The owners of the SVN Canada in North Vancouver, British Columbia were arrested for allegedly selling the anabolic steroid methyl-1-testosterone (M1T) to teenagers. The arrest comes less than a week after an employee of ‘Your Vitamin Store’ (YVS Victoria) in nearby Victoria, British Columbia was also arrested for selling M1T. Charges in both cases involved trafficking and possession of a controlled substance (anabolic steroids) (”North Van RCMP arrest nutrition shop owners for alleged steroid sales to teens,” October 20).
Const. Marlene Morton said “a substantial amount” of a bodybuilding drug called Methyl-1-Testosterone was seized from Lower Lonsdale area shop SVN Canada, following a year-long investigation.
The store’s owners, Joao Melo, 28, and Sylvie Tran, 26, of North Vancouver, have been charged with trafficking in a controlled substance and further charges are pending, Morton said.
Health Canada issued a warning in April 2006 advising all consumers that M1T was an illegal anabolic steroid. The recent steroid arrests may be the beginning of a crackdown on illicit performance enhancing drugs in advance of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games.
M1T was legally sold and marketed as a “prohormone” in the United States as an over-the-counter “dietary supplement” until the Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 2004 made it illegal on January 20, 2005.
Will Canada crackdown on anabolic steroids in preparation for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games? The steroid crackdown at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games was understandable given the long history of China’s manufacture and distribution of raw and finished anabolic steroid and performance enhancing products. But does anyone think steroids are a problem in Canada? After all, steroids are responsible for saving lives in Vancouver! Nonetheless, we may be seeing the beginning of a steroid crackdown in the region.
Victoria Police have arrested an employee of ‘Your Vitamin Store’ (YVS) in the Mayfair Shopping Centre in Victoria, British Columbia (Canada). The steroid bust involved a 33-year old employee now facing criminal charges for selling Methyl 1-Testosterone (M1T) in bottles of 90 capsules for $109.95. Most consumers consider M1T a “prohormone.” The employee was charged with six counts of trafficking in a controlled substance (anabolic steroids) and one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking (anabolic steroids). Read more
