IFBB professional bodybuilder Guy Ducasse was sentenced to one month imprisonment and 400 hours community service after pleading guilty to steroid distribution. United States District Judge Claire Eagan emphatically rejected the prosecution’s argument that Ducasse was “no different than any other drug dealer and should be treated accordingly.” Federal prosecutors had asked Judge Eagan to put Ducasse in jail for 15-21 months.
Guy Ducasse’s attorney, public defender Stephen Greubel, skillfully used testimony by the prosecution’s star witness to lay the groundwork for requesting a reduced sentence of zero months for his client. Greubel argued that the use of anabolic steroids was expected and required to compete as a professional bodybuilder in non-steroid tested competitions. Therefore, Ducasse’s personal use of steroids and his distribution of steroids to other bodybuilders did NOT result in “the corruption of sports or athletes.”
IFBB pro bodybuilder Guy Ducasse pleaded guilty to one count of distributing the anabolic steroid Proviron (mesterolone). Ducasse testified that he gave the steroid to his friend without charge. The bodybuilder did NOT admit to selling steroids in the plea agreement (“Local bodybuilder pleads guilty to distributing steroids,” August 12).
A local bodybuilder tied to an ongoing steroid drug ring pleaded guilty to one count of distributing drugs in Tulsa federal court Wednesday morning.
During a hearing before U.S. District Judge Claire Eagan Wednesday, Guy Ducasse, 46, pleaded guilty to distributing steroids in 2006, He testified in court that he gave an anabolic steroid to his dentist, who he said was also his friend. However, he denied selling the drugs to the dentist.
The government is not required to prove that Ducasse sold steroids in order to convict him on a federal steroid distribution charge. Steroid distribution, with or without financial compensation, is a criminal violation of the Anabolic Steroid Control Act. Yet, Assistant United States Attorney Janet Reincke insisted that Ducasse sold steroids. Read more
Swedish police have exonerated IFBB pro bodybuilder Irene Andersen of steroid distribution charges. A May 6, 2009 news story published by the Swedish newspaper Expressen.se had implicated Andersen in the possession of anabolic steroids with the intent to resale and distribute. The Swedish newspaper has since admitted to Andersen’s attorney that the sole basis of this allegation was based on a single confidential female source. The source has since been discredited and appears to have been motivated by a personal vendetta against Andersen.
MESO-Rx has obtained police documents confirming that Irene Andersen was NOT involved in steroid distribution. Irene Andersen was interrogated by police in Sweden during a series of steroid raids during the week of April 20th, 2009. Police interrogated twelve top Swedish bodybuilders, including at least two IFBB pro bodybuilders, during an exploratory investigation into steroid distribution in the region.
The raids were not based on any evidence of steroid distribution but primarily on “muscle profiling“. Swedish police targeted bodybuilders for suspicion of distribution based on physical appearance. The raids did not result in any distribution charges among those interrogated; Swedish police only discovered personal use quantities of steroids for bodybuilding purposes.
IFBB professional bodybuilders Martin Kjellström and Irene Andersen were interrogated by police in Sweden during a recent series of steroid raids in Göteborg, Stockholm and Malmö during the week of April 20th, 2009. Police apparently rounded up twelve of the top Swedish bodybuilders, including at least two IFBB pro bodybuilders, during an exploratory investigation into steroid distribution in the region. But no charges have been filed in the case (“Kroppsbyggare fast i drograzzia,” May 6).
Swedish police have been known to arrest bodybuilders for suspicion of steroid use based on appearance alone. Police questioned the bodybuilders about their use of anabolic steroids. Most of the bodybuilders interrogated were found in possession of steroids in personal quantities for bodybuilding purposes. All indications suggest that Swedish police are primarily interested in busting major drug dealers of steroids and narcotics and not bodybuilders who use personal quantities of steroids and related performance enhancing drugs.
IFBB pro Martin Kjellström cooperated with police and permitted them to search his home where they discovered only small quantities of anabolic steroids. The steroids purportedly amounted to a 1-2 week personal supply; Kjellström’s physician in Norway corrobated the pharmaceutical regimen with Swedish police. Kjellström explained to police that most bodybuilders are hard-working professional athletes and NOT drug dealers. There was NOT a steroid bust but only involved questioning by the Swedish doping police. It is not expect to effect his contest preparations for the 2009 Mr. Olympia. Read more
IFBB professional bodybuilder Guy Ducasse has been indicted on federal steroid distribution and possession charges by a federal grand jury in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma. Guy Marc “Duke” Ducasse was arrested and charged with one count of “possession with intent to distribute anabolic steroids”; four counts of “distribution of anabolic steroids”; and one count of “attempting to corrupt persuade another person with intent to hinder, delay, and prevent the communication to a law enforcement officer of information relating to the commission of a federal offense” (“Steroid inquiry nets at least 7 arrests,” April 17).
