Anabolic steroids are demonized in case materials used for the 23rd Annual Oregon High School Mock Trial Competition on March 13-14, 2009. The competition is intended to enhance proficiency in “critical thinking skills such as analyzing and reasoning.” However, high students participating in the mock trial contest were not allowed to critically and honestly examine anabolic steroids and their side effects. Challenging the inaccurate steroid information within the case materials was prohibited. The goal of the mock trial was to argue the assignment of fault in the fictitious death of Jordan Simon. Was the defendant responsible for Jordan’s death due to negligence or misconduct? Or was the deceased responsible for voluntarily assuming the risks? The assignment of fault may be in dispute, but one thing was certain – steroids caused Jordan Simon’s death.
The wrongful death case of Simon v. Swift and Eastside High School involves a high school track sprinter who died from a heart attack presumably caused by an anabolic steroid overdose. Student mock trial participants are told that erythropoeitin (EPO) is an anabolic steroid in the case materials. This is false. But the students are not permitted to question this false assumption by calling for information outside the scope of the case materials. EPO is repeatedly identified, albeit erroneously, as an anabolic steroid throughout the case material, exhibits, and expert testimony.
Participants are told that an anabolic steroid overdose can cause heart attacks. Anabolic steroids can NOT cause an acute fatal overdose. There is no direct association between anabolic steroids and heart attacks. While long-term abuse of anabolic steroids can result in serious adverse cardiovascular consequences, an isolated cycle of anabolic steroids is unlikely to cause anything other than transient changes in cardiovascular indicators, and certainly not a heart attack. Yet, the case materials in Simon v. Swift and Eastside High School suggest that anabolic steroids caused the heart attack. The autopsy report lists the cause of death as “heart attack due to accidental drug overdose” noting extremely elevated post-mortem levels of serum erythropoeitin (EPO). EPO has been directly associated with heart attacks in competitive athletes (particularly cyclists). Steroid have not. Read more
The British celebrity tabloid “News of the World” published a photograph of Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps hitting a bong accompanied by an article suggesting he was an experienced cannabis user. Recreational marijuana use is a banned “in-competition” substance unlike anabolic steroids. Cannabis use is permitted by the IOC and WADA Anti-Doping Code outside of competition in spite of its illegal status in the United States. Michael Phelps quickly issued a public statement apologizing for his behavior which many accepted as an admission of his cannabis use (”Phelps Apologizes for Marijuana Pipe Photo,” February 1).
“I engaged in behavior which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment. I’m 23 years old and despite the successes I’ve had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner people have come to expect from me. For this, I am sorry. I promise my fans and the public it will not happen again.”
Fortunately, the general public rejected the tabloid’s attempt to sensationalize Phelps’ pot use as an unforgiveable moral failure. The changing public attitudes towards marijuana use have enabled public figures to dismiss incidents of recreational illicit drug use as “youthful indiscretions.” The acceptance of marijuana use by Michael Phelps regrettably comes at the expense of anabolic steroids.
The main difference between anabolic steroids and marijuana with respect to athletes involves the drug’s effects on athletic performance. Steroids help performance; pot hurts performance. Ironically, a substance that allow an athlete to work harder and perform better is EVIL; a substance that diminishes an athlete’s ability to work hard and perform is GOOD. The goal-directed motivations of steroid users are BAD. Read more
The general public takes comfort in blaming anabolic steroids for violent and abhorrent crimes. The media is quick to find such associations given their tendency towards steroid demonization and steroid hysteria. The latest instance involves child abuse by Anthony Badalamenti in which the perpetrator has been linked to anabolic steroids, the violent beating has been referred to as an example of roid rage, and his behavior has been compared to the Chris Benoit tragedy.
The New York Daily News reports that Anthony Badalamenti obtained anabolic steroids and human growth hormone (HGH) in 2006 from Lowen’s Pharmacy which were prescribed to him by Dr. Richard Lucente (who is under investigation for writing precriptions for performance enhancing drugs) (”Long Island bodybuilder linked to Mitchell Report pharmacy,” November 4).
“I don’t know if this was ‘roid rage, but this sure reminds me of Chris Benoit,” said the source, referring to the professional wrestler who had steroids in his system when he killed his wife and son before committing suicide in 2007.
![](http://www.mesomorphosis.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/life-roid-rage.jpg "NBC television series \")
The NBC television series “Life” creatively demonized anabolic steroids in the plotline of the recent episode entitled “Everything… All the Time.” They producers of “Life” blamed anabolic steroids for murder, roid rage, a suicide attempt, steroid overdose, and bleeding from the eyes in this bit of anti-steroid propaganda. The “roid rage” scene rivaled and arguably surpassed the classic “Ben Affleck Roid Rage After School Special” in its imaginative, fanciful and fictional portrayal of roid rage. This is an amazing feat in and of itself.
