Federal DEA officers are boasting of the largest bust on illegal steroids in the nation's history. Operation Raw Deal resulted in more than 120 people being arrested and dozens of labs that were allegedly manufacturing growth hormone being raided. Agents seized 56 labs, many of which were operated out of homes. They recovered what they believe to be 11.4 million doses of steroids. (Anti Aging Websites featuring models such as the one pictured to the left are being universally shut down.)
"We were a little bit stunned at the amount of labs we found as a result of this investigation," said DEA spokesman Garrison Courtney.The probe was focused on distributors, not users. No professional athletes were directly involved in the investigation.
Nine other countries, including China, participated in the raid. One Chinese manufacturer is accused of smuggling human growth hormone into the U.S. (Of course given China's track record, one would not be surprised if the growth hormone is fake!)
Operation Raw Deal, also targeted internet discussion boards frequented by bodybuilders. "Even though their storefront is the Internet, rather than the street corner, the people who engage in the smuggling and distribution of these substances are drug dealers, plain and simple, and we will treat them accordingly," said Robert Clark Corrente, U.S. attorney for Rhode Island. The labs' customers may include athletes, bodybuilders and ordinary adults who simply want to look better, officials said. (Vanity alone may be a reason to target those folks.)
In New York, five people accused of operating illicit steroid labs known as and "Bodiez by Design" and "Strong Island Underground" were indicted on charges of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. In Connecticut, four men were charged with purchasing raw steroid powder from China and distributing them to customers through a MySpace.com profile and a Web site. Genescience Pharmaceutical Co. and its CEO, Lei Jin, are accused of money laundering and conspiracy to facilitate the sale of smuggled goods. Jin allegedly marketed the drugs under the brand name Jintropin primarily as an anti aging supplement.
We should all feel safer on the streets now that the body builders and the anti aging groups are no longer able to purchase growth hormone from China over the internet. Perhaps now agents can turn to less significant problems such as Methamphetamines, cocaine, crack, and heroin.
Update 10-6-07 Are athletes and other steroid users starting to feel the heat?
After years of angry denials, Marion Jones is apparently ready to admit she used steroids.
Jones is a three-time Olympic gold medalist who will appear in U.S. District Court in White Plains, N.Y., on Friday to plead guilty to charges in connection with steroid use, a federal law enforcement source told the A.P. "The clear" is a performance-enhancing drug linked to BALCO, the lab accused of supplying steroids in professional sports. Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants, New York Yankees Jason Giambi and Detroit Tigers outfielder Gary Sheffield all have been linked to BALCO. More than two dozen athletes testified before a federal grand jury in 2003. Bonds denied ever knowingly taking performance-enhancing drugs, saying he believed a clear substance was flaxseed oil and a cream was an arthritis balm.
Update 11-27-07: Bonds was indicted for lieing under oath concerning steroid use. The claim may be defensible if he was taking growth hormone or some other nonsterioid because of the way the question was asked. For Raw Deal statistics and update, see comments legal pub 11-27!
"We were a little bit stunned at the amount of labs we found as a result of this investigation," said DEA spokesman Garrison Courtney.The probe was focused on distributors, not users. No professional athletes were directly involved in the investigation.
Nine other countries, including China, participated in the raid. One Chinese manufacturer is accused of smuggling human growth hormone into the U.S. (Of course given China's track record, one would not be surprised if the growth hormone is fake!)
Operation Raw Deal, also targeted internet discussion boards frequented by bodybuilders. "Even though their storefront is the Internet, rather than the street corner, the people who engage in the smuggling and distribution of these substances are drug dealers, plain and simple, and we will treat them accordingly," said Robert Clark Corrente, U.S. attorney for Rhode Island. The labs' customers may include athletes, bodybuilders and ordinary adults who simply want to look better, officials said. (Vanity alone may be a reason to target those folks.)
In New York, five people accused of operating illicit steroid labs known as and "Bodiez by Design" and "Strong Island Underground" were indicted on charges of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. In Connecticut, four men were charged with purchasing raw steroid powder from China and distributing them to customers through a MySpace.com profile and a Web site. Genescience Pharmaceutical Co. and its CEO, Lei Jin, are accused of money laundering and conspiracy to facilitate the sale of smuggled goods. Jin allegedly marketed the drugs under the brand name Jintropin primarily as an anti aging supplement.
