The French government, in an effort to crack down on cyclists at the 2008 Tour de France who use performance-enhancing drugs, passed a new law last month that provides severe criminal penalties for the personal use and/or possession of doping products like anabolic steroids. Performance enhancing drugs like anabolic steroids, EPO and human growth hormone are considered “poisonous substances” under the French public health code (more…)
“She was in love with me, and I loved her,” Mr. Lehr, 29, said in a recent interview, acknowledging for the first time his relationship with Amanda Earhart-Savell, a 30-year-old professional figure competitor and fitness magazine cover girl who also had dated Mr. Jacobs on and off since last year.
We extend our sincerest sympathies and condolences to Matt Lehr and her family and friends for their loss.
DEA fugitive Joshua Hodnik was arrested today during a steroid bust in Oklahoma City that uncovered “massive amounts of steroids.” Hodnik operated the underground lab that distributed anabolic steroids under the label “Universal Labs” (as seen in the photos below of Universal Labs Dianabol and Universal Labs Winstrol). He was indicted on August 15, 2007 for possession with intent to manufacture and distribute anabolic steroids but fled prosecution in Texas before trial (”Bust uncovers ‘massive amounts of steroids,’” July 9).
Bodybuilding and the use of anabolic steroids to build strength and muscle has exploded in the aftermath of the U.S. led invasion of Iraq. The expensive war in Iraq has been criticized for failing to meet many of its objectives. But the war has given Iraqis the freedom to pursue their obsession with sport of bodybuilding (accompanied by the use of anabolic steroids) which was repressed under the rule of Saddam Hussein (”Nothing but Speedos in Sadr City,” June 9).
Several gyms have opened around Baghdad. Many of them openly sell human grade and veterinarian grade anabolic steroids over the counter next to sport nutrition supplements. Anabolic steroids are legally sold for bodybuilding purposes in Iraq.
The U.S. invasion has apparently fueled the widespread use of anabolic steroids in bodybuilding. Iraqis are striving to gain muscle and become stronger in order to obtain employment in one of the few decent paying industries available to them - jobs with security companies.
Why, then, is the DEA pushing for easier online access to these drugs? And who is lobbying the DEA to do this, when it clearly will only make the DEA’s job harder?
When it comes to policy matters, it is always helpful to follow the money trail to understand the actions of federal agencies and bureacrats. Pharmaceutical companies (Barr Pharmaceuticals), large employers (Wal-mart), prescribing software makers (Allscripts Healthcare Solutions) and electronic prescription networks have lobbied for and/or supported the electronic prescribing of controlled substances.
China announced the revocation of the GeneScience Pharmaceutical license to manufacturer Jintropin brand human growth hormone. This represents a major success in efforts towards the internationalization of steroid and doping law by the United States. The U.S. federal government indicted CEO Lei Jin and GeneScience Pharmaceutical Inc. last fall as part of Operation Raw Deal (”China Cracks Down on Drug Companies,” June 19).
One of the drugmakers that China named Wednesday was GeneScience Pharmaceutical, which is based in northern China and run by an American-educated executive. Last September, a federal grand jury in Rhode Island indicted the company for illegally distributing millions of dollars in human growth hormones in the United States. The company had denied the allegation, but its American agent pleaded guilty in February to conspiracy to distribute H.G.H.
A correctional officer employed by the Lebanon Correctional Institution was charged and arrested on four counts of “abusing steroids.” The steroid abuse charges are based on the discovery of “seven vials of anabolic steroid and 16 packs of anabolic steroid tablets” in his apartment (”Corrections officer arrested for steroid abuse,” June 11).
The State of Ohio has apparently codified their steroid laws such that steroid possession is defined as steroid abuse. I guess that is Ohio’s way of settling the debate of steroid use versus steroid abuse! Can steroid use exist without abuse? It doesn’t matter in Ohio courts; if you’re in possession of steroids, you are a steroid abuser.
