The CBS Early Show investigated anabolic steroid use by high school athletes in Louisiana on March 17-18, 2009. The investigative report by CBS News correspondent Kelly Cobiella targeted two sports supplement products identified as Genetic Edge Technologies Tren-250 and Tri-City Chemicals Xtreme Tren. Cobiella interviewed athletes at Opelousas High School and Eunice High School who used the supplement identified as “tren”. “Tren” contains an allegedly legal “pro-steroidal” ingredient used in a variety of “pro-steroidal” supplements (”High Schoolers Unknowingly Taking Steroids,” March 18).
Don Catlin, the infamous steroid hunter who runs the Anti-Doping Research lab, tested Xtreme Tren and confirmed the presence of estra-4,9-diene-3,17-dione. Catlin also found trace amounts of 19-norandrostenedione that were not listed on the label. “‘Tren’ is not a supplement at all, it masquerades as a supplement but it is really a powerful potent anabolic steroid,” according to Don Catlin.
William Llewellyn, author of the authoritative anabolic steroid reference manual “Anabolics“, clarifies the conditions under which natural steroid ingredients that can be legally sold over the counter.
If a steroid is found in the food supply naturally, and not regulated as a controlled substance, it may be legal to sell as a dietary supplement. The Dietary Supplement Health & Education Act (DSHEA) is intended to protect ingredients that are natural and already consumed by the public. Depending on if you believe the story or the label, “tren” is either a steroid known as “estra-4,9-diene-3,17-dione” or “estra-4,9,11-triene-3,17-dione” . There is no known source for either steroid in nature. I have to agree with Don Catlin’s assessment that “tren” is not a supplement, but a synthetic designer steroid. Since the designer steroid “tren” is not natural, it is considered a misbranded drug under federal law.
It is important to note that estra-4,9-diene-3,17-dione is NOT legally defined as an “anabolic steroid” under the Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 1990 and 2004. Instead, it may be classified as a “misbranded drug” instead of a dietary supplement.
The CBS Early Show investigation into anabolic steroid use by high school athletes reveals how the war on steroids will attack the sports supplement industry and the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA). Read more
An investigative report claims that anabolic steroids may have caused the deaths of three clients of a Phoenix-based longevity clinic in the past year. The ABC affiliate in Phoenix reports that Brian Stubstad, Aaron Atchley and Filip Petrovic purchased anabolic steroids including testosterone, Anadrol and trenbolone from the Revolution Medical Center clinic. Doctors and investigators are trying to prove that the steroid treatment prescribed by Revolution “caused” the suicides and deaths (”Deaths raise new questions about steroids sold at Phoenix clinic,” August 13).
All three men have at least two things in common, they were taking steroids and they were getting them at Revolution Medical Centers, a Phoenix-based clinic that’s currently under state and federal investigation.
“We’re looking to see if there is a causal relationship between the death and the treatment or therapy they were being given,” said Dr. Craig Runbeck, executive director, Arizona Naturopathic Physicians Board of Medical Examiners.
The three deceased men also had another thing in common – the medical examiners in each of the respective cases did not suspect anabolic steroids as a cause of death and did not run a toxicology for them.
In fact, the autopsy of Aaron Atchley found clear evidence that his death was due to an accidental prescription drug overdose involving of Xanax, Oxycontin and cocaine!
The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has notified law enforcement agencies around the country to be on the look out for anabolic steroids in Eco Oils packages that purported contain indian aromatherapy oils. In the April 2008 issue of the DEA’s Microgram Bulletin to law enforcement “forensic scientists concerned with the detection and analyses of suspected controlled substances,” the DEA reports on the first encounter of this type of steroid packaging by the Pennsylvania State Police Crime Laboratory system.
The suspect in the case admitted to steroid abuse and indicated that the package actually contained “Sustanon” (which is a steroid cocktail containing the following testosterone esters: Propionate 30 milligrams, phenylpropionate 60 milligrams, isocaproate 60 milligrams, and decanoate 100 milligrams). The package markings included the website “821.in,” and indicated that the contents were Indian Aromatherapy Oils. The oil fluoresced when concentrated sulfuric acid was added and the resulting mixture was subjected to UV irradiation. Analysis of a methanol extract of the oil (total net volume 3.1 milliliters) by GC/MS confirmed testosterone propionate, cypionate, and decanoate in an approximate 4 : 3 : 1 ratio based on the TIC. The results indicated that the oil was not actually “Sustanon,” but rather a substitute or mimic steroid cocktail.
