Steroid use accusations on Two All Blacks

The former coach of Olympic gold medalist Hamish Carter, Jack Ralston, has accused two All Blacks of taking steroids in his new book.

"People might be stunned by this but I know at least two All Blacks in the 1990s who responded to demands that they bulk up by taking steroids," Ralston revealed in an early edition of his biography The Sports Insider.

From Stuff.co.nz:

Ralston was the New Zealand Rugby Union's head of sales and marketing between 1997-99. He has also been on the payroll at Netball New Zealand, Gymsports NZ and as a coach worked for Arthur Lydiard during a lengthy career in New Zealand and international sport.

The highly regarded Ralston, who also enjoyed a stint with Nike and worked with sporting icons such as Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan and Carl Lewis, worked with the All Blacks in a commercial capacity during their failed 1999 Rugby World Cup campaign.

Ralston added he "never saw" any All Black ingesting steroids.

Steroid bust by Albuquerque Police

On Friday, the Albuquerque Police Department said it made one of its largest steroids busts at a Westside home.

Ruben Jaramillo Jr., who turned his home into a steroid lab, at his home near Unser Boulevard, was arrested by the ADP.

From Kob.com:

"He is huge, probably I would say right now, probably one of the largest trafficking distributions of anabolic steroids from what we are finding in there,” APD Sgt. Patrick Ficke said.

APD went to the home with a warrant but Jaramillo didn’t answer the door, so police entered by force.

APD’s Eastside Narcotics Team found vials of liquid steroids plus it's pill form, in plain sight inside Jaramillo's home.

Most interesting, Jaramillo was making the steroids himself, he even had his own labels, police said.

He also wasn’t shy about his drug dealing.

"Obviously, he's very open, everybody in the household knows what he's doing," Ficke said.

About a year ago, Jaramillo and his wife were arrested by Bernalillo County deputies for similar steroid related charges.

One year suspension for Sonnen

The California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) has suspended UFC middleweight contender Chael Sonnen following a failed drug test he took prior to his UFC 117 bout against middleweight champion Anderson Silva on Aug. 7, 2010.

The fight was dominated by Sonnen with punches and takedowns but Silva managed to make a triangle choke submission to force Sonnen to tap out.

From Prommanow.com:

The California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) has suspended the license of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter Chael Sonnen, after Sonnen tested positive for steroids, a banned substance.

A sample from Sonnen’s August 6 drug test came back with a high T/E (testosterone-to-estrogen) level, which is indicative of anabolic steroid use. CSAC learned of the results September 2 and ordered a second test, which also came back positive for steroid use. CSAC received test results from the second sample on September 14 and suspended Sonnen two days later. He is suspended for one year. Sonnen has 30 days to appeal the decision.

“The use of anabolic steroids and other banned substances are not tolerated by the commission,” said CSAC Executive Officer George Dodd. “Anabolic agents put the health and safety of both the user and his opponents at risk.”

Sonnen’s sample was sent to the World Anti-doping Agency test facility at theUniversity ofCalifornia,Los Angeles on August 6, 2010 for processing.

Aristy faked age for bonus

Alvaro Aristy, originally Jorge Leandro Guzman, forged everything from his name to age and even talent.

The vice president of Major League Baseball's department of investigations, Dan Mullin, remarked the MLB got a tip about Aristy's identity in January 2010.

From Baseballamerica.com:

Randy Smith, Padres vice president of player development and international scouting, said the team was surprised to learn of Guzman's fraud before spring training in 2010. "We had no reason to be suspicious," Smith said. "From our information and him being cleared the first time, we were comfortable with MLB's investigation."

MLB launched its department of investigations in 2008 in response to recommendations from the Mitchell Report, but Mullin's team didn't take over age and identity investigations of Latin American players until July 2009. Prior to that, teams contracted out background checks of Latin American players—including Guzman's—to independent investigators, a system that team officials often complained was ineffective and at times outright corrupt.

Aristy tested positive for a metabolite of Nandrolone, an anabolic steroid commonly sold as Deca Durabolin.

Drug seizure with Pelham drug bust

In a search of a Pelham home by the Niagara Regional Police Morality Unit and the Prescription Unit, four people have been arrested and nearly $30,000 worth of drugs have been seized.

Police seized $24,599.30 in cash, about $12,000 worth of marijuana, $890 worth of cocaine, and $15,000 worth of anabolic steroids.

From Niagarathisweek.com:

In all, police charged five people. A Pelham man has been charged with possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking, possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, possession of anabolic steroids for the purpose of trafficking, possession of crime over $5,000, careless storage of ammunition and unauthorized possession of a prohibited weapon.

A Welland woman, a Thorold man and a man from Clinton have all been charged with possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.

A Welland woman was charged with possession of oxycodone for the purpose of trafficking and possession of proceeds of crime under $5,000 in a related investigation.

