The death of Mexican wrestler Andrés Palomeque, better known as the “Abismo Negro”, has been linked to anabolic steroids by the local coroner. Physician Jesús Enrique Castro López examined the body of the 37-year old Palomeque and concluded that his death was precipitated by an anxiety attack possibly resulting from the consumption of anabolic steroids. Castro made the conclusion solely based on the prevalence of steroid use in sports; the medical examiner’s “opinion” was not based on toxicology tests that determined if any drugs were present in Palomeque’s system (”Extraña muerte de luchador Mexicano “Abismo Negro,” March 25).
Las investigaciones realizadas por autoridades locales indican que el deportista solicitó al chofer de la unidad Elite le permitiera bajar, con una actitud nerviosa y sufriendo de crisis de ansiedad, debido a posible consumo de anabólicos muy comunes dentro de la sociedad deportista, según Jesús Enrique Castro López, medico legista.
Andres Alejandro González Palomeque was found dead near a river in El Rosario, Mexico early Saturday morning on March 21, 2009. There was no medical evidence to support anabolic steroid-induced anxiety attack as the cause of death. An autopsy was not conducted. Furthermore, the circumstance surrounding the death of Andrés Palomeque were suspicious with speculation that foul play could have been involved. Read more
Former WWE pro wrestler Andrew “Test” Martin was found dead at the age of 33 in his Tampa residence during a police welfare check on March 13, 2009. The cause of death has not been determined but foul play is not suspected. The Tampa Police Department has requested toxicology tests after discovering large amounts of prescription painkillers and anabolic steroids in his Post Harbour Place condominium. Martin was apparently notorious for his use of steroids and sometimes faced fans who chanted accusations of steroid use; Martin defended steroid use for cosmetic purposes as similar to Botox or a facelift. His WWE nickname “Test” is coincidentally slang for testosterone and his fans were affectionately called his Test-icles (”Friend Of ‘Test’ In Shock Over Pro Wrestler’s Death,” March 17).
Prescription drugs including painkillers and steroids were found in Martin’s home, Tampa police spokeswoman Laura McElroy said today.
“We’re awaiting the toxicology report to determine if any of those painkillers and steroids played a role in his death,” McElroy said.
“He was obviously very healthy. The mystery of his death will likely come out in his toxicology report.”
The tragic culture of professional wrestling that involves the use of anabolic steroids, prescription painkillers, muscle relaxants, and alcohol has seen numerous young stars die prematurely. The general public has rushed to identify anabolic steroids as responsible for the death of Andrew J. Martin. The predetermined conclusion that steroids were the culprit the death of Andrew “Test” Martin will undoubtedly persist regardless of the official and actual cause of death.
Representative Henry Waxman isolated anabolic steroids as “the” problem when calling a congressional investigation to examine the steroids in professional wrestling. The unfortunate consequence of such contemporary steroid hysteria is that, in the rush to blame anabolic steroids as the single cause of death, the most significant risk factors are predictably overlooked.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson admitted to using anabolic steroids in an interview with MTV Movies Editor Josh Horowitz. The former World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) superstar admitted using anabolic steroids along with his friends around the time he played collegiate football as a defensive tackle for the 1991 NCAA Division I-A national champion Miami Hurricanes. The admission of steroid use has almost become a rite of passage for athletes and entertainers with very muscular physiques during the contemporary era of steroid hysteria. The personable Johnson had fun with the admission in an entertaining discussion of steroid use with MTV News; the revelation of steroid use happened while promoting his latest Disney movie “Race to Witch Mountain” in the back of a New York City yellow cab (”Dwayne Johnson Admits To Steroid Use Years Ago,” March 12). Read more
Phillippe Astin, M.D., the family physician who prescribed anabolic steroids to Chris Benoit in the year prior to the Benoit double murder-suicide, is going to trial on March 16, 2009. Many will be surprised to learn that in the final 175-count federal indictment, there is not a single charge related to anabolic steroids. Press coverage demonized Dr. Phil Astin as the doctor who prescribed steroids to Chris Benoit. If steroids were to blame for the Benoit tragedy, the evil doctor who gave them to Benoit must also be held responsible.
Federal prosecutors, who initially felt the prescribing of steroids was a “major issue” in the Astin case, decided against steroid distribution charges in the revised indictment. Perhaps they concluded, upon the advice of the Georgia Chief Medical Examiner, that there was insufficient evidence to support the illegal prescribing of steroids. Instead, Phil Astin faces charges of distributing and dispensing approximately one million dosage units of painkillers and stimulants classified as controlled substances, including Percocet, Oxycontin, Demerol, Lorcet, Ritalin, Vicodin, Xanax, Klonipin, Methadone, Ritalin, Adderall, Dexedrine and Soma “for other than a legitimate medical purpose and not in the usual course of professional practice. “
The media chose to demonize anabolic steroids while (purposefully) ignoring the fact that the Benoit household was the recipient of almost 15,000 dosage units** of Lorcet, Soma and Xanax prescribed by the dubious Dr. Astin over a 30 month period. This would supply an average of 15 pills per day.
The media’s main storyline, consistent with the contemporary steroid hysteria, revolved around the scientifically unsupported belief that anabolic steroids caused “roid rage” which ultimately resulted in the tragic Benoit murder-suicide. The media was quick to find statements that they could incorporate into this storyline.