It is surprising that it has taken law enforcement so long to take notice of the sachet packaging. After all, they have been openly and widely discussed on various mainstream bodybuilding forums and popular steroid forums for almost two years. The existence of steroid sachets have largely remained a secret to most law enforcement officials. The DEA alert across agencies could likely make law enforcement more vigilant to this type of packaging in the future.
The Eco Oils sachets have been widely distributed since the summer of 2006 with information websites (originally at EcoOils.net and 821.in). The website URL 821.in was listed on the sachets and provided information about the alleged aromatherapy oil ingredients including Lavender oil, Euclaptus, Pogostemum Patchouli, Rosemarinus. Steroid users could find information about the steroid ingredients at the website EcoOils.net (with identical information now appearing at Eco-Oils.net). The line of anabolic steroids distributed by Eco Oils included nandrolone decanoate, trenbolone acetate, testosterone cypionate, testosterone enanthanate, dromastolone propionate, testoserone propionate, boldenone undeclaynate, methenolone enanthate, trenbolone enanthate, nandrolone undecanoate, sustanon, nandrolone mix, nandrolone phenylpropionate and boldenone mix.
As early as 2006, steroid experts like William Llewellyn (author of Anabolics 2007 and Body of Science) and others had already submitted samples of the Eco Oils sachets to San Rafael Chemical Services (before the DEA raided SRCS and subsequently prevented them from analyzing anabolic steroid samples). The lab analyses confirmed that the products contained ingredients and dosages that closely approximated what was advertised on their website.
It does NOT appear that Chris and Jennifer Navoy distributed anabolic steroids and/or human growth hormone in connection with the bodybuilding research chemicals sold via their website at ResearchChemist.com. This is contrary to a citizen complaint and police and media reports alleging that the couple sold and distributed steroids and HGH online.
The drugs that the couple actually distributed were openly advertised as non-scheduled “research chemicals” for several years on their websites. Federal authorities seized drugs that are the active ingredients in brand name drugs such as Viagra, Cialis, Dostinex, Clomid, and Arimidex from their home in Roswell, Georgia.
The media is now calling these “steroid-related drugs” rather than admit this does not appear to be a steroid distribution case.
Police also seized two bottles of testosterone cypionate “prescribed” to Christian Navoy; human growth hormone was not found anywhere. Agents discovered used syringes, vials, and an empty Component T-H (trenbolone acetate 200mg) box – all consistent with personal use – in the trash outside the Navoy’s home over the course of a three month investigation. One hundreds vials of Livzon brand human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), which is not an anabolic steroid or growth hormone, were seized by customs officials arriving from China.
The small quantities of testosterone and trenbolone suggest that these anabolic steroids were solely for personal use (bodybuilding purposes) and not distribution.
The only charge listed in the criminal complaint is the “unlawful distribution of sildenafil citrate” also known as Viagra.
This case could very well establish the precedent for legality of the sale of “research chemicals” that are of particular interest to the bodybuilding community. The research chemical niche has thrived for several years on the internet.
The federal steroid investigation involving Applied Pharmacy Services has been linked to self-proclaimed anti-aging expert James Abernathy. Physician Pamela Pyle, of Personal Touch Aesthetic Laser and Skin Rejuvenation Center in Myrtle Beach, pleaded guilty to withholding information about illegal steroid distribution. She admitted to writing prescriptions for James Abernathy, owner and director of Body Solutions Rx (”Steroids probe,” May 4).
Pamela Pyle, MD paid $5,000 to Abernathy Longevity Systems for the Longevity Professional Training Program For Physicians and Allied Health Care Providers. She became an Abernathy Physician’s Associate in March 2005. About a year later, Abernathy asked her to start writing steroid prescriptions for his customers (”Steroids probe,” May 4).