Popular asthma drug inadequate when used alone

A drug widely prescribed as the sole treatment for asthma has been found to be incapable by itself when it comes to preventing asthma attacks.

The drug is also ineffective in controlling the airway inflammation thought to lead to deteriorated lung function and gradual worsening of asthma.

From Ucsf.edu:

“Inhaled steroids are widely underutilized,” Lazarus concludes. “In low doses they are safe, and they are the most proven method of attacking the inflammation that is asthma’s greatest long-term danger.”

Lazarus is co-author of a companion article in the same issue of JAMA which found that once their asthma was brought under control with inhaled steroids and long-acting beta agonists, most patients with more severe asthma could cut their steroid dosage in half with no ill effects. But if the steroids were dropped completely, the asthma could not be adequately controlled.

The study was funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

E-learning to help tackle drug use

The London 2012 Olympic Games will become a learning archive through online resources bringing thousands of people from all over the world to England's capital city.

Online learning resources would be used to help raise awareness in conjunction with the experts.

From Virtual-college.co.uk:

E-learning modules for the Olympic and Paralympic Games have been announced which will provide packages educating users on the benefits of sport and fitness, PJ Online reports.

In collaboration with the Games, the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) Clinical Pharmacy Services Group has implemented the use of a new revolutionary system which will help those operating on site and allow them to get information on the go.

The three polyclinic pharmacies at the athlete villages in Stratford, Eton Dorney and Weymouth are designed and well under construction. Furthermore, the package entitled 'The use of drugs in sport: a healthcare professional's perspective', are fully completed and ready for use as all pharmacy policies and procedures have been written.

Categories of drugs banned from sporting events such as the Olympics include anabolic steroids, peptide hormones, strong analgesic painkillers, stimulants, and diuretics that can all have performance enhancing effects.

More and more local fighters taking steroids

Drug-busters recently said that a growing number of local fighters are taking steroids after banning South African boxing champion, Matima Molefe for two years.

Molefe's urine sample tested positive for traces of Nandrolone, an anabolic agent, after he stopped Simphiwe Tom in the second round of a showdown for the vacant SA featherweight crown in East London on May 29.

From Sowetanlive.co.za:

SA Institute of Drug-Free Sport (Saids) chief executive Khalid Grant said on Tuesday that drug abuse by professional boxers was becoming rife, with four positives out of 87 tests from April 2010 to March 2011.
Pugilists were turning to steroids in the "misconception that steroids alone will enhance their performance and give them additional strength and power".
“Boxers are not only increasing their risk by using sports supplements, but are also wasting their money as the boxing performance gains are minimal,” said Galant, adding the promised performance gains of sports supplements and steroids had little bearing on improved boxing skills.

Galant added, “We hope boxers will learn from these doping bans being handed down that champions are made through hard work in the gym and will not be found in some capsule or muscle powder drink.”

USEF made changes to Drugs and Medication Rules

The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has been reminding members and competitors of the rule changes surrounding drugs and medications in competition horses.

USEF is encouraging every exhibitor, trainer, coach, and owner to take the time, prior to competing, to carefully review the "Guidelines for How Long Drugs Remain Detectable" that can be accessed online or requested on call by calling 800/633-2472.

From Thehorse.com:

Also effective Dec. 1, 2011, anabolic steroids will be considered a forbidden substance under the USEF therapeutic drug rule. No anabolic steroid is to be administered to a horse or pony in the time before competition such that it, or any metabolite of it, might be present in the animal, or might be detectable in its blood or urine sample at the time of competition. This means that, if anabolic steroids are administered and/or any surgical implants are removed, the administration and/or procedure occurs sufficiently in advance of competing to ensure these substances are not present in the blood or urine at the time of competition.

The new competition year starts December 2011.

Arthritis sufferers get relief from steroids

Symptoms of arthritis can be relieved by a simple therapy using an optical illusion, according to scientists.

It was revealed by scientists that mirror therapy that has been used successfully to treat amputees suffering from phantom limb pain could now be used for other medical conditions.

From Dailymail.co.uk:

Lead researcher Laura Case said: 'Our findings suggest that simple and inexpensive materials like mirrors could be used to reduce the pain and suffering caused by this common disease.

'Many patients reported a reduction in pain and stiffness during this illusion.'

Professor Alan Silman, medical director of Arthritis Research UK applauded the study, presented at the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting, and said mirror therapy was a promising line of research and potential treatment.

The cost-effective treatment could offer an alternative to millions of sufferers who currently rely on high doses of painkillers and steroids.

Laraque bio attacks steroid use

During a 13-year career, Georges Laraque said he fought not only against the National Hockey League's toughest players, but also against the use of performance enhancing drugs.