We should all feel safer on the streets now that the body builders and the anti aging groups are no longer able to purchase growth hormone from China over the internet. Perhaps now agents can turn to less significant problems such as Methamphetamines, cocaine, crack, and heroin.
Update 10-6-07 Are athletes and other steroid users starting to feel the heat?
After years of angry denials, Marion Jones is apparently ready to admit she used steroids.
Jones is a three-time Olympic gold medalist who will appear in U.S. District Court in White Plains, N.Y., on Friday to plead guilty to charges in connection with steroid use, a federal law enforcement source told the A.P. "The clear" is a performance-enhancing drug linked to BALCO, the lab accused of supplying steroids in professional sports. Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants, New York Yankees Jason Giambi and Detroit Tigers outfielder Gary Sheffield all have been linked to BALCO. More than two dozen athletes testified before a federal grand jury in 2003. Bonds denied ever knowingly taking performance-enhancing drugs, saying he believed a clear substance was flaxseed oil and a cream was an arthritis balm.
Update 11-27-07: Bonds was indicted for lieing under oath concerning steroid use. The claim may be defensible if he was taking growth hormone or some other nonsterioid because of the way the question was asked. For Raw Deal statistics and update, see comments legal pub 11-27!
Update 3-16-08: Back in September, Kevin J. O’Connor, U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Kimberly K. Mertz, Special Agent (F.B.I.)brought charges against six individuals as a result of Operation Phony Pharm targeted at the illegal sale of anabolic steroids, human growth hormone, and other controlled substances over the Internet.
Update 5-13-08: Barry Bonds was indicted on 14 counts of Perjury and one count of obstruction of justice. He will have to face trial unless he enters a plea! He is still presumed innocent until otherwise proven guilty.
Posts
70 comments:
When I read this article, my hopes for getting rid of my wrinkles forever vanished.
Jill
Don't fret, wrinkle lines are character lines. We all need a little character.
Shell
Does any one else think that this has a lot to do with drug companies? Growth hormone for anti aging is not illegal if you go through a licensed physician who prescribes the medicine for a low HGH level. Unfortunately the medicine is expensive and not covered by insurance. This internet Jinotropin was cheap and not subject to taxes and the costs faced by local legitimate companies.
Wrong is wrong. Illegal is illegal. But like most things, is not money what is really behind these raids?
Dollar Bill
I am not an advocate of illegal drug use of any kind. I can understand an argument that testosterone based steroids could possible induce some type of rage although that still remains debatable to some. But I am not aware of any study associating HGH with rage. In the absence of such studies, one does have to question whether money and regulation are at the root of such stringent enforcement.
I just don't see how the 55 year old man down the street using HGH for anti aging purposes hurts society. I welcome comments that explain my ignorance on this topic.
What a waste of time and money!
HGH does not produce roid rage. The only thing it attacks is wrinkles, skin tone, muscle tone and sometimes receding hair lines.
This crack down is all about money and protecting patents.
People are scared to say it, but Ms. C. is right. This is a colossal waste of money if the goal is to protect citizens. If the goal is to protect the bottom profit line of U.S. drug companies, then perhaps mission complete.
Look at the current American mentality of always wanting the Federal Government (in this case the FDA) to be responsible for what we use for medicinal purposes. I know the DEA does the enforcement, but this notion that we cannot be responsible for ourselves and need the government to take care of us is the cause of this action. The Feds take these actions to avoid being criticized, since all drugs need FDA approval.
If we want to change this, we all need to grow up and not expect the government to take care of us!
If the purpose of government is to be paternalistic, why not shut down tobacco?
We all know it is because tobacco industry is big bucks! But more harm comes from cigarettes then ever comes from HGH.
Bobbi
The purpose of government is to protect capitalism and the free flow of revenue which maximizes the tax base.
Dollar Bill
It should not all be about money, Bill!
Members of the body building forums such as professionalmuscle are welcome to share their comments on this board, as there is no password. You may discuss why you feel the law enforcement is wrong or why you think such supplements should be legal. Just do not mention names of sellers or suppliers as this site is designed to discuss the issues not to take sides.
