voluntarily surrendered and therefore was not a flight risk.
The blockbuster revelation during court proceedings on Wednesday was that the federal government “hired” local news media to actively assist them with their investigation of Dr. Jesse Haggard and Revolution Medical Center. A source with knowledge of the court proceedings indicated that the government worked with television crews in Phoenix to conduct an undercover investigation to gather evidence against Haggard.
The television news station was not identified. Suggestions that the federal government has paid news organizations to conduct their steroid witch-hunt are highly disturbing.
October 7, 2009
Dr. Jesse Haggard will appear today before United States Magistrate Judge David Baker in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida in his first court appearance since voluntarily surrendering to federal authorities on Friday. Haggard will be represented by federal public defender Clarence W. Counts, Jr.
Dr. Haggard had been living in Costa Rica for over a year preparing a scientific defense to support the therapeutic use of anabolic steroids during the course of his medical practice. The naturopathic physician moved to Costa Rica with his family to escape the hysteria perpetuated by the local media. Haggard was harrassed and practically stalked by ABC15 “investigative journalist” Josh Bernstein in a sensationalistic tabloid-style witch-hunt. Haggard wrote and published the book “Demystifying Steroids“, a patient and practictioner guide to anabolic steroid therapy, while in Costa Rica.
Although Haggard has been called a fugitive by federal prosecutors, this may not be entirely accurate. Haggard had travelled and resided in Costa Rica for approximately eight months prior to being indicted on federal steroid charges. Furthermore, Dr. Haggard or Timothy Holt (Haggard’s legal representation at the time) were never served or shown a warrant for his arrest. Apparently, the government only shared the warrant with ABC15’s Josh Bernstein.
September 28, 2009
Dr. Jesse Haggard, the former clinical director of Revolution Medical Centers, will voluntarily surrender to federal agents in Florida on Friday, October 2, 2009. Haggard will be taken into custody at the Orlando International Airport and transported to Alabama where he faces steroid distribution charges.
Dr. Haggard was indicted as part of the Applied Pharmacy Services criminal investigation announced in January 2009. The government has accused Haggard of prescribing anabolic steroids “outside the usual course of professional practice” and “not for legitimate medical purposes”. However, unlike other doctors similarly prosecuted, Haggard had an indisputable doctor-patient relationship with all of his patients that included comprehensive laboratory testing; Haggard never prescribed anabolic steroids over the internet or to any patients not evaluated during an in-person medical examination.
July 29, 2009
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Public Health Advisory (PHA) warning consumers to avoid using bodybuilding supplements claiming to contain “steroids”, “steroid-like substances”, “steroid alternatives” and “hormone products”. The FDA warning failed to give guidance on the specific product ingredients that were problematic. The extremely broad language cast suspicion upon all “body building supplements” marketed for performance enhancement because they might contain synthetic steroids (”FDA recommends that consumers should not use body building products marketed as containing steroids or steroid-like substances,” July 28).
- “marketed as containing steroids or steroid-like substances”
- “marketed for body building and increasing muscle mass”
- “marketed as alternatives to anabolic steroids for increasing muscle mass and strength”
- “promoted to athletes to improve sports performance and to aid in recovery from training and sporting events”
The target was ostensibly illegal synthetic steroids that are not compliant with the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA). However, the FDA news releases and statements appears to demonize ALL steroid products including those that are legally sold and marketed as dietary supplements under DSHEA. Read more
May 8, 2009
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is requiring the manufacturers of the topical testosterone gels AndroGel and Testim to include a “black box warning” on its labels in order to “protect children” from the potentially adverse effects of this particular anabolic steroid. The “black box warning” is the FDA’s most serious warning short of recalling a product. The action is based on eight recent reports of children who were accidentally exposed to the testosterone gel through incidental contact with a parent and/or caregiver who had use either Androgel or Testim. The FDA also felt it necessary to warn children that use of this product would increase the size of their penis which probably is NOT the best way to deter children from using it (”Testosterone Gel Safety Concerns Prompt FDA to Require Label Changes, Medication Guide,” May 7).
“These drugs are approved for an important medical need, but can have serious, unintended side effects if not used properly,” said Janet Woodcock, M.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “We must ensure that the adults using them are well-informed about the precautions needed to protect children from secondary exposure.” [...]
Of the fully reviewed cases, adverse events reported in these children included inappropriate enlargement of the genitalia (penis or clitoris), premature development of pubic hair, advanced bone age, increased libido, and aggressive behavior.