The steroid hysteria also incorporated an attack on physicians who prescribe steroids, health clubs and gyms, and bodybuilders who use steroids; the “Life” episode featured a doctor who was a “board certified physician” that owned “Flex T Gym” and prescribed steroids to its members (but referred to members as “clients” so that their medical records would be covered by “doctor-client confidentiality”)!
Anti-steroid crusaders will find an agreeable ending consistent with their agenda; the roid-raging steroid user (Jeff Soskin playing Marty Hawkins) dies from a “massive steroid overdose” as the result of a “steroid hot shot” with twenty times the potency of the average steroid dose!
This is one of the most uninformed depictions of anabolic steroids and so-called roid rage in television history rivaling Ben Affleck in ‘A Body to Die For: The Aaron Henry Story’ and Peter Billingsley in ‘The Fourth Man’ in its degree of absurdity. Read more
Canadian filmmakers Nenad Barjaktarovic and Shane Smith have created a 12-week internet “reality series” documenting the motivations and experiences of first-time steroid user Peter Brown in “Steroids Saved My Life.” Peter Brown is a recent Vancouver Film School graduate from New Brunswick who has embarked on a 12-week anabolic steroid cycle in the online video series literally on steroids.
Anabolic steroid users have prolificly posted online diaries outlining their protocols and results on various bodybuilding forums over the years. Some first time steroid users have also shared their experiences as well with some touting positive outcomes and others reporting disastrous experiences.
The reality series (through its protagonist Peter Brown) effectively distills the basic motivations behind the typical individual who chooses to use anabolic steroids for non-medical purposes. Brown is neither a bodybuilder or an athlete and has no aspirations to become either. The project practically ignores any stigma associated with steroids resulting from societal demonization of androgens. It delves directly into the motivations and the decision-making process that led to his use of steroids.
Attempts to eliminate anabolic steroid from sports in an effort to preserve athletes as role models for our children is a failed strategy. The real problem lies with a society that worships athletes as role models. Manufacturing a moral issue out of steroid use in professional sports is hypocritical when other “immoral” behavior by athletes is not subject to the same media scrutiny, Congressional hearings, and multi-million dollar federal investigations.
It is certainly not Roger Clemens’ extramarital affair with country singer, Mindy McCready, that will keep him out of the Hall of Fame. It is his use of anabolic steroids and growth hormone that represent his moral unworthiness of being inducted in the Hall of Fame. Kobe Bryant’s extramarital affair (and rape accusations) were certainly an inconvenience for him, but won’t keep him out of his respective sport’s Hall of Fame. Neither will Michael Jordan’s extramarital affair. Or Magic Johnson’s affair. Or Jerry Rice’s affair. Or David Beckham’s affair. Or Maradona’s affair. Or even Renaldo’s solicitation of transvestite prostitutes.
The “culture of adultery” and “fast food sex mentality” in professional sports is an accepted, and even celebrated, part of professional sports.
Yet performance-enhancing drugs and the “culture of steroids” is seen as evil and immoral. The demonization of steroids in sports is absurd in the face of such hypocrisy.
NPC Bodybuilder Dan Puckett was found dead in his apartment on November 8, 2007 at the age of 22. There was immediate speculation that Puckett died from the use of anabolic steroids based on the fact that he was a bodybuilder and furthered by the rampant steroid hysteria in the media. This week, autopsy results reveal that Puckett’s unfortunate death was due to “natural causes” dispelling claims that he died from steroid use.
Dan Puckett was a collegiate bodybuilding champion, winning the 2006 NPC Teen & Collegiate National Championships, and a senior marketing major at the University of Alabama.
Dick Pound, anti-steroid crusader and former head of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), continued spreading his nonsensical steroid hysteria at a luncheon in Canada. Among other things, he said professional athletes who use steroids are sociopaths (”Anti-drug crusader pounds on doping: Dick Pound Recommends Stiffer Penalties,” April 11).
“Why should your child, or anybody’s child, become a chemical stockpile in order to be successful in sport simply because there’s some sociopath out there that pays no attention to his or her promise of doping-free sport,” said Pound.
With this statement, not only does Dick Pound equate steroid use with mental illness, he asserts that mental illness is widespread in elite sports.
Robert Sepe, owner of Healthy ‘N Fit supplement company, brutally murdered his girlfriend Janette Carlucci, beating her so badly with a metal baseball bat that she had to be identified through dental records (”Corlandt man charged with bludgeoning girlfriend gets new lawyer,” April 8 ).
Because of the brutality of the crime and the fact that Sepe’s company sells supplements such as Advanced Steroidal Complex, and Anabolic Muscle, observers have wondered whether steroid abuse was a factor.
