The FDA served iForce Nutrition and owner Dave Nelson with a search warrant during the course of the 2009 IFBB Olympia Expo. The search warrant was executed in the days following the FDA raid of Bodybuilding.com. Four iForce Nutrition products were listed as “undercover purchases” made at Bodybuilding.com. Both the iForce Nutrition search warrant and the Bodybuilding.com search warrant alleged that these products contain anabolic steroids, unapproved new drugs, and/or misbranded drugs: 1,4 AD Bold 200 (androstenedione), 17a PheraFLEX (Madol), Dymethazine (Superdrol) and Methadrol (Superdrol).
The FDA media strategy forced several dietary supplement companies and their owners into the spotlight and made them readily accessible to both federal agents and media representatives at the 2009 Olympia Expo.
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 Línea 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 Míster 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
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.
Ron Avidan from GetBig.com had the opportunity to visit Hidetada Yamagishi in jail at the North County Correctional Facility (Pitchess Detention Center) at the end of the December 2007.
In terms of food, Ramen noodles, and tuna he can get as a treat, but prison food it is, or whatever they decide to give them that day. In terms of training, there is no gym equipment there, so Hidetada does a lot of pushups, and other various exercises that he can to stay in shape.
In seeing Hidetada, he seemed to be in good spirits, wearing his glasses, in a blue L.A. County jumpsuit, and still in excellent shape. We talked about the future, and when he gets out, on whether he can compete in time for the August IFBB shows, or whether the INS might not let him stay here.
Hide also dispelled rumors that his arrest had anything to do with Milos Sarcev.
Regarding Milos, none of this looks like it involves Milos, and he was planning to move to New York, train at Bev Francis’ Powerhouse Gym, and then come back a few weeks before the Ironman to train with Milos.
But no details on whether Hide was arrested and jailed for possession of anabolic steroids or something else. We hope to have more information at Hidetada’s court appearance on January 8, 2008.
For more information on the visit with Hide, check out Ron’s full report.