In most cases, the signs and symptoms regressed when the child no longer was exposed to the product. However, in a few cases, enlarged genitalia did not fully return to age-appropriate size and bone age remained modestly greater than the child’s chronological age.
The concern about children being accidentally exposed to Androgel is nothing new. The risk of exposing children to transdermally absorbed steroids seems to be an obvious and common-sensical concern for people applying the testosterone gel on their body. Researchers have known about the risks of secondary exposure from Androgel for over a decade. “Given the widespread availability of [testosterone gels] in our society, we suspect that this is not an isolated event,” according to researchers from the University of North Carolina in 1999. Read more
May 7, 2009
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently funded and designed a study evaluating the effect of a 30-month cycle of injectable testosterone undecanoate as a male contraceptive in over 1,000 Chinese men. Results from the June 2009 issue of Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism were published online ahead of print. Monthly injections of 500mg of testosterone undecanoate were shown to be a “safe, effective, reversible and reliable contraception in a high proportion of [participants]“. Interestingly, the same side effects have been considered dangerous and deadly when they involve the non-medical use of steroids for performance enhancement (”Multicenter Contraceptive Efficacy Trial of Injectable Testosterone Undecanoate in Chinese Men,” March 17).
[The] present study results show that monthly 500 mg TU injections can provide effective, reversible, acceptable and readily delivered contraception for most healthy Chinese men without serious short-term adverse effects. While further regimen optimization to achieve uniform azoospermia and long-term safety studies are still required, these promising findings provide encouragement that male hormonal contraceptive regimens may offer a novel and workable alternative to existing family planning options for couples who can not or prefer not to use only female-oriented contraception throughout their reproductive years.
The study participants experienced the usual side effects most commonly associated with anabolic steroid use. Anti-steroid crusaders typically use these adverse reactions as the basis for the overstated and exaggerated steroid scare tactic campaigns. But scientists dispassionately researching the therapeutic applications of steroids consider the short-term use of steroids relatively safe.
Some of the reported steroid-related side effects in the study included “tenderness or discomfort at the injection sites “, “acne“, “severe coughing lasting minutes after injection“, “changes in mood or behavior” , “facial swelling or skin rash“, and mostly increases in libido.
Testosterone levels increased significantly above normal. The HPT axis was also disrupted.
As expected, mean serum T increased by 34% and serum LH and FSH were suppressed by 97% and 94% respectively at the end of the treatment.
Participants gained body weight and their testicles atrophied.
Body weight increases (0.4–1.6 kg) and total testis volume decreases (1.3–5.6 ml as 4–16% of testis volume) were significant during the exposure period.
There hemoglobin/hematocrit increased. And blood lipids were adversely affected.
The mean hemoglobin increased by 7%, mean total cholesterol decrease by 21%, HDL cholesterol by 23% and LDL cholesterol by 29% at the end of the efficacy phase.
Most of the adverse effects were completely reversible within a 12-month recovery period after the discontinuation of the 30-month cycle of testosterone. NO post cycle therapy utilized.
Body weight returned to pre-entry baseline value after recovery but testis volume recovery was incomplete for some men at the end of the recovery period. The mean total testis volume at the end of the recovery phase was decreased approximately 4%, compared to the baseline values; 28% of the participants demonstrated smaller total testis volume at the end of the recovery period, versus pre-entry baseline value.
Treatment protocols designed to normalize the HPTA axis after anabolic steroid cessation, such as those designed by Dr. Michael Scally, clearly would have enhanced and expedited recovery. The use of post-cycle therapy (PCT) by athletes and bodybuilders would have minimized the period of anabolic steroid-induced hypogonadism (ASIH).
The study concludes that side effects from the medical use of steroids are relatively minor; however apparently when the same side effects result from the non-medical use of steroids, they are potentially life-threatening.
April 28, 2009
Teenage bodybuilder Matthew Dear died on April 20, 2009 reportedly from an overdose of anabolic steroids. The parents of Matthew Dear were the first to attribute their son’s death to anabolic steroids. The news of Matthew Dear’s “steroid death” was initially reported by “The Daily Mirror”, a British tabloid but was soon picked up and legitimized by mainstream UK media outlets such as BBC News, the Daily Mail, and the Sunday Times. Could the steroid-attributed death of Matt Dear spread steroid hysteria throughout the United Kingdom much like the death of Taylor Hooton affected the steroid discussion in the United States?