"Quite early in my career I started asking the (National Hockey League Players' Association) to take action against all the performance enhancing drugs some players would use to become bigger in order to stop feeling the pain," Laraque writes in The Story of the NHL's Unlikeliest Tough Guy, a new autobiography, excerpts of which were reprinted in the Toronto Star.

From Montrealgazette.com:

"The job was hard and harsh enough not to have to compete against 'killers' swollen with steroids. The NHLPA listened to me, but refused to take any action on that front, for obvious political reasons. They wanted to keep drug testing as a card in their negotiations with the league."

Laraque, who piled up 1,126 penalty minutes as one of the NHL's most feared fighters, writes that the use of drugs created an uneven playing field for pugilists.

"The use of steroids by tough guys makes it unfair for the ones who decide to remain clean," he writes.

"In my final years in the NHL, the league finally decided to set clear and precise rules against the use of any performance enhancing drugs," he writes. "I was relieved, and found it funny how much weight some players had lost in just one year."

Clenbuterol find a place with most players

A majority of the players tested at the Under-17 World Cup in Mexico had traces of clenbuterol in their bodies because they ate contaminated meat, as per FIFA.

FIFA medical officer Jiri Dvorak termed the results as "highly surprising" but insisted that teenage footballers were not cheating.

From News.smh.com.au:

"It is not a problem of doping, but a problem of public health," Dvorak told reporters, adding that none of the players was harmed or put in any danger.

FIFA and the World Anti-Doping Agency declined to prosecute any cases because the weight of evidence pointed to contamination.

Mexican authorities have acknowledged the country has issues with feeding banned steroids to livestock.

"Since day one we knew the players were innocent and we are happy with this result," Justino Compean, the Mexican Football Federation president.

More than hundred tested positive for stimulants

More than 100 players at the Under-17 World Cup in Mexico tested positive for stimulants due to contaminated meat, according to FIFA.

Jiri Dvorak, chief medical officer for world football's governing body, said samples provided by players from 19 of the 24 squads at the tournament - that ended in July - tested positive for banned substance clenbuterol.

From Soccerway.com:

After four players at the youth competition tested positive, FIFA opted to analyse all 208 urine samples collected, with the steroid found to be present in more than half of them.

Suspicions were aroused by the fact five players from Mexico's senior squad for the CONCACAF Gold Cup had previously tested positive for the same substance in May.

The players were later deemed to have unwittingly ingested the drug through tainted food consumed on a training camp in Mexico.

"FIFA was very alarmed and it was highly surprising to see something like this – I had not seen anything like it in my 20 years in this post," Dvorak said.

Timothy Sigman Surrenders His Medical

Dr. Timothy Sigman has surrendered his medical license and is on a leave of absence from his Sebastian practice while facing federal steroid distribution charges, according to an official with the U.S. Attorney's Office in Miami.

The 40-year-old doctor was arrested by Drug Enforcement Administration agents after he allegedly approved steroid and human growth hormone prescriptions illegally.

From Tcpalm.com:

At Health Transformations, a Sebastian business registered at his 110th Street home address, Sigman employed medical professionals and salespeople — including the receptionist and office manager — to sign off on orders for steroids and other prescriptions, according to the indictment.
As a condition of his bond, Sigman has handed over his medical license and DEA registration while the case is ongoing, according to U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida spokeswoman Annette Castillo.

Sigman was one of 13 people arrested earlier this month on various charges related to distributing steroids, human growth hormone, and pain pills.

Sri Lanka sacks sports medical unit

Over allegations that staff members were associated with banned steroids used by cricketers and national athletes, Sri Lanka sacked their entire sports medical unit.

Sports minister Mahindananda Althugamage ordered the complete overhaul of the unit.

From Timesofindia.indiatimes.com:

Official sources said Mendis was sacked after repeated allegations against his unit, though no direct evidence of its involvement in the positive tests has been made public.
Opening batsman Tharanga, 26, was given a three-month ban earlier this year after testing positive for a banned substance.
He claimed he had been unwittingly given the drug by a high-profile Colombo-based faith healer who was reported to have links to the medical unit.
In June, three Sri Lankan national rugby players admitted taking banned steroids during the Asian Five Nations tournament in Colombo in May.

"The minister wants to revamp the sports medical unit and have a separate anti-doping section to provide a full range of services to national sports men and women," ministry spokesman Harsha Abeykoon said.

Ten defendants have been sentenced for their involvement in a large scale conspiracy to possess and distribute anabolic steroids in the Western, Middle, and Eastern Districts of Texas and Louisiana, according to an announcement by United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley.

Bryce Thomas Meaux, 24, Christopher Keith Gass, 25, Tyler Jordan Kuykendall, 20, Shane Patrick Hinton, 23, all of Lake Charles; Blake Meche, 25, of Rayne; Canien Lee Matte, 24, Terry Duane Kuykendall, 24, both of Baton Rouge; Troy Newton Broussard, 27, of Lafayette; and Shane Keith Weekly, 24 of Lake Arthur were sentenced conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and the distribution of anabolic steroids.

