Florida law enforcement officials are clearly concerned about the middle-aged European men on hormone replacement therapy. A 45-year old German national flying into the Southwest Florida International Airport was arrested on June 23, 2009 after federal agents discovered a therapeutic dosage of anabolic steroids in his luggage.
A United States Customs and Border Protection agent searched Francesco Gigliotti, of Cologne Germany, upon his arrival at the Florida airport. Lee County Port Authority reported that the customs agent discovered a single 2-mL vial of nandrolone decanoate and a 250-mg/ml ampoule of testosterone enanthate along with syringes and needles for two injections in his bag (”Man arrested for smuggling steroids into RSW,” June 24).
The small dosage of androgens for a middle-aged man traveling overseas from the European Union was clearly consistent with therapeutic use. U.S. Customs officials and Fort Lee County law enforcement are taking the threat of middle-aged men on hormone therapy flying into the United States from Europe very seriously. Read more
The Calhoun-Cleburne County Drug and Violent Crime Task Force arrested three individuals after a six-month investigation into steroid distribution at Dynabody Fitness, a commercial gym in Oxford, Alabama. The task force seems to be taking advantage of federal funds to expand their traditional war on drugs to include anabolic steroids (”3 arrested in steroid bust at fitness gym,” June 18).
Lt. Chris Roberson said Wednesday the owner, Cooper Freeman of Oxford, was arrested and charged with three counts of distribution of a controlled substance and several counts of possession of controlled substances.
Roberson said the gym manager, Billy Cole of Saks, was charged with criminal conspiracy to commit a controlled substance crime and possession of a controlled substance and Freeman’s wife, Amanda, was charged with possession of a controlled substance.
Alabama Governor Bob Riley awarded a $135,000 federally-funded grant to the Calhoun-Cleburne County Drug and Violent Crime Task Force on November 25, 2008 to help fund “undercover operations and investigations of drug dealers”.
The federal funds were made available through the Department of Justice thanks to H.R. 2764 (”Consolidated Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2008″); Congressman Mike Rogers from Alabama characterized the funding as one of his top homeland security priorities for Eastern Alabama. However, Congressman Rogers seemed to think the funds would be used to rid the communities of methamphetamines instead of steroids.
It is unclear how steroids represent a threat to homeland security in spite of assertions by the United States Customs that steroids fund “terrorism, death, and addiction around the world”.
Alabama Governor Riley justified the grant due to the direct relationship between drugs and violent crime; but it seems unlikely that Governor Riley had steroids in mind when he awarded the grant Read more
The arrests of Mr. New Zealand and IFBB pro bodybuilder Marc Rainbow and amateur bodybuilder Andrew Lent in unrelated steroid cases have prompted concern among anti-doping officials that bodybuilding is the “supply network” for anabolic steroids in mainstream sports. Graeme Steel of Drug Free Sport New Zealand (DFSNZ) blamed bodybuilders for the spread of steroids in sports. There has been no reported evidence to substantiate the assertion that recently seized steroids were intended for New Zealand athletes Read more
The Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office is leading a major anabolic steroid bust this morning originating out of Texas in conjunction with the IRS, Houston DEA office, Fort Bend County District Attorney, US Attorney and the FDA. Operation Farmacia de Juicy Phruit arrests began at 4:30am CDT and have put approximately 50 individuals, including professional bodybuilders, gym owners, personal trainers and even pharmacists, in custody from at least three states including Texas, California and Georgia. The three-year operation could involve as many as 200 individuals.
Some major cities in Fort Bend County, Texas include Stafford, Katy, Pearland, and Sugar Land.
More details after the press conference:
One of the steroid dealers for former Canby Police Officer Jason Duncan Deason pleaded guilty to one count of delivery of a controlled substance. Brian Jackson, a former strength and condition coach for the Oregon City High School girls basketball team, was sentenced to 30 days Clackamas County jail and two years probation after admitting to selling steroids to Officer Deason. Jackson remains the subject of an FBI investigation into whether he sold steroids to other police officers and/or minors. The 350-pound Brian Jackson once told an informant that he did not fear criminal prosecution because his customers were cops (”Former Oregon City coach pleads guilty in steroids case,” May 21).
