Was IFBB Pro Bodybuilder Flex Lewis connected to the Tennessee steroid investigation involving several Tennesse law enforcement officers? Absolutely not! However, Nashville, Tennessee’s News Channel 5 took the opportunity to include the following teaser on their website as part of their exclusive coverage of the steroid investigation (”Nashville’s Hidden Steroid Culture,” May 7).
On Thursday night, the second part of the NewsChannel exclusive steroids investigation will focus on the informant and the Nashville Predators team physician and world-class body builder Flex Lewis. The report airs at 6 p.m.
By stating that their steroid investigation will “focus” on Flex Lewis, the reader is left to speculate how Flex Lewis is connected to the steroid investigation. Is he involved? Or is is just going to talk about steroids? It turns out the answer is negative to both questions.
I contacted Flex since I know he lives in the United Kingdom and asked him about this. He explained that he happened to be at a nutritional store in Tennessee doing a demo as a representative of Gaspari Nutrition. A local television camera crew briefly interviewed him but they NEVER mentioned steroids!
The media is unbelievable. This is probably why Jim Lorimer told pro bodybuilders not to trust the media when it comes to steroids in a private athlete’s meeting at this year’s Arnold Classic.
UPDATE: The sports supplement store where Flex Lewis made a guest appearance promoting Gaspari was American Nutrition Wholesalers in Hermitage, Tennessee. Owner Mark Johnson is considered a main suspect by investigators in the Tennessee steroid investigation. Lewis just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and has absolutely no relationship with Johnson or this investigation. So, I hope NewsChannel 5 in Nashville uses the Flex Lewis footage for the good of the health industry as promised.
NPC Bodybuilder Dan Puckett was found dead in his apartment on November 8, 2007 at the age of 22. There was immediate speculation that Puckett died from the use of anabolic steroids based on the fact that he was a bodybuilder and furthered by the rampant steroid hysteria in the media. This week, autopsy results reveal that Puckett’s unfortunate death was due to “natural causes” dispelling claims that he died from steroid use.
Dan Puckett was a collegiate bodybuilding champion, winning the 2006 NPC Teen & Collegiate National Championships, and a senior marketing major at the University of Alabama.
Tulsa and state undercover officers are investigating whether suspected steroid dealers are selling performance enhancement drugs to high school students.
Mark Woodward, a spokesman for the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control’s office in Oklahoma City, said agents have received a significant number of calls in recent months from high school coaches concerned about rapid gains in weight and strength among their players.
Prosecutors have been particularly motivated to search beyond simple evidence of steroid distribution to find links between steroid dealers and high school athletes or professional athletes whenever possible. If they are lucky, they think they can finally find the steroid dealer who sold anabolic steroids and growth hormone to Roger Clemens.
The defense team of NPC bodybuilder Thomas Vigliatura used the “steroids made me crazy” defense in Vigliatura’s GHB/GBL distribution trial. (”Vigliatura says he’s changed,” March 30)
At the same time. Mr. Vigliatura’s life “was a merry-go-round of alcohol abuse, substance abuse and, most horrifically, the conduct detailed in the indictment,” Mr. Sinnis said. Mr. Vigliatura suffered from physical and psychiatric symptoms as a result of androgenic-anabolic steroids he began using in 1990 in connection with body building, Mr. Sinnis said.
And the steroid money quote…
The steroids left him with permanent severe cognitive deficits, according to excerpts of a neuropsychology report commissioned by the defense. But it noted that he has greatly recovered, perhaps fully, from the psychological and mood effects of the steroids and it predicted an ability “to return to a fulfilling and gainful life in society.”
The steroid insanity defense. Damn those steroids. Damn those steroids!!