From Sulphurdailynews.com:

Charles, is scheduled for sentencing on Oct. 27, 2011. The facts surrounding the defendants sentenced in this case are attached.

According to court testimony, these defendants were involved in a drug trafficking organization responsible for receiving several hundred 10 milliliter (10 ml) vials of anabolic steroids, numerous packages of anabolic steroid cream, and approximately 35 kilograms of raw steroid powder which was shipped from China and Germany.

Once the internationally shipped packages of anabolic steroid powder were received by members of the organization, the powder was then converted into an injectable form, bottled, labeled for distribution, and sold. This drug trafficking organization sold anabolic steroids to individuals located in the Western, Middle and Eastern Districts of Louisiana and Texas. In total, approximately 7,000 10-milliliter (10 ml) vials of anabolic steroids were manufactured, possessed, and distributed by this drug trafficking organization.

Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Jim Lee said, “Today's sentencing is a direct result of the excellent partnership IRS-CI has with the U.S. Attorney s office and other federal agencies. Together, we will continue to investigate and prosecute those individuals who are involved in money laundering activities in our community.”

Drug charges against Carter dropped

A police officer and former Mr Gay UK, PC Mark Carter, who was cleared of raping a man in June, has had the remaining charges against him dropped.

The 28-year-old was due to face trial later this year on separate charges of possessing the anabolic steroid, stanozolol.

From Bbc.co.uk:

Peter Mann, head of West Yorkshire CPS's complex casework unit, said: "Having carefully considered expert evidence, we are satisfied that Mr Carter's use of the drugs was for a medicinal purpose within the terms of the Medicines Act 1968."
Pc Carter went on trial at Leeds Crown Court earlier this year charged with sexually assaulting three men and raping a fourth while on a Christmas night out with colleagues.
He was cleared of two rape charges and two sexual assault charges but the jury failed to reach a verdict on another sexual assault charge and this was not proceeded with.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said, "This case involves an allegation relating to the possession of steroids. A decision regarding disciplinary action remains under consideration."

Two plead guilty to steroids charge

A Monroe County doctor and a North Alabama man pleaded guilty to participating in a steroids conspiracy.

Dr. Mark Peter Koch admitted that he sold and consumed anabolic steroids.

From Blog.al.com:

Prosecutors and Koch, who has a troubled history with state medical regulatory authorities, agreed that the conspiracy involved more than 300 grams of steroids.

His attorney, Ken Nixon, declined to comment after the hearing

James Robinson, an attorney for Rivers, said notwithstanding a summary of facts contained in the plea agreement, it is “not necessarily true” that his client was Koch’s supplier of the controversial performance-enhancing drugs.

“He is not the main defendant in the case,” he said. “He was ancillary. And they recognize that.”

Steroids becoming integral part of modern-day lifestyle

Anabolic steroids are being admired by people across the world for promoting lean muscle mass and stay in the best shape.

"The psychological effects are highly variable," said Harrison Pope, steroid specialist, psychiatrist and professor of psychiatry at Harvard University. "Most people who take anabolic steroids don't get much of any psychological effects, but for reasons that are not well understood, a minority of people can get quite striking psychological effects."

From Iowastatedaily.com:

"About one person out of 10 will get really quite uncharacteristically irritable and aggressive on steroids, and one person out of 10 will develop fairly pronounced depressive symptoms after coming off of steroids, especially if they've taken them for a prolonged period of time," Pope said.

For users like Carl, the psychological effects are not even on the radar. Carl focuses primarily on his physical health and monitors it through frequent checks of his blood.

"Blood work is essential. I get it done every 12 weeks or so to make sure my health stays in check," Carl said. "I use a private lab where you can schedule an appointment at one of their sites. They'll take your blood and it's completely anonymous."

"Most of us [power lifters] go to a powerlifting meet or body-building show to see just how far the human body can be pushed," Ryan Wagner, certified sports nutritionist at the Ames Nutrishop, said. "Regardless of if the person is using anabolics or not, the amount of hard work, dedication and technique that goes into it is at a higher level than most people will ever realize."

Anthony Jones had excess amount of potassium in system at time of death

According to an Arkansas State Athletic Commission report released this week, one of the contributing factors of boxer Anthony Jones' death may have been an excess amount of potassium in Jones' system.

Jones was knocked out during a January heavyweight bout in Benton, Arkansas.

