A federal government investigation into anabolic steroid use in professional football appears imminent after court documents acknowledge that former NFL player Dana Stubblefield has provided “substantial cooperation” that includes the names of football players and trainers involved in “ongoing” anabolic steroid use and distribution. United States District Judge Susan Illston sentenced Stubblefield to two years straight probation consistent with the prosecutors’ recommendations for leniency (”Stubblefield cooperating in feds’ probe,” February 6).
The federal investigation of the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative (BALCO) has primarily targeted professional baseball and Olympic track and field athletes. The potential next phase of the BALCO investigation may include a steroid witch-hunt in the National Football League (NFL) as the government considers how to act on the information provided by Stubblefield. The government’s February 2, 2009 sentencing memorandum in the case of United States v. Dana Stubblefield describes the nature of the information:
“Stubblefield further agreed to discuss his observations of illegal drug use in the National Football League, and provided a description of his knowledge regarding the distribution and use of illegal steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs in the National Football League, providing the names of players, trainers, and others associated with the NFL who may be involved in ongoing activities with illegal drugs in professional football. The NFL has interviewed Stubblefield and is continuing to follow up on the information he has provided. Throughout the process, Stubblefield has remained available to law enforcement and the NFL as a resource with respect to these matters.”
Wired Magazine identifies promising medical and pharmaceutical candidates that may represent the next generation of performance enhancement for Olympic athletes. As with any performance enhancing drug, bodybuilders are always the first guinea pigs to experiment with these drugs in the real world. After they receive the seal of approval from the bodybuilding community, the new drugs are ready for athletes in other professional sports where procedures are refined to avoid detection by anti-doping agencies. Here is a list of Wired’s top ten list they feel will represent the future of doping that almost make anabolic steroids obsolete Read more
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 Read more
A professional cyclist was caught with a tattoo suggesting he received free anabolic steroids and erythropoietin (EPO) at the 2008 Tour de France. Damiano Cunego rides for the Italian UCI ProTeam Lampre. The tattoo on Cunego’s left arm stated “I’m Doping Free” with a large smiley face.
Does this mean that the Italian-based organization “Doping Free“ donates free steroids and other performance enhancing drugs to sponsored riders?
Obviously not, but BikeRadar.com also found the double meaning humorous Read more