Former NPC Bodybuilder Tom Vigliatura has been falsely accused of selling steroids by reporter Lee Hammel of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette newspaper in Massachusetts. However, I am certain that this false accusation is the least of Thomas Vigliatura’s concerns; Vigliatura has been in prison since August 2005. He was sentenced this week to 51 months in federal prison and ordered to forfeit his home and his defunct supplement store, T. Vig’s Sports Supplements Unlimited for selling Ecstasy, Cocaine and GHB - but NOT steroids (”Bodybuilder gets 51 months, forfeits home and business,” March 24).
Thomas J. Vigliatura, 40, of 118 Santoro Road, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy from 2002 to 2004 to distribute illegal steroids known as GHB and GBL and to possess cocaine and Ecstasy as well as distribution of GBL and GHB.
Reporter Lee Hammel wants to throw in steroid distribution as one of the charges when he erroneously identifies GHB and GBL as steroids. It upsets me that so many reporters remain blissfully ignorant about anabolic steroids and fail to perform even basic fact checking when it comes to basic questions like “what are anabolic steroids?” Why should reporters stick to the facts? Maybe Hammel just assumed that he was selling anabolic steroids since, after all, Vigliatura was a competitive bodybuilder.
Anabolic steroids are already being demonized by the current tidal wave of steroid hysteria permeating the United States. There is no need to false associate steroids to a criminal case involving cocaine and ecstasy, police corruption and threats against a federal prosecutor that has nothing to do with steroids. But anything to further demonize steroids must be the new journalistic standard?
Thanks to reporter Lee Hammel, the Associated Press has picked up the story and syndicated it nationally using Hammel’s inaccurate reporting regarding steroids (”Bodybuilder sentenced on drug charges,” March 25).
Thomas Vigliatura pleaded guilty to charges including conspiracy to distribute illegal steroids and possession of cocaine and Ecstasy…
The distribution of drugs like cocaine, ecstasy, and GHB has been a different enterprise from the distribution of anabolic steroids. (Although this distinction is starting to disappear as the federal steroid witch hunt threatens to push the entire steroid market completely underground.) The differences in cocaine/ecstasy/GHB distribution and anabolic steroid distribution is highlighted by the former group’s reluctance to testify or “snitch” on co-conspirators and the latter group’s widespread and eager willingness to “rat out” co-conspirators in exchange for leniency (”Bodybuilder’s sentence is bulked up by judge: six months,” July 27, 2007).
[Thomas J. Vigliatura] reiterated his contention that he refused to testify out of fear of reprisal to himself and his family…
“In no way was I trying to attempt to impede justice in any way,” Mr. Vigliatura told the judge before sentencing. “Most of you don’t know what it’s like where I live.”
Mr. Vigliatura’s real concern is his “reputation as a stand-up guy…”
Mr. Vigliatura did not want to be known as “a cooperator, snitch, rat, informant.”
Steroid dealers and distributors have not historically had the same concerns. But the federal war on steroids is close to succeeding at making the underground anabolic steroid market more dangerous than ever before for steroid users and steroid dealers alike.
The fact remains, however, that synthetic designer steroids are considered unapproved new drugs, and are NOT covered by DSHEA as legal dietary supplements…
Andro, norandro etc were covered by DSHEA because you could find them in most animals, and hence in the food supply. No animals, plants, etc naturally produce DMT, Epistane, methyl, 1-4ADD, etc etc.
It should be noted that Quincy’s new sponsor IBE disagrees since other supplement companies selling it (everyone else is doing it). Quincy Taylor also states that Epistane is legal and notes that steroids are not sold in supplement stores and supplements are not sold in pharmacies.
A legal supplement sold over the counter at many fine supplement stores. Funny my pharmacy never sold epistane, haladrol, phera or any of those. I’ve never seen any of those in any pharmacy. Hmmm I only seen to find them sold legally at supplement stores. So if I go out on the street with Haladrol and get pulled over will I be arrested? This is a foolish conversation and this is where it ends. That’s my answer.