From NYdailynews.com:

"Jones' use of alcohol and anabolic steroids, together with his extraordinary use of caffeine, tobacco, and nutritional supplements on top of additional multi-vitamins and potassium supplements without drinking sufficient water, created a biological environment which altered his normal physiological responses and facilitated his demise," the report said. The complex biological and chemical processes involved in this case made it remarkably difficult for the professionals to reach a consensus as to the specific cause of death. In fact, due to the multiple origins and particularly complex nature of the biological, chemical and physical processes involved, it is possible for reasonable, medically and professionally trained minds to disagree on Jones' specific, primary cause of death; however, all agree as to the secondary/contributing conditions or factors."
The report makes the analogy that Jones' death was similar to the domino effect – once one organ or body function fails, others will soon follow.

"The short and overly simplistic answer is that Mr. Jones died as the result of a cascading systems failure caused by extraordinarily complex biological and chemical processes of multiple origins," the report says. One of the steroids found in Jones' system was the veterinary steroid boldenone.

Mayweather claims Khan on steroids like Pacquiao

The reigning light welterweight champion Amir Khan is likely into performance enhancing drugs, according to Roger Mayweather.

Ring icon Manny Pacquiao was previously accused by Mayweather of steroids use.

From Gmanews.tv:

The allegations obviously stemmed shortly after the 24-year-old Khan's remarkable fifth-round knockout of Zab Juddah to unify the World Boxing Association (WBA) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) 140-pound title belts.
The Bolton, England-born Khan is Pacquiao's regular sparmate and also trains under Freddie Roach.
Like Khan, Pacquiao had been accused time and again by the Mayweathers—including Floyd Jr and his father—of being under performance enhancing drugs, an allegation that forced the Filipino boxing champion of taking them to court.
Clean fighter
Khan denied he's ever used steroids, even stressing that he'll agree to any drug-testing procedure if and when the Mayweathers would insist on it should a fight between the two of them materialize in the near future.

"I am clean fighter. I get drug-tested in between, before and after fights," Khan told SkySports.

Sophisticated dopers to be aware of testers

The battle to keep the London Olympics free from drugs has begun even before the opening ceremony next July.

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Britain's largest drugmaker, has offered a sophisticated laboratory that is ready and waiting.

From Reuters.com:

"We have a state-of-the-art facility, we have the best detection systems going, we're right up to date with the science, and if athletes know you've got good testing and good detection systems, it really has a deterrent effect," said David Cowan, head of the Drug Control Centre at King's College London and the man who will oversee London 2012's anti-doping regime.
His staff, which he has expanded to include eight times as many scientists as he would normally have, are aiming to conduct more than 5,000 tests at the London Olympics - roughly one for every two of the 10,000 or so athletes expected to take part.
As the science of detecting doping advances, athletes who cheat by using performance-enhancing drugs are devising ever more sophisticated doping regimes.

The drugs of choice for cheats, usually, vary from anabolic steroids to human growth hormone, blood boosters like erythropoietin (EPO), beta-blockers and stimulants, or diuretics.

Positive tests during schools' rugby tournament

School boys, as young as 17-year-olds, have tested positive for anabolic steroids at the recent Craven Week schools’ rugby tournament.

This was revealed after doping control tests and the school boys could face bans of up to two years from sport.

From Timeslive.co.za:

Galant says that 4 boys tested positive for the banned steroids. “Out of the four positives, two results also showed high levels of testosterone and these tests have been sent off for further analysis to Germany to verify whether the levels of testosterone are due to external sources, or naturally produced by the body.
"Only if the tests confirm that indeed the source of testosterone is from outside of the athlete’s body, will a doping case be opened.”
He says that one positive result is a lot, therefore four positives translates into an 8.5% positive result, which is a serious cause for concern.

Khalid Galant, CEO of the Institute for Drug-Free Sport, said, “The Craven Week school tournament is known to be the hunting ground for talent scouts looking to find best new players for their provinces.”

Craven Week stunned by doping scandal

The CEO of the Institute for Drug-Free Sport, Khalid Galant, has confirmed that drug tests of four schoolboys have returned positive in Craven Week.

The four schoolboys cannot be named as they are still minors.

From Ecr.co.za:

CEO of the Institute for Drug-Free Sport, Khalid Galant, confirmed on Wednesday that the drug tests of four schoolboys, who can't be named because they are still minors, have returned positive.

This was after tests were carried out on 47% of those that took part in the tournament in Kimberley, at the end of June.

Galant went on to say that out of the four positives, two results also showed high levels of testosterone, and these have been sent for further analysis in Germany, to determine whether they were due to external sources or were naturally produced by the body.

The schoolboys who tested positive for anabolic steroids could face two-year bans from sport.

New Orleans Saints guard suspended

The NFL has suspended New Orleans Saints guard Jamar Nesbit without pay for violating the league's policy on anabolic steroids and related substances.

The suspension begins immediately for Nesbit.

From Espnstar.com:

"We are disappointed in the suspension of Jamar," Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said. "We will support Jamar through this process and look forward to having him rejoin the team soon."