The media is trying too hard to demonize anabolic steroids nowadays. Even in the absence of evidence of steroid use, the desire for a “roid rage” explanation has begun. The suggestion that the brutality of a crime likely resulted from steroid use is a reflection of the level of steroid hysteria in our society.
Never mind that there are no controlled scientific studies of “roid rage” and that the scientific evidence is mostly unsupportive of a relationship between anabolic steroids and aggression.
(Thanks to Inside Bodybuilding for story.)
I have previously written about how the current climate of steroid hysteria has limited the availability of anabolic steroids for medically indicated purposes. I’ve also posted lists of compounding pharmacies that, in the face of limited availability and increased federal pressure, continue to sell anabolic steroids to patients who have a genuine medical need for them.
Today MESO-Rx has learned that at least one compounding pharmacy has contacted bodybuilding, steroid, and health websites requesting the removal of all references to the company, their website and the (anabolic steroid) product(s) they sell.
I spoke with the chief marketing officer for the compounding pharmacy to find out more information. I was told that the company was concerned about receiving adverse attention from publicity of anabolic steroid sales. The company was adamantly dedicated to only serving the populations (e.g. HIV, wasting) that truly needed steroids for medical purposes. The publication of steroid information in connection with their company could possibly compromise that goal, especially on a bodybuilding and/or steroid-related website.
It seems highly unusual for the chief marketing officer to try and stifle publicity for one of their products. But it is understandable. If they publicize that they sell nandrolone decanoate (for example), then they are likely to attract adverse attention from (1) bodybuilders and athletes seeking steroids for performance enhancement or (2) federal and/or state authorities who may suspect they are selling steroids in a manner similar to what has been alleged in other publicized compounding pharmacy steroid scandal cases.
But if a steroid like Deca Durabolin (nandrolone decanoate) is so difficult to find from a legitimate (compounding) pharmacy AND the (compounding) pharmacies that do sell it do not publicize (and actually prohibit promotion of the) fact, then how will patients (e.g. HIV/AIDS) who really need it for medical reasons be able to find it? And as of this writing, this information is not readily available on Google; the steroid sources for Deca Durabolin are practically all outside the United States (thereby making it illegal for U.S. citizens to purchase even with a valid medical prescription.)
This is not good for patients who need steroids for their health and well-being.
Patrick Arnold’s ex-girlfriend, Kelcey Dalton, testified as a witness in cyclist Tammy Thomas steroid case. She told the court that Patrick Arnold (of Ergopharm) made very little profit from the sell of performance enhancing drugs (which were classified as “unapproved new drugs” prior to the Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 2004) ["Witness: Little Profit for Steroid Maker," March 27].
The sums of money Arnold was making were “very low,” she said. “I think we should have charged more.”
Pat confirmed via email that he only made $15-20 thousand over the course of the THREE YEARS he provided tetrahydrogestrinone (THG) and norbolethone to elite athletes while working with Victor Conte. The government calls a $5,000 a year operation a major steroid bust?!
The “war on steroids” in the United States has been highly effective in one regard; it has limited the availability of anabolic steroids for those individuals who use steroids as a matter of medical necessity. Nelson Vergel has written about the problems arising from the nation’s steroid hysteria as it affects the medical applications of steroids. These problems include Watson Pharmaceuticals discontinuation of nandrolone decanoate (Deca Durabolin) and the increasingly limited number of compounding pharmacies that offer nandrolone.
Since nandrolone decanoate is no longer manufacturer by any U.S. pharmaceutical company, it is difficult to find in the United States with availability limited to compounding pharmacies. Members of Vergel’s Yahoo Group PozHealth have researched and identified only five compounding pharmacies nationwide that still offer nandrolone decanoate with a valid medical prescription (and in some cases, additional requirements) ["Nandrolone Prices at Compounding Pharmacies," March 28).
Prices of a 10mL vial Nandrolone Decanoate (200 mg/ml) at Compounding Pharmacies
[NOTE: Pricing and compounding pharmacy has been removed per request. The publication of such information has regrettably caused adverse attention for at least one compounding pharmacy.]
Two other compounding pharmacies have ceased production of nandrolone decanoate due to federal pressure and/or limited availability of the raw materials (Applied Pharmacy Services and Leiter’s Pharmacy, respectively).
We desperately need a rational discussion on anabolics steroids to replace the steroid demonization and steroid hysteria sweeping our country. Legislation and federal actions involving anabolic steroids over the past several years have arguably done nothing to decrease steroid use among professional athletes or high school athletes; the war on steroids has indisputably compromised the available of anabolic steroids for medical purposes in affected populations. This is the real crime.