Pro Bodybuilding Weekly interviewed IFBB Pro bodybuilder Hidetada Yamagishi today for the first time since his release from jail. Hide Yamagishi was arrested and charged with steroid possession and distribution in December 2007; he was released after 65 days in jail after his attorney had all felony charges dismissed. His travel visa was revoked.
Yamagishi told Dan Solomon and Bob Cicherillo of Pro Bodybuilding Weekly that he is currently working to obtain a visa so he can compete at the 2008 IFBB Pro Bodybuilding Weekly Championships in Tampa, Florida on August 9, 2008 and possibly the 2008 Europa Pro show.
Hide is not angry or bitter and the events that have occurred over the past few months. He continues to be grateful for every opportunity bodybuilding has provided him. He told listeners his relationship with Milos Sarcev is good and he hopes to work with him in the “future forever.” He thanked his fans for their support while he was in jail with special thanks to Silvio Samuel and Mitsuru Okabe.
He continues to take full responsibility for everything that has happened to him and implores fans to learn from his mistakes repeating sentiments recorded a video message last month for his fans upon his initial return to Japan.
Reporters from around the country have descended upon Houston, Texas pursuing their steroid witch hunt against anyone who may have used steroids or could have potentially provided anabolic steroids to Major League Baseball players e.g. Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte. The targets in their steroid investigation have expanded from fitness professionals Kelly Blair (of 1-on-1 Elite Personal Fitness) and Shaun Kelley (of Shaun Kelley Weight Control) to at least one Houston-area physician.
While the New York Daily News admits they have no evidence that Shaun Kelley provided steroids to Roger Clemens, they do not hesitate to point the finger at Lisa Routh, M.D. of Brainwaves Neuroimaging Clinic in Houston who worked with Shaun Kelley.
Neither does the Daily News have evidence that Dr. Routh prescribed steroids to Roger Clemens or any major league baseball player for that matter. But they seem content to demonize her because she was outspoken in her defense of the use of anabolic steroids in medicine. She admits to prescribing testosterone and growth hormone to policemen, professional wrestlers, and people who work out in an effort to improve their quality of life. Furthermore, Dr. Routh proposed that professional athletes be permitted to use performance enhancing drugs under a doctor’s supervision (”Houston-area gyms part of drug culture beyond sports scope,” March 16).
Interviews with Routh, of the Brainwaves Medical Center in Houston, and with eight former and current employees of Kelley, reveal a corner of the fitness industry where the same drugs that are stigmatizing professional sports are seen simply as a lifestyle choice for others.
Routh told The News that she regularly prescribed testosterone and human growth hormone for a large number of Boston policemen, who “get on a frickin’ plane and come down here twice a year, for frickin’ growth hormone and testosterone.”
She said she prescribes other hormones for menopausal women and professional wrestlers - all in the name of quality of life. Furthermore she argued for legalizing such drugs in professional sports, provided athletes have medical care.
“We pay them ridiculously, because we expect performance, and I think the bottom line is safety,” says Routh, who proposes allowing big-league baseball clubs to contract with five or 10 doctors in every city who would be the only league-approved providers of drugs. Players caught going elsewhere for their ‘roids would get hit with a fine.
“If someone wants to use human growth hormone or a testosterone product, they need to be under a physician’s supervision,” says Routh. “If they buy stuff off the black market or off some gym rat and they’re not under a doctor’s supervision, they should pay a penalty, and they should get the penalty that hurts, in the wallet.”
The Daily News also persists in its efforts to tarnish and incriminate fitness professionals in Houston. They continued their attack on 1-on -1 Elite Personal Fitness (even though Kelly Blair categorically denied their allegations) by reporting that co-owner Kevin Schexnider was prescribed testosterone cypionate and Anadrol by Revolution Medical Center in Phoenix several years ago; further Schexnider knew former bodybuilder Craig Titus who is awaiting trial on murder charges.