In March 2006, according to the plea agreement, Abernathy sent Pyle an e-mail asking her to write prescriptions for his customers until he could replace a physician who had retired.
When Pyle questioned the legality of the arrangement, Abernathy assured her that it was legal, according to her plea agreement.
The document lists 18 patients for whom Pyle wrote prescriptions for anabolic steroids. The orders totaled about $13,000, and Abernathy paid Pyle $60 for each customer, according to her plea agreement.
In each case, she never saw the patient and prescribed the exact combination of drugs that Abernathy recommended, according to her plea bargain. In some cases, she prescribed Trenbolone, a livestock drug.
James Abernathy defended his recommendations of trenbolone as appropriate while deflecting some of the responsibility for the recommendations to pharmacists at Applied Pharmacy Services.
In his interview with the Press-Register, Abernathy said Trenbolone is not a drug he ordinarily would recommend, although he added there could be some exceptions. He said that he relied on the expertise of the pharmacists at Applied Pharmacy.
Abernathy further defended the Body Solutions Rx clinic.
Abernathy, 53, said his dealings with Applied Pharmacy have been aboveboard at all times. “We’ve used many pharmacies,” he said. “Applied was one of the front-runners in HIV treatment. They had an outstanding reputation.” [...]
Abernathy said he would never recommend steroids to improve athletic performance or to serve as some sort of fountain of youth. “In fact, we turn away many patients who are looking for vanity medicine,” he said.
Three more doctors, Kenneth Olds, Kelly Tucker and Pamela Pyle, pleaded guilty in a steroid conspiracy involving the compounding pharmacy Applied Pharmacy Services (APS) (”3 more docs admit guilt in steroids case,” April 30).
Drs. Kenneth M. Olds and Kelly W. Tucker of Greeley, Colo., agreed to plead guilty in Mobile to dispensing anabolic steroids outside the course of professional practice. Greeley is also home to another who in January pleaded guiltyto withholding information about illegal steroids prescriptions.
Dr. Pamela Pyle, a Myrtle Beach, S.C., osteopath, also admitted to the withholding offense, known as misprision of a felony.
The indictments were expected after Assistant U.S. Attorney Donna Dobbins requested a postponement in the sentencing of their APS co-conspirator Scott Corliss last week. Olds and Tucker had previously been named in court documents as co-conspirators in the APS steroid scandal. We have not previously seen a link to Dr. Pamela Pyle.
MESO-Rx expects all four doctors who have pleaded guilty in the steroid conspiracy will cooperate with federal prosecutors in their pursuit of Applied Pharmacy Services Inc. and their owners Samuel Kelley and Jason Kelley.
Prosecutors allege that Applied Pharmacy Services was party to a conspiracy involving the distribution of anabolic steroids to individuals without a legitimate medical need.
“Working in concert for their mutual profit, these doctors, pharmacy owners, pharmacists and sales representatives removed the word controlled from ‘controlled substances,’” U.S. Attorney Deborah Rhodes said in a written statement. “They made sure that anabolic steroids were readily available to any person willing to pay for them, regardless of any legitimate medical need.”
Practices that have troubled prosecutors include the distribution of trenbolone acetate which has no accepted medical application in humans and the dispensing of steroids to patients as young as 19 years old.
Applied Pharmacy no longer offers pharmaceutical quality anabolic steroid and hormone preparations; they have stopped production of all anabolic steroids as a result of DEA pressure and the ongoing federal steroid investigation.
Former NFL running back Femi Ayanbadejo has filed a lawsuit against Author L. Rea of ALR Industries. He claims an undisclosed ingredient in ALRI Max LMG caused him to fail an NFL doping test leading to his release by the Arizona Cardinals and Chicago Bears. Ayanbadejo tested positive for a “form of nandrolone.” Ayanbadejo’s attorney is blaming the positive steroid test on the manufacturer for possibly intentionally “spiking” the supplement with banned substances or contamination from the manufacturing facility (”Ex-Aztec sues supplement maker, shop over failed NFL steroid test,” March 11).
“We’re still not sure whether we have a pure cross-contamination matter (from the mixing facility), or we have a company that actually spiked the supplement (intentionally),” said Ayanbadejo’s attorney, Jim Miller.