Clackamas County Circuit Judge Douglas V. Van Dyk ordered Jackson not to use or possess any steroids or human growth hormone, nor any alcohol or drugs and to pay a $107 fine to the court.
He also was ordered not to have any contact with co-defendants, Jason Deason, the former Canby officer who resigned from the job last July during an FBI investigation, and William Traverso, a Canby businessman also accused of providing steroids to Deason.
Clackamas County prosecutor Michael Wu said Jackson was given a lenient sentence due to his cooperation with the broader FBI inquiry involving anabolic steroid-related corruption at the Canby Police Department.
Canby Police Officer Jason Deason worked out with both of his steroid dealers at Nelson’s Nautilus gym in Oregon City. Brian Jackson and William Traverso have both told prosecutors that they sold steroids and/or human growth hormone (HGH) to Officer Deason Read more
David Edward Retter and Jason Hobbs have been connected to the underground lab known as Hell Fire Labs. Mary Beth Buchanan and Mary Houghton, prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania, are prepared to files charges of conspiring to distribute anabolic steroids against up to four individuals in connection with Hell Fire Labs. These include David Retter (Vandergrift, Pennsylvania), Jason Hobbs aka “Heretic” (Auburn, Washington), Kris Mealer (Timbo, Arkansas), an individual thus far only identified as “Freak” (Indianaopolis, Indiana) (”Charges link Westmoreland lab with nationwide steroids sales,” May 13).
“I’ve never been in trouble before in my life,” Retter said. “Believe me, I’m no big steroid dealer.” [...]
“I was out of the thing for 12 months before they even called me,” Retter said. The criminal information filed Monday against Retter accuses him of being part of the ring from May 2006 to February 2008. [...]
Houghton said the lab equipment and products Mealer got from Vandergrift included steroid powders, bottles, seals, crimpers, flasks, glassware and heating plates. A co-conspirator known as “Freak,” who lives in Indianapolis, sent Mealer e-mail addresses for 250 customers, Houghton said.
The other accused member of the ring lived in Auburn, Wash., Houghton said.
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
Sports Illustrated journalist Selena Roberts claims to have “irrefutable” proof that Yankees Alex Rodriguez used anabolic steroids as a teenager baseball player at Westminster Christian High School in Miami. Roberts’ certainty is largely based on A-Rod’s self-reported weight gain and weight training progress during high school. The New York Daily News published excerpts from Roberts’ new book “A-Rod: The Many Lives of Alex Rodriguez“
“He said as a sophomore he could barely bench press 100 pounds,” Roberts said. “Six months later he’s bulked up 20-25 pounds and he had increased his level from 100 pounds to 310 pounds. That’s a pretty shocking leap for six months. That, in conjuntion with the reporting that I did with [his high school] teammates would make it irrefutable to me, not a ‘may have.’”
Selena Roberts’ credibility has taken a major hit from these comments. Roberts inexplicably ignores the dramatic weight gain that normally occurs in boys during high school without the use of steroids. The CDC growth charts reveal teenage boys normally gain 35-45 lbs. during high school. Roberts also appears unfamiliar with the dramatic increases in strength and muscle mass that novice weightlifters experience when first engaging in a resistance training program particularly when accompanied by a bodybuilding-type diet. Any male that has started bodybuilding during puberty knows that a 20-25 weight gain is not unusual without the use of anabolic steroids.