“This has been a far-reaching, complex investigation,” Woodward said in a release. “We have identified individuals from Oklahoma, as well as several other states involved in bringing steroids or components of the drug into the United States. The drugs are being manufactured and distributed within a growing circle of individuals tied to competitive body building.â€
Federal prosecutors David O’Meilia and Janet Reincke alleges that IFBB pro Guy Ducasse made at least $18,014 between 2006 and April 8, 2008 from the sale of boldenone (Equipoise), dromostanolone (Masteron), methandrostenolone (Dianabol), nandrolone decanoate (Deca Durabolin), oxymetholone (Anadrol), oxandrolone (Anavar), Proviron, testosterone, testosterone enanthate and testosterone propionate. Read more
IFBB professional bodybuilder Victor Martinez is expected to win the 2009 Arnold Classic bodybuilding contest on March 7, 2009 according to pro bodybuilding analysts. In addition to the rigorous precontest demands of preparing for one of the most prestigious pro bodybuilding contests on the calendar, Victor Martinez also had to contend with false reports published in the New York Daily News.
During the course of the Alex Rodriguez steroid investigation,the New York Daily News sent sports writer Christian Red down to the Dominican Republic presumably to find out how easy it was to obtain the same anabolic steroids purported to have been used by Alex Rodriguez i.e. testosterone and Primobolan. Alex Rodriguez admitted using anabolic steroids which he alleged were purchased in the Dominican Republic by his cousin.
When Christian Red learned that A-Rod’s preferred steroid Primobolan was NOT legally available in Dominican Republic pharmacies, he searched for other sources of steroids in the Caribbean nation that included gyms and supplement stores. The quest to purchase steroids led Red to the Santo Domingo supplement store identified as “Gurabo” that allegedly sells anabolic steroids. The New York Daily News FALSELY reported that Victor Martinez owned the supplement store Read more
The National Court of Spain sentenced IFBB pro bodybuilder Manuel Manchado Lopez and six co-conspirators to two years in prison for steroid trafficking as part of “Operation Mazas”. Manchado was one of four defendants given the option of avoiding prison by paying a fine of €5,760 euros for his “crimes against public health” (“Champion body builder sentenced for steroid trafficking,” December 31).
Operation Mazas started when postal officials discovered two parcels containing illegal anabolic steroids in La LÃnea de la Concepción (Cádiz) in June 2003. The ensuing investigation implicated various bodybuilders and a Spanish supplement company in selling “illegal substances used for the development of muscle mass and strength” (“Condenan a MÃster Universo 2003 a 2 años de prisión por tráfico de anabolizantes,” December 31).
Manuel Manchado was arrested for marketing and distributing anabolic steroids as an employee of the Spanish supplement company Steromax España SL. Steromax illegally manufactured various anabolic steroid products which were sold by Manchado via his Fitness Center in Leganés (Madrid), supplement store and an internet website. The Spanish Civil Guard seized over half a million doses of anabolic steroids, including three steroids not authorized for sale in Spain, from the residences and businesses involved in the steroid ring. Steromax was not licensed to manufacture and/or distribute pharmaceutical products Read more
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!!Â
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.
Former steroid dealer David Jacobs and IFBB fitness pro Amanda Savell were discovered dead early this morning. It was first reported on Anthony Roberts blog and also reported by John Romano on Muscular Development and Hardbody. I have confirmed it with a close friend of Amanda Jo’s who has spoken with her family and police on the matter. While it was most likely a murder-suicide with Jacobs first shooting his former girlfriend and then turning the gun on himself, police have not ruled out a double homicide.
David Jacobs was one of the largest steroid dealers in the country importing raw steroid powders from China and converting them in an underground lab. David Jacobs was ostracized from the bodybuilding and fitness community due to Jacobs generous plea agreement with prosecutors. In spite of his large-scale steroid distribution ring, Jacobs did not serve jail time and was only sentenced to probation. He has repeatedly denied being a snitch other than publicly naming football player Matt Lehr as a distributor of steroids and growth hormone.