However, he ignores a third possibility that doesn’t work in his client’s favor - that the ingredient that caused the positive drug test was plainly listed on the label and his client was unaware that the metabolites would result in a positive steroid test. Then this is no longer a case of “undisclosed ingredients” or “contaminated supplements.”
The marketing materials for ALRI Max LMG clearly list the ingredients and similarity to other progestin-based steroids like trenbolone and nandrolone.
The active compound in Max LMG is 13-ethyl-3-methoxy-gona-2,5(10)-diene-17-one… It is legal because it is a progestin, and before anyone thinks “birth-control”, remember that trenbolone, nandrolone, methyltrienolone and Methyl-Dien all are also progestins. I doubt anyone will disagree with the effects of these compounds upon favorable body composition.
In addition, the label warned consumers about androgenic side effects.
Possible side effects include acne, hair loss, hair growth on the face (in women), aggressiveness, irritability, and increased levels of estrogen.
Are supplement companies responsible for ensuring that their supplements are “IOC-friendly”? Or are supplement companies only responsible for complying with legal requirements of DSHEA (which permit certain progestin-based steroidal compounds)?
Hidetada Yamagishi’s defense attorney provided court documents to Flex Online including details of steroid-related charges against him. The court documents provide details of the anabolic steroid stack imported by IFBB Pro Bodybuilder Hidetada Yamagishi when he was arrested on his arrival in the United States to compete in the 2008 IFBB Iron Man Pro and 2008 IFBB Arnold Classic as well as other pro bodybuilding shows:
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Anabolic Steroids: Trenbolone, Testosterone, Mesterolone, Oxandrolone, Stanozolol
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Testosterone Stimulator: HCG
Hidetada Yamagishi Felony Complaint – State of California
Flex Online spoke with the attorney for Hidetada Yamagishi and confirmed the steroid-related charges against Hide that we first learned over three weeks ago from Muscletime. Allan Donnelly writes:
Yamagishi is charged with six felonies and three misdemeanors.
The felonies are: unlawful possess for sale and purchase for sale a controlled substance, trenbolone; unlawful possess for sale and purchase for sale a controlled substance, testosterone; unlawful possess for sale and purchase for sale a controlled substance chorionic gonadotropin; unlawful possess for sale and purchase for sale of a controlled substance mesterolone; unlawful possess for sale and purchase for sale of a controlled substance, oxandrolone; unlawful transport, import into the state of California, sell, furnish, administer and give away and offer to transport, import into the State of California, sell furnish, administer and give away, and attempt to import into the State of California and transport a controlled substance trenbolone, chorionic gonadotropin, testosterone, mesterolone, oxandrolone and stanozolol.
Shawn Chapman Holley, Hide’s defense attorney, confirmed that the amount and quantity of anabolic steroids and ancillary drugs found in Hidetada’s luggage at LAX was consistent with personal use for a competitive bodybuilder.
It’s clear that the quantity of steroids at issue is consistent with personal use and far less than one would expect to see in a case of sales. Moreover the quantity is consistent with what one would expect to see for a bodybuilder with the competition schedule Hide had posted on his Website before his arrest.
The State of California is apparently abusing misusing the law by attempting to prosecute Hidetada Yamagishi as a distributor of anabolic steroids; Hidetada clearly had no intent to sell steroids only to compete in professional bodybuilding competitions.
California Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, knows a thing or two about the quantity and type of anabolic steroids and ancillary drugs included in precontest bodybuilding steroid stacks. He could easily confirm that the steroid stack imported by Hide was consistent with personal use by a professional bodybuilder. Someone should appeal directly to Arnold Schwarzenegger and ask that he explain this to California prosecutors.
There is a good chance that Hide’s defense attorney will be able to do the same and reach a plea agreement to misdemeanor charges on behalf of Hidetada Yamagishi.
I am hopeful that on February 6th we will have worked out a deal where, hopefully he will plead guilty to a misdemeanor count and be placed on summary probation with credit for time served and that will be the end of the criminal case.
Nonetheless, it is terrible that Hide will have spent no less than 8 weeks incarcerated on trumped up charges.