The assertions that anabolic steroids were responsible for causing enlarged pupils, blindness, intoxication, severe abdominal pains, convulsions, brain swelling and kidney failure are pretty outrageous. These side effects are not medically substantiated adverse effects of anabolic steroids. Matthew Dear’s doctor even told the parents that he never witness any such reaction to anabolic steroids. The parents of Matthew Dear nonethless felt compelled to blame anabolic steroids. Read more
March 29, 2009
The death of Mexican wrestler Andrés Palomeque, better known as the “Abismo Negro”, has been linked to anabolic steroids by the local coroner. Physician Jesús Enrique Castro López examined the body of the 37-year old Palomeque and concluded that his death was precipitated by an anxiety attack possibly resulting from the consumption of anabolic steroids. Castro made the conclusion solely based on the prevalence of steroid use in sports; the medical examiner’s “opinion” was not based on toxicology tests that determined if any drugs were present in Palomeque’s system (”Extraña muerte de luchador Mexicano “Abismo Negro,” March 25).
Las investigaciones realizadas por autoridades locales indican que el deportista solicitó al chofer de la unidad Elite le permitiera bajar, con una actitud nerviosa y sufriendo de crisis de ansiedad, debido a posible consumo de anabólicos muy comunes dentro de la sociedad deportista, según Jesús Enrique Castro López, medico legista.
Andres Alejandro González Palomeque was found dead near a river in El Rosario, Mexico early Saturday morning on March 21, 2009. There was no medical evidence to support anabolic steroid-induced anxiety attack as the cause of death. An autopsy was not conducted. Furthermore, the circumstance surrounding the death of Andrés Palomeque were suspicious with speculation that foul play could have been involved. Read more
March 28, 2009
The Utah Legislature has approved a bill that would allow naturopathic physicians to prescribe transdermal or buccal testosterone (but not injectable esters of testosterone). The “Hormone Restoration Amendments” (HB-108) passed the Utah Senate on March 9, 2009 and the Utah House on February 10, 2009. Placing the risks of testosterone in perspective, Rep. Paul Ray stated, “I’ve been married 17 years and too much estrogen scares me a heck of a lot more than testosterone.” Utah will become the fifth state to grant prescriptive rights for testosterone to naturopathic physicians when the bill is signed by Gov. Jon Huntsman. Utah joins Arizona, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington as the only other states where naturopathic physicians can prescribe testosterone (”Bill will allow naturopathic doctors to prescribe testosterone,” March 5, 2009).
The “Hormone Restoration Amendments” were opposed by the Utah Medical Association and the Utah Health System Pharmacy who expressed their antagonism towards compounding pharmacies during debates. The Utah Health Insurance Association was also concerned that the bill would force insurance companies to cover naturopathic physician-prescribed testosterone replacement therapy (TRT).
The Utah Association of Naturopathic Physicians was well-informed and knowledgeable regarding testosterone and federal steroid laws. The representatives for the Utah Medical Association and the Utah Health System Pharmacy were not; their testimony was inaccurate and misleading with respect to steroid law and steroid side effects. The UMA sent a non-medical expert to present their case opposing the bill. Read more
March 18, 2009
Former WWE pro wrestler Andrew “Test” Martin was found dead at the age of 33 in his Tampa residence during a police welfare check on March 13, 2009. The cause of death has not been determined but foul play is not suspected. The Tampa Police Department has requested toxicology tests after discovering large amounts of prescription painkillers and anabolic steroids in his Post Harbour Place condominium. Martin was apparently notorious for his use of steroids and sometimes faced fans who chanted accusations of steroid use; Martin defended steroid use for cosmetic purposes as similar to Botox or a facelift. His WWE nickname “Test” is coincidentally slang for testosterone and his fans were affectionately called his Test-icles (”Friend Of ‘Test’ In Shock Over Pro Wrestler’s Death,” March 17).
Prescription drugs including painkillers and steroids were found in Martin’s home, Tampa police spokeswoman Laura McElroy said today.
“We’re awaiting the toxicology report to determine if any of those painkillers and steroids played a role in his death,” McElroy said.
“He was obviously very healthy. The mystery of his death will likely come out in his toxicology report.”
The tragic culture of professional wrestling that involves the use of anabolic steroids, prescription painkillers, muscle relaxants, and alcohol has seen numerous young stars die prematurely. The general public has rushed to identify anabolic steroids as responsible for the death of Andrew J. Martin. The predetermined conclusion that steroids were the culprit the death of Andrew “Test” Martin will undoubtedly persist regardless of the official and actual cause of death.
Representative Henry Waxman isolated anabolic steroids as “the” problem when calling a congressional investigation to examine the steroids in professional wrestling. The unfortunate consequence of such contemporary steroid hysteria is that, in the rush to blame anabolic steroids as the single cause of death, the most significant risk factors are predictably overlooked.