Nesbit will be unable to participate in team activities until the week of October 20. New Orleans heads to London that week to face the San Diego Chargers in Wembley Stadium on October 26.

The Saints re-signed Nesbit to a three-year contract in February. The 10-year veteran had appeared in all 16 games the past two seasons.

Nesbit has started 87 games in his career with the Panthers, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Saints.

WWE shttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifuspends Sin Cara

The WWE has handed over a suspension of thirty days to Luis Ignascio Urive Alvirde, who performs as Sin Cara after he was found violating the Talent Wellness Program.

Cara failed a drug test on June 23, 2011.

From Wrestleheat.com:

According to a source close to F4WOnline.com, WWE is seriously pondering his future and are considering not bringing him back to the roster when his 30-day suspension ends. McMahon brought Cara on the roster earlier this year amongst fear that Rey Mysterio was going to be leaving the company and wanted to beef up the roster on Hispanic stars but, according to various sources, Cara has underperformed in McMahon’s eyes and his future is still undecided as of press time.

It is assumed by many that Cara tested positive for anabolic steroids.

Perfect ending to steroid era

The mistrial in the Roger Clemens perjury trial has provided the best ending to the steroid era.

It was suggested by the trial that no one was definitively guilty and undeniably innocent.

From News-sentinel.com:

Performance-enhancing baseball probably started earlier than we realize, hit its stride with the bogus Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa love fest and peaked when Barry Bonds' head was mistaken for an entrant in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Very few elite power hitters from the performance-enhancing era emerged unscathed, with Ken Griffey Jr., Frank Thomas and Jim Thome being the most prominent apparently clean hitters to come to mind.

Few admitted guilt. McGwire did so only in order to return to the field as Cardinals' hitting coach. Sosa not only failed to remember any encounter with steroids, he forgot how to speak English. Andy Pettitte came clean and was largely forgiven, as was Jason Giambi. Bonds stuck to never “knowingly” using performance enhancers. Clemens denied, denied, denied.

But the era, like the Clemens trial, came to an abrupt, unsatisfying end. Now we don't know which records are legitimate, although Bonds' regular-season and career home-run marks will never resonate like 60 or 61, 714 or 755. Most can still recall Bonds' 73 in a year. Do most people know his career total? I had to look it up. It's 762.

With this trial, the final unsatisfying chapter of the steroid era is all closed now.

Sprinter handed suspension by UK Athletics

UK Athletics has charged and suspended Bernice Wilson, the British sprinter, charged with an anti-doping offence.

The 27-year-old Wilson tested positive for the anabolic steroids, testosterone and Clenbuterol, last month.

From News.bbc.co.uk:

The provisional suspension came into effect on 9 July. It was issued by UK Anti-Doping, the independent body responsible for all anti-doping programmes and the management of violations and disciplinary issues in the United Kingdom.
Wilson, from Lincolnshire, could face a two-year ban if found guilty of doping.
This year she has set new personal best times in the 60m and 100m. She ran 7.25 seconds for the 60m at the European Indoor Trials in Sheffield in February, and 11.57 seconds for the 100m at the Inter Counties Championships in Bedford in May.

Bernice Wilson ran a wind-assisted time of 11.41 seconds for the 100m in Loughborough in May.

Breivik was wired on steroids

The mass killer, Anders Breivik, slaughtered 68 people while wired on anabolic steroids and listening to powerful music used on Britain’s Got Talent and X Factor.

The killer listened to rousing violin anthem Lux Aeterna by Brit Clint Mansell on maximum volume on his iPod while indulging into 90-minute death spree that shocked Norway and the world.

From Mirror.co.uk:

The stirring song is used at the beginning of BGT as the judges walk out on to stage and has also featured heavily at various stages of The X Factor. Breivik said it and a cocktail of steroids and ­stimulant enphedrine would turn him into “an extremely focused and deadly force, a one-man-army,” adding the track will increase “my aggressiveness, physical performance and mental focus”.

A version of it was used in a battle in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and is the opening for Sky Sports’ Gillette Soccer Saturday.

Lux Aeterna means “eternal light” and Breivik said he wants his extremist conservative movement, European Federation to use the song as its anthem.

Breivik added: “I’ve listened to this track several hundred times and I never seem to get tired of it. It is very inspiring and invokes a type of passionate rage within you. In Lord of the Rings, a good version of this track (Requiem for a Tower version which I think is the best) is performed during the most intense fighting of one of the central battles.

House Committee misled on steroid use among players

Major League Baseball and union officials may have misled the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform in relation to steroid use among players, according to a report by the New York Times.

The newspaper said officials presented figures that demonstrated that baseball's two-year-old testing program had substantially reduced the number of positive tests for performance enhancing drugs.