The murder-suicide is a terrible tragedy. It is probably only a matter of time before the media starts to suggest steroid use and roid rage as the culprit behind the tragedy much as they did with Chris Benoit. But I hope the media spends some time to appreciate the “richness of these lives” lost and seek ways to avert future such tragedies. This was best said by Jack Darkes in his review of the Chris Benoit tragedy:
If AAS are blamed and the richness of these lives ignored, then the opportunity to prevent such rare events goes unrealized. Singling out a drug to blame leads to fiery rhetoric, congressional hearings, prohibition and scare tactics; none of these have succeeded in curbing drug use, especially among those at greatest risk for harm. Most AAS users do not experience negative effects and hence distrust the message and the messengers, perhaps most notably among those who should listen. Research has shown this many times. Blaming AAS diverts focus from potential indicators of risk and predictors of harmful outcomes. This is where science might be most helpful in dispelling simplistic notions and in working toward more effective risk identification, targeting of limited resources and reducing associated harms.
Rest in peace.
Former professional bodybuilder Craig Titus has pleaded guilty to second degree murder, first degree kidnapping and first degree arson. Fitness pro Kelly Ryan, the wife of Craig Titus, also pleaded guilty days before their trial was scheduled to start. The plea agreement spares the sport of bodybuilding from a sensationalistic trial where anabolic steroids are likely to be demonized; we anticipated a “dumbbell defense” with the requested appointment of clinical psychologist David Schmidt of UNLV.
Local news stations have breaking news about the case and sentencing.
Once stars in the bodybuilding world, they are accused of using a stun gun, drugging and suffocating 28-year-old Melissa James in December of 2005. James burned body was found in a burned out Jaguar belonging to Ryan.
Details of Kelly Ryan’s plea agreement have not been released, but it appears that Craig Titus has been spared the death penalty.
Titus now faces a possible sentence of 10 to 25 years on the murder charge, 5 to 15 on kidnapping charge, and 2 to 15 years on the arson charge.
Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control and the Tulsa Police Department are trying to find out if an Oklahoma steroid trafficking network sold anabolic steroids and/or performance enhancing drugs to high school athletes (“Steroid inquiry widens to teen athletes,” April 24).
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.
Chris Goodman (owner of Hi-Octane Fitness and co-owner of Supplement Shak), Keith Koppenhaver (an amateur NPC bodybuilder and personal trainer), IFBB pro bodybuilder Guy Ducasse and Coweta police officer Zachary Livingston were recently implicated in a major Oklahoma steroid distribution network. Sources have told MESO-Rx that the Tulsa Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit has interviewed over 75 people in the Oklahoma steroid investigation.
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.
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 2008Â 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.
Shortly after IFBB Pro Bodybuilder Victor Martinez won the 2007 Arnold Classic, Albany County District Attorney David Soare’s office publicly named Victor Martinez as an unindicted co-conspirator in the Signature Pharmacy and longevity clinic anabolic steroid scandal. Clearly, the intent and timing of the announcement represented a calculated grandstanding opportunity for David Soares to tarnish Governor Arnold Schwazenegger’s association with professional bodybuilding.
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.
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.
IFBB Pro Bodybuilder Hidetada Yamagishi recently had all felony steroid possession and distribution charges against him dismissed; he pleaded guilty to only a misdemeanor count of possession of Viagra without a prescription. Nonetheless, this was enough to result in the revocation of his O-1 travel visa granted to foreign athletes who have extraordinary ability and have received international acclaim and recognition in their respective sport. As a result, he was taken into federal custody and placed in the Federal Correctional Institute at San Pedro, California.
Yamagishi retained immigration attorney Ms. Montserrat Miller, Esq. from the law firm Greenberg Traurig. Hide was given the option of remaining incarcerated while he fought the revocation of his O-1 visa or he could voluntarily return to Japan. Upon the advice of Ms. Miller, Hidetada Yamagishi chose the latter option.
When Hide returns to Japan, he will be faced with decisions on how to proceed with his bodybuilding career as it involves travel to the United States. Flexonline outlines his options:
Now, Yamagishi must choose whether he wants to fight the revocation of his visa from Japan or apply for re-entry to the United States. IF he chooses to contest the revocation and loses, Yamagishi faces a five-year ban where he will not, under any circumstances, be allowed to enter the United States. However, if Yamagishi elects to apply for a re-entry visa and is approved, it is likely that he would be allowed back in the country within the next few months.