Detective Sergeant Lisa McElhaney was identified as the whistleblower in the most recent “cops and steroids” scandal involving the Broward County Sheriff’s Office (BSO) according to the Broward-Palm Beach New Times. Sgt. McElhaney led the investigation of the Lifestyle Rejuvenation Center in 2007 that uncovered suspicions of illegal steroid use by law enforcement in South Florida. McElhaney reported officers to their supervisors at the Plantation Police Department and the Broward Sheriff’s Office Read more
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
The Brooksville Police Department has started making arrests in an undercover narcotics investigation codenamed “Operation D-Bol”. Operation D-Bol targets anabolic steroid distribution within the city limits of Brookville. Law enforcement has determined that steroids threatens the safety and welfare of the estimated 8,000 residents in this small Florida community. Operation D-Bol resulted in the arrest of Michael Earl Maurer Jr for the sale and possession of anabolic steroids on March 22, 2009 (”Investigation: Operation D-Bol: Arrest – Sale of Anabolic Steroids / Drug Seizure,” March 22).
On the listed dates the Brooksville Police Department Criminal Investigation Division conducted undercover narcotics operations (Operation D-Bol) into the sale of anabolic steroids in the City of Brooksville. The operation utilized a confidential informant who arranged multiple purchases from a reported steroid supplier. The supplier delivered the steroids to the informant’s home on March 21 and again on March 22, 2009. After the second delivery and sale the suspect was immediately arrested by police personnel. A subsequent search of the supplier’s residence at 23110 Skyview Circle, Brooksville resulted in the recovery of additional illegal steroids and hundreds of syringes used in administering the drug.
The Brooksville Police Department’s decision to launch a full-scale undercover operation targeting low-level steroid dealers represents a questionable use of significant resources. The small community of Brooksville has 27 police personnel and a $1.8 million operating budget. The undercover surveillance of steroid users/dealers, bodybuilders at local gyms in Brooksville proves that no town is too small for the war on steroids.
The FBI investigation codenamed Operation Phony Pharm remains active and may seek to prosecute additional individuals selling anabolic steroids according to court documents recently filed in the U.S. District Court of Connecticut. Attorney Matthew Maddox publicly reveal prosecutors’ intentions in a March 9, 2009 sentencing memorandum filed on behalf of his client, Corey Stanford. This is surprising news since all nine defendants associated with Operation Phony Pharm have already pleaded guilty as of June 2008: Edwin F. Porter (June 2008), Brian S. Tompkins (June 3, 2008), Brian W. Jeffery (May 5, 2008), Corey Stanford (April 14, 2008), Tyler J. Lunn (March 24, 2008), Walter T. Corey (February 2008), Alan R. Blair (September 24, 2007), Matthew J. Peltz (September 27, 2007) and Hiroshige Cranney (May 21, 2007).
Corey Stanford (of Austin, Texas) was originally scheduled to be sentenced on July 7, 2008 well after all other Operation Phony Pharm defendants had pleaded guilty. Stanford’s plea agreement called for 8 to 14 months imprisonment; Stanford’s attorney did not feel a downward departure was warranted at the time. However, this all changed when sentencing was delayed for 9 months so that Stanford could engage in “an intensive cooperative relationship with the federal government.” This represented an unusual move for prosecutors who had secured guilty convictions for all indicted defendants. Operation Phony Pharm, by all appearances, appeared to be nearing its conclusion. This suggests that prosecutors in the United States Attorney’s Office in Connecticut may seek additional steroid-related indictments, possibly in Texas. Read more
Actor Scott Siegel was the target of an investigation into the trafficking of illegal anabolic steroids by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Westchester County Drug Enforcement Task Force. Siegel discovered an unmarked DEA car in the parking lot of his parents’ townhome in the Lake Isle gated community in Eastchester, New York on February 18, 2009. Siegel walked around the DEA vehicle and looked in all four windows and the front windshield, all of which were tinted, and told the four undercover agents inside, “Nice fucking car.” Siegel then drove away. After realizing their surveillance was blown, it appears that the DEA called backup including officers from the Eastchester Police Department and the Tuckahoe Police Department. Law enforcement officers approached Siegel upon his return to the Lake Isle Townhouse. Siegel fled in his car and intentionally hit several vehicles belonging to local and federal law enforcement agencies before being arrested.