From Espnstar.com:

"It's clear that some of the information Major League Baseball and the players' union gave the committee in 2005 was inaccurate," Waxman said in a written statement, according to the Times. "It isn't clear whether this was intentional or just reflects confusion over the testing program for 2003 and 2004. In any case, the misinformation is unacceptable."

The newspaper also reported that the committee's staff plans to send letters to MLB commissioner Bud Selig and union executive director Donald Fehr about what Waxman deemed "misinformation."

Those falsities came from the information about 2004 testing, which was shut down for part of the season, allowing for the significantly lower number of positive results, according to the report. The newspaper said the committee was not aware of that. The Times reported that Selig's office later called that shutdown "an emergency response to an unforeseen situation," which the report said was in reference to the federal investigation of the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative steroid ring.

"The testimony of Major League Baseball officials was completely accurate, and we are happy to address any concerns that Congressman Waxman may have," deputy commissioner Rob Manfred said.

End of first juror pool for Clemens trial

The judge looking after the case of Roger Clemens, U.S. District Court Judge Reggie Walton has selected 24 potential jurors from an original pool of 50 to come back Tuesday.

The most decorated pitcher in Major League Baseball, Clemens, has pleaded not guilty to charges of committing perjury, obstructing Congress, and making false statements in 2008.

From Washingtonpost.com:

None of the potential jurors probed by the judge Monday were more than casual baseball fans, though many had heard of Clemens. The second potential juror said she was a fan of European soccer.

“I have not followed baseball since the ‘80s,” she said. She was asked to come back Tuesday.

Another juror worried the defense when he said he came from a law enforcement family consisting of police officers, detectives, a sheriff and a Texas Ranger.

But the potential juror, who catered federal and Republican Party events during George W. Bush’s two terms as president, said he would be fair.

“I’m a Regular Joe, okay?” he said. “I’m going to still love baseball, no matter which way this goes.”

Clemens told a House committee that he didn’t used anabolic steroids and Human Growth Hormone.

Woman sneaking drugs caught

A female visitor to the Lincoln prison has been caught while sneaking Class C drugs into the jail.

Katarzyna Paszkiewicz was caught while trying to smuggle drugs into Lincoln Prison hidden inside her bra.

From Thisislincolnshire.co.uk:

Katarzyna Paszkiewicz, 25, appeared before city magistrates charged with possessing 100 tablets of methandienone.

She is accused of trying to supply the drugs, a controlled steroid often used for body building, to Wictor Blotnyin Lincoln Prison on June 12.

Paszkiewicz of Henry Street, Lincoln, was granted unconditional bail to return to Lincoln Magistrates' Court on October 15 to have her case committed to Lincoln Crown Court.

The female visitor attracted a sniffer dog's attention when she arrived at the prison to visit her boyfriend.

Mr Lincolnshire bodybuilding title countdown starts

Bronzed and buffed men are all set to flex their muscles in Lincoln while aiming to win the crowned Mr Lincolnshire's top bodybuilder competition.

The competitors would be striking a series of poses to show off their muscles in the best light for the show.

From Thisislincolnshire.co.uk:

Kimberly White, who helps run Performance Foods with partner and former Mr Universe runner-up Laurie Carr, said: "During the competition judges will be looking for things such as body symmetry, muscle definition, weight and how well they pose.

"The Mr Lincolnshire event is not in itself a qualifier for bigger events like Mr Universe, but it's a really good place for someone to start getting some experience."

Competitors will be entered into five different categories and asked to strike a series of poses to show off their thighs, gluts, biceps, abdominal muscles and chest. They will also perform a five-minute routine featuring differently flexed poses, they will devise.

And before heading on stage they will be bronzed up in a special tanning solution aimed at showing off the definition of their muscles and will have shaved their entire bodies.

The top bodybuilder competition is set to be held at The Lawn in Union Road, Lincoln, on Saturday, July 30.

Daily steroids could benefits boys with muscular dystrophy

According to a study, daily steroid treatments for several years could benefit young boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy by helping them walk on their own for longer period of time.

A study published in an issue of Neurology®, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology suggested that daily steroid treatment also helps them reduce the risk of scoliosis.

From Sciencedaily.com:

Duchenne muscular dystrophy occurs in one in 3,500 boys. Symptoms start in early childhood and rapidly progress with most boys losing the ability to walk between ages nine and 11. There is no cure for the disorder.

For the study, researchers reviewed records of 143 boys seen at the Ohio State University Muscular Dystrophy Clinic in Columbus. Of the group, 75 had been treated with corticosteroids for an average of eight years and the rest of the boys had never been treated or had received a brief dose of steroids.

The study found boys who were treated with daily steroids walked by themselves 3.3 years longer than the untreated boys and had a lower rate of scoliosis, 31 percent compared to 91 percent.

"Previous studies have shown steroids improve strength and function in Duchenne muscular dystrophy, but this is the first study to show the long-term impact and how treated boys are able to walk longer on their own," said study author Wendy King, PT, with the Department of Neurology at Ohio State University Medical Center, and member of the American Academy of Neurology.