I will start off by saying that I am far from a criminal, and I definitely do not consider myself a danger to society. I felt that needed to be said because I see how a lot of these ARTICLES, have comments from DEA agents, that seem to like to say things such as “mini cells, hit the streets, international drug ring, as if they are speaking of the many Narcotic Traffickers they seem to never be able to arrest. They also seem to enjoy making the arrests seem to be more than what they are, for example; a certain anabolic substance may be 5mg, and you need let’s say 50mg per day. Now, to have enough for a 30 day supply, you would need 300 tabs. If they were to search your home and find these 300 tabs, they would say that you had amounts used for sells. So if you have 300 tabs, and 100 vials, you are now considered a low level dealer, which demonstrates the lack of knowledge on the subject, because that would be a one cycle supply, with some left over. It really upsets me that with all he problems in the U.S, they are wasting man power, money, and time chasing after substances that does nothing more than improve your recovery from training; improve the body’s ability to properly use up amino acids, and to improve strength. You show me where that could even fall into the same category of things such as cocaine, heroin, meth, etc. You have these so called experts claiming all these wicked side effects that come about from the use of anabolic steroids, cardiovascular risks, the potential for cancer, liver problems, the so called ROID RAGE issues, etc. Now lets really look at this for what it is, BS**, I say this only because we have in our society products that have been linked to cancer, and cardiovascular disease I.E. cigarettes. We also have products that are linked to liver disease, cancer, and personality changes, I.E. alcohol. Yet we so no one in the DEA, or the FDA screaming, and fighting for the banning of these substances that kill more people in one week, than have died from steroid use, since synthetic testosterone was created. This is modern days which hunt, and the saddest part of all, is that so many lives are being destroyed, not from the use of anabolic steroids, but from obvious nonsense of operation RAW DEAL, we already have a case of a young man taking his own life over this total waste of tax payers money. Jesus what has this country become, we have soldiers dying every day, we have families living on 240$ per week, we have young adults destroying their lives in the mid west with all this meth use, and we are focusing on these INTERNATION STEROID RINGS, I hope you all feel much safer when you go to bed tonight, because of RAW DEAL, the boogey man is finally gone from your closets. Let’s not focus on all the murders in cities like Philadelphia, Camden, Compton, Detroit, etc. lets get these evil steroid users, and dealers. Let’s stop not these terrorist cells, lets get all these steroid mini cells, they are the true threat to American security. They even speak about steroids the way they did about drugs in the mid 80’s, if you remember they always talked about how drug dealers sell to kids, “THEY ARE KILLING OUR KIDS”, yet I never saw to many 12 y/o waiting in line for crack. Now instead of drug dealers, it steroid dealers, THEY ARE SELLING TO HIGH SCHOOL KIDS, I would say that this whole situation is comical, but I cant because many people are, and will continue to be hurt by all of this. What a nation we live in, that government agencies can use our tax money to fund any silly operation they deem proper.
God bless America…
Home of the free …
Well at lease it was at one time…
Annonymous Body Builder, thank you for your comments. It appears clear to me that steroids and HGH are treated differently then many far worse substances: alcohol, tobacco, red meat, hot dogs filled with sodium nitrite. Yet users of steroids and HGH are targeted.
If you really want to make a difference, I suggest you attempt to form a coalition with drug companies to try to legally regulate over the counter sales of steroid and HGH to consumers over the age of 18 or 21. Advocate for treatment of steroids like alcohol. No penalty for use, only for abuse. (Make a stronger penalty for any crime committed while on steroids, i.e. road rage,
assault and battery etc.)In athletics, have penalties for unfair advantage of steroids if the associations so choose.
To do this, you need organization and formatation of a coalition with drug companies. Many of the steroids are off patent, but new even better and safer ones might be developed if there was a legal market.
While Legal Pub does not advocate use of any illegal substance, it is hard not to recognize that body builders etc are being unfairly targeted when there are far worse things that are legal.
We welcome all views on this subject including those of law enforcement (some of whom may have used such supplements themselves and those that have never used supplements.)
Great suggestion, Legal guy!
Surfer Dude
After reading that weight lifters argument, I can see his point. It is unfairly targeting steroid users...
This is an outrage. Though, it is not surprising to see this happen in a Police-State, such as Nazi Germany. This has to end, right now! The sad truth of the matter is that we let this happen to ourselves. We pay taxes that go to the DEA, so they can hunt us; stalk us; and lock us up in dungeons. This is not a free country, as long as this goes on.
In free countries, individuals have the right to choose, what they can and cannot put in their own bodies. My body is not the property of the United States Federal Government or the DEA! I will decide for myself! This is all politics and we've got to fight it. They've always had to fight for freedom, in history and it's no different now. I suggest voting for Ron Paul, to shut down the DEA, his first day in office.