Law enforcement agents obtained search warrants the next day for the Lake Isle Townhouse and Siegel’s residence and seized significant quantities of anabolic steroids and cash according to the criminal complaint Read more
IFBB pro bodybuilder Victor Martinez was unfairly subjected to a “witch hunt” by an inaccurate article appearing in the New York Daily News. Sports writer Christian Red inaccurately reported that Victor Martinez owned the Gurabo Supplement Store in the Dominican Republic when, in fact, Martinez does not have any ownership interest nor does he receive any monetary benefits from the supplement store. Daniel Ferreira, an attorney for Martinez, formally requested a correction in a letter to Christian Red of the Daily News to set the record straight.
Mr. Martinez’s posters are displayed in the store. The posters are for the supplements line Mr. Martinez endorses in the United States. By way of background, Mr. Martinez was invited as a guest poser to an event conducted by the Dominican Bodybuilders’ Federation. The Gurabo store, a sponsor of the event, requested that Mr. Martinez’s appear at the store and promote his supplements line. Your article somehow bestowed an ownership interest on to Mr. Martinez from the display of his posters of a supplements line from the United States in the Gurabo store. Your story lacks any credible evidence; I am very confident that you were not shown any documentation that supports your blanket assertion that Mr. Martinez is the owner of the Gurabo store.
The “irresponsible reporting” represents the most recent type of witch-hunt to target Victor Martinez. In 2007, Martinez was unfairly targeted in another type of steroid witch-hunt led by the grandstanding District Attorney David Soares of Albany County. Soares publicly identified Martinez as an “un-indicted co-conspirator” in the Signature Pharmacy steroid scandal; Victor was never charged with a crime after almost two years. The practice of naming unindicted co-conspirators is frowned upon by many in the legal community and unethical, if not unconstitutional. Attorney Daniel Ferreira decries the behavior of David Soares as part of a pattern of prosecutorial misconduct. Read more
California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger voiced strong opposition to the use of anabolic steroids and performance enhancing drugs in sports during an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union with John King”. Schwarzenegger told John King that he thinks athletes, and presumably pro bodybuilders, should come clean and publicly admit their own steroid use as a mistake for the sake of children who view them as role models (”Schwarzenegger: Steroid Use Sends Bad Message,” February 22, 2009) :
“I think it’s important to get the message out that we should not use drugs. I think we have a certain obligation as athletes to inspire young people. When someone wins an Olympic championship or a boxing championship, whatever it may be, you’re not only a champion, but you’re also an inspirational vehicle for young kids and for people in general to stay fit, to lose weight and all of this.
“I think that the message of not using drugs, not using alcohol, all of those things, always out there and inspire young kids. So I think there are some athletes go in that direction because there’s so much competition. I think they need to come out, be clean, and say look, I used that, I made a mistake, or whatever it is and the sports ought to be without drugs. That’s the important thing.”
Arnold Schwarzenegger, as promoter of the Arnold Classic, has previously urged bodybuilding officials to crackdown on steroid use in the IFBB and called a steroid summit with leaders in the industry to institute steroid testing in the sport. This is widely considered as nothing more than a publicity stunt.
Schwarzenegger has publicly admitted his own use of anabolic steroids as a professional bodybuilder as early as 1974. He has never denied his use of steroids and has consistently acknowledged using them during precontest preparation. However, Schwarzenegger’s statements regarding anabolic steroids have not always entirely consistent and have become increasingly more “anti-steroid” particularly since he became governor of California.
Schwarzenegger’s steroid statements have gone from being entirely unapologetic about his responsible and safe use of steroids to characterization’s of his steroid use as stupid experimentation due to ignorance about the dangerous side effects of steroids. Here are some of Arnold’s steroid statements over the years…