February 16, 2009
The use of anabolic steroids by professional baseball players is relatively safe especially when compared to the extreme use of anabolic steroid by professional bodybuilders. The idea that anabolic steroids can be used responsibly and safely is categorically refuted by many anti-steroid crusaders in spite of scientifically evidence to the contrary.
“Think about it: medical science has been using steroids safely in a clinical setting for the last 70 years.” Professor Charles Yesalis, steroid expert and epidemiologist at Penn State University, acknowledges that the media has overstated the dangers of steroids, “Anabolic steroids can be used relatively safely, but at even low doses they can have side effects. No drug, supplement, or substance is totally ’safe.’ Heck, you can even overdose on water.”
Modern-day steroid hysteria has so demonized and stigmatized anabolic steroids that many people are convinced that all steroid use is inherently irresponsible. The use of anabolic steroids in moderation to achieve performance enhancing results is impossible according to critics who believe the dangerous side effects far outweigh the potential benefits at any level of use. Some critics believe that even a single instance of steroid use can cause permanent and irreversible health consequences that may even include fatal steroid overdoses.
February 6, 2009
The pharmaceutical giant Solvay Pharmaceuticals is unapologetic about its actions aimed at maintaining its monopoly on the phamaceutical testosterone gel Androgel (an anabolic-androgenic steroid). Solvay has “bought off” generic companies who planned to introduce inexpensive, generic versions of Androgel. The generic companies Watson Pharmaceuticals, Par Pharmaceutical, and Paddock Laboratories were prepared to offer a cheap generic testosterone gel as early as 2006 after the FDA granted Watson final approval for its generic product in January 2006. Solvay paid the generic companies a substantial amount of money to delay their entry into the generic Androgel marketplace until 2015.
The threat of generic competition would have decimated Solvay’s sales of Androgel; AndroGel has been their top-selling product with sales exceeding $300 million in 2006 and $400 million in 2007. Generic competition to Solvay’s flagship product Androgel could reduce the price of testosterone gel as much as 90% when compared to brand name Androgel. The payments to delay entry into the generic marketplace aka “pay-for-delay” settlements would be highly profitable for Solvay by extending brand name patent protection for several years. The windfall profits would come at the expense of consumers and federal taxpayers costing them billions of dollars Read more
January 29, 2009
Dr. Jesse Haggard, former clinical director of Revolution Medical Centers, has become a federal fugitive after being indicted by prosecutors in the Applied Pharmacy Services steroid investigation. Dr. Haggard unapologetically condemned the United States government’s witch-hunt against him and defended the therapeutic use of anabolic steroids during the course of his medical practice in his recently published book “Demystifying Steroids“. Dr. Jesse Haggard told a local news station that he wrote the book as “a way to ensure my message to the public was not distorted.”
Timothy Holt, the attorney for Dr. Haggard, accused the United States Attorney’s Office in Mobile of political grandstanding while defending his client’s prescribing of anabolic steroids for legitimate medical purposes Read more
January 23, 2009
A long-anticipated federal indictment against Applied Pharmacy Services (APS) on charges of conspiracy and distribution of anabolic steroids was unsealed by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Alabama in Mobile. The massive 198-count federal indictment identifies twelve individuals as part of the Applied Pharmacy Services steroid distribution network including pharmacy owners and pharmacists, and doctors and businessmen who profited from customer referrals to APS. Six co-conspirators in the APS steroid distribution network were previously indicted in separate cases (”Pharmacy owners, others are charged in steroids case,” January 22).
“Each of the pharmacy owners and pharmacists named in the indictment are charged with prescribing and selling veterinary steroids, approved for cattle and livestock only, to humans,” U.S. Attorney Deborah Rhodes said in a prepared statement. “We will continue to work with the DEA, the IRS Criminal Investigation Division and the Alabama Board of Pharmacy to ensure that medical professionals who abuse their position of trust are held accountable.”
The United States Attorney’s Office in Mobile showed a considerable penchant for political grandstanding against steroids in the APS indictment. U.S. Attorney Deborah Rhodes and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Donna Dobbins and Maria Murphy felt compelled to use inflammatory language in the indictment that was seemingly more reflective of personal anti-steroid bias than steroid law.
The prosecutors did not miss an opportunity to inject the label of “steroid user” to indicted individuals which served no other purpose than cheap attempts to further demonize the invididual; rather than restrict language such that it conformed to legally-defined crimes, prosecutors repeatedly identified defendants as “steroid dealers.” Read more