Secondly, we have the right to bear arms, still, in this country and if anyone-I don't care who it is, or how many there are-breaks into your house, shoot them as fast as you can.
This is blatant discrimination. Who has ever been harmed by HGH? Who has been harmed by cigarettes? Who has been harmed by alcohol?
What a waste of tax payer dollars!
I am a national level bodybuilder and I have used huge amounts af anabolics up to 2700mg a week with zero health problems and zero mental issues such as "roid rage" I know hundreds of others that have had zero issues. It got to freakin' easy to get. I said a year ago this house of cards would fall. What the Gov't can not see is if they would put steroids back in the doctors hands or better yet never had taken it out of their hands none of this would have happened or be happening. No infections, no bunk gear....everyone would have been safer if we were not so freaking protected... from ourselves! I have looked at other non steroid realted boards such as this one.....people do not care if we use steroids...no outrage, nada...the question is then WHY GO AFTER THESE DRUGS? The people need to ask why do you go after them when they do not hurt anyone or society....and the Meth issue is completly OUT OF CONTROL! as well as Herion and Coke. If we (bodybuilders/athletes) ask these questions we look self serving...if all the Joe and Jane accountants and lawyers and school teachers ask then they will have to answer...maybe. There are far bigger issues than AAS, (anabolic/androgenis steroids) its just that they can catch us
National Level Bodybuilder,
You are right. It is easy to profile steroid users because they have larger muscles then the rest of the population. The more I hear about the "crack down" on steroid use, the more I think it is a waste of time and money. I do not see society being harmed by bodybuilders. I do not see a bunch of body builders robbing people or committing other serious crimes that a crack down is apparently designed to prevent.
I am listening more and more to the message of Dollar Bill when he insists that this is all about money.
I encourage both sides (law enforcement and body builders) to post their view points. A lot of readers are interested in this subject because it apparently involves a strictly paternalistic law. Keep sharing...
Has the DEA ever said just exactly what they hoped to achieve with Operation Raw Deal? Was it to save people from injectable hormones made in less-than-sterile conditions? I don't think so because they sure like to threaten the users that they know who you are and that you could next. That tells me they could care less about the end user. Was it to "save our youth?" I doubt it. I have played the game of AAS for a few years now and I don't know of a single underage girl or boy who uses exogenous hormones. (Just a personal account, of course.) Was it to prosecute those making money without paying taxes? More likely.
It appears as though the only ones who are benefiting from this costly action are those involved, politically, politicians and drug companies. Conversely, the only ones paying heavily are the US citizens involved. Are some those involved worthy of incarceration? Probably. But is the witch hunt worth the cost?
With everything else that IS permitted in our society, it is my opinion that taking hormones to become bigger, stronger, faster is not a crime.
AAS user,
Thanks for bringing this situation to the attention of the non body building community. I would know nothing of steroids except for what is in the news and media. Everyone has probably heard of wrestler Chris Benoit. Did steroids cause him to kill his family? The media would have us believe the answer is yes. Legal Pub story presented a balanced discussion of the issue and other possible causes.
In the end, steroid use probably should be a personal choice. Abuse of steroids which results in a crime should have penalties like DWI etc.
I don't see locking up those body builders who keep to themselves and otherwise obey the law as benefitting society.
Jill
Jill
Your coverage and comments from the readers have been very fair so far.
$$$
The DEA is trying to promote drug safety. We can not be certain that labs are not selling contaminated products. That is the reason the government regulates, monitors and taxes shipments. The government also tests for impurities. It is easier for the government agencies to oly have to deal with the major pharmaceutical suppliers.
DEA stands for Dollars Extracted Agencies...
It is all about money, folks.
Dollar Bill
Whatever, Bill. I think you and your argument skills could use a boost of steroids to improve your persuasiveness.
Strong Dude
" Anonymous said...
'taxes shipments.'
and
'It is easier for the government agencies to only have to deal with the major pharmaceutical suppliers.'
I'm beginning to think Bill is correct.
Of course I am right. There is no logical reason to so strictly regulate the steroid industry other than to protect domestic drug companies and to generate revenue for the government.
Dollar Bill
To keep this country great, we need to protest against overly paternalistic laws. Let's not make bodybuilders into criminals. Let's not push them further underground.
The vast majority of body builders are real nice quiet people. They do not cause trouble and they spend hours in the gym doing what they believe is self improvement. Why not let them do it. It does no harm that I can see to the rest