Drug-testing saga of Mullings continues

Steve Mullings, the sprinter from Jamaica, is pretty confident that his second portion (B Sample) of the urine sample he submitted following the men's 100m final at the JAAA/Supreme Ventures National Senior Trials on June 24 will be tested in the presence of his representatives at the IAAF/WADA accredited lab in Montréal, Canada.

Mullings' sample will be tested at the Doping Control Laboratory at the INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier Research Center in Quebec.

From Jamaicaobserver.com:

It was revealed last week that the first portion (A Sample) of Mullings sample had tested positive for the presence of a powerful diuretic Furosemide that has been used by athletes to mask the presence of anabolic steroids in their system.

According to Medicinenet.com, Furosemide, which is dispensed under the brand name 'Lasix', is "a potent diuretic (water pill) that is used to eliminate water and salt from the body. In the kidneys, salt (composed of sodium and chloride), water, and other small molecules normally are filtered out of the blood and into the tubules of the kidney. The filtered fluid ultimately becomes urine".

Mullings' agent John Regis told reporters last week that Mullings, who has the third fastest 100m time so far this season when he ran 9.80 seconds to win the event at the Pre-Fontaine Classic on July 4 in Eugene, Oregon, was notified last week Monday of the failed drug test.

The lab is one of only two World Anti-Doping Agency-certified laboratories in North America and has been used by the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association for many years and the US Major League Baseball.

Most abused drug in Korea

Korea has a higher proportion of users of methamphetamine compared to other drugs than the West, according to a straw poll.

The finding was revealed in a survey of 523 drug addicts led by Prof. Kim Dae-jin at Catholic University of Korea's College of Medicine and commissioned by the Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs.

From English.chosun.com:

Experts cite the historical background. Methamphetamine spread during World War II in Japan, where it was given to munitions workers and soldiers as a performance enhancer. When Korean laborers returned after the war, they brought the drug with them, and it is still known here under the generic brand name Philopon (pronounced "Hiropon").

Heo Cheol-ho, the director of Narcotics Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, claimed there was no case of manufacturing methamphetamine for sale in Korea since 2000. The reason for the continued dominance of the drug is smuggling from major production centers such as China, Russia, and northern Malaysia, according to Heo. Over 50 percent of methamphetamine seized in Korea is found on its way in from China.

In North America and Europe, the percentage of cocaine, heroin, and marijuana is much higher than of methamphetamine.

Tainted athlete put on bench by employer

The Indian athlete who recently tested positive to anabolic steroids, Ashwini Chidananda Akkunji, has life on a tailspin.

The funding of Akkunji was provisionally suspended by Olympic Gold Quest, founded by sports icons Prakash Padukone and Geet Sethi. Her employer, city-based Corporation Bank, has temporarily yanking her off their promotional drive.

From Articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com:

The bank had launched Ashwini, local lass from Siddapura in Kundapur taluk, with much fanfare on International Women's Day on March 8 as their new young face. A little under four months from that day, the bank for the time being has decided to keep on hold all promotional material involving Ashwini. Reason: Bank does not want to court controversy over the conduct of its employee. Ashwini is a probationary officer with the bank.

Reacting with alacrity to news of Ashwini returning positive for anabolic steroids in the out-of-competition dope tests conducted by NADA on June 27, the bank has removed all advertisement hoardings featuring her. Even the print media publicity ads featuring Ashwini have been put on hold for the time being, a bank official stated.

The doping incident that involved eight Indian athletes has shocked the entire fraternity and sport lovers.

Father son duo in dock over supply of anabolic steroids

A father, detective by profession, and his son have been charged with supplying anabolic steroids.

Dad and son DC Paul David Fletcher, 46, and Paul Michael Fletcher, 26, appeared at the magistrates' court alongside co-defendant and St Helens policeman Sgt Paul Hornby, 42.

From Osadvertiser.co.uk:

St Helens CID officer Fletcher Snr, of Downall Green Road, Ashton, was charged with eight counts of conspiring with his son to supply the class C drugs in Wigan between October 1 last year and March 24.

He was also charged with misconduct in a public office after it was alleged that he explained police tactics and procedure about telephone evidence to a known criminal, arrested on January 25.

Fletcher Snr is also said to have accessed sensitive information on police files and leaked it to a known criminal in St Helens on February 1.

His son Fletcher Jnr, of Richmond Hill, Wigan, was charged with eight counts of supplying steroids during the same period in Wigan.

The pair were represented by different legal teams.

Their co-defendant, Hornby, of Bembridge Court, Wigan, was charged with four counts of conspiring to supply anabolic steroids.

A preliminary hearing to determine the possibility of a trial was set for May 12 at 9.45am.