But over a year later, the Office of the Albany County District Attorney continues to prominently display Victor Martinez’ name and picture on its website in a diagram of Operation Which Doctor. He is listed with 23 other individuals directly involved in the Signature Pharmacy and longevity clinic steroid scandals. However, I believe Victor is the only individual listed who has not been indicted. But no where is he identified as an “unindicted co-conspirator” allowing visitors to make their own uninformed assumptions.
Although a criminal defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty and has a Sixth Amendment right to a speedy trial, these procedural protections do little to shield an individual who is identified as an unindicted co-conspirator. Because trials focus on the guilt or innocence of the indicted defendants, the practice of naming an individual as an unindicted co-conspirator in effect accuses the person of a crime without providing him or her with a forum for seeking vindication.Thus, the practice routinely results in injury to their reputations, lost employment opportunities,and a practical inability to run for public office…
[I]t is clear that publicly naming individuals as unindicted co-conspirators in a grand jury indictment violates their due process rights…
Consequently, unindicted co-conspirators are labeled as criminals — regardless of whether the defendants themselves are found guilty — because the trial does not focus, and is not designed to focus, on evidence presented against them.
Not only was bodybuilder Victor Martinez publicly named by prosecutor David Soares, but his name and photograph have been prominently featured on the government website at the heart of the investigation for over a year! This is particularly unfair to Victor Martinez.
Major bodybuilding websites like Flexonline.com and Bodybuilding.com (and MESO-Rx too) all erroneously reported that Ms. Olympia Iris Kyle was disqualified from the 2008 Ms. International female bodybuilding contest in Columbus last month. (Iris was NOT disqualified; she actually placed 7th place just out of the money.) Ruth Silverman from Iron Man Magazine fairly criticizes the internet rumor mill.
A text message from a friend wanted to know what was up with Iris being disqualified… It was reported on Bodybuilding.com and by Shawn Perine at FlexOnline…
I couldn’t help marveling at the human capacity to believe something just because someone said it on the Internet—and to hear only certain key words.
We humbly apologize to our readers and particularly to Iris Kyle for the misinformation.
Iris Kyle appeared on Pro Bodybuilding Weekly last night to discuss the controversy surrounding her seventh place finish at the Ms. International contest. We hoped she would have insight on the reasons she was undeservingly dropped to seventh place.
I absolutely can not, at this point, really tell you what happened… I’m still quite puzzled. From the judges standpoint, I have received no feedback leaving me with… thousands of unanswered questions to this day. I made a couple of calls… but I couldn’t get through to who I would love to speak to.
It was quite disappointing that the judges were reluctant to offer specific feedback to Iris regarding their controversial decision. In absence of this feedback, Iris addressed the suggestions that “bumps” on her body were responsible for her placing.
I rather would have seen after the first round that one of the judges come up to me and say, look we have made a decision that based on reviewing your physique we think we need to pull you out of the show I could respect that and walk away with my head even higher and it’s still high… The IFBB should have stepped in and made their call and not allowed me to finish the show.
We agree with Iris. If the IFBB were trying to make an example out Iris for having bumps on her glutes, they should have either disqualified her or placed her last.
Later in the radio broadcast, Larry Pepe interviewed Sandy Ranalli, head IFBB judge at the Ms. International contest. She confirmed that the bumps were responsible for Iris Kyle’s placing referring to them as “distortions in her physique.”
Her shoulders were a little bit you know distorted. There were distortions in her glute area.. At this level of competition, [there is] not a big difference between athletes, those things come into play… It was the distortion and not trying to figure out what it was.
The big question is why the IFBB felt the need to knock Iris Kyle out of the money when, in our opinion, the slight bumps did NOT distract or take away from her Ms. Olympia caliber-physique. Furthermore, if the bumps were such a distracting or grotesque “distortion,” why did Iris still place ahead of so many other competitors. We are only left to speculate…
Iris refuses to allow this to get her down and she is ready to move past the controversy:
I’m a true champ, so it’s not going to get me down. I’m going to keep plugging away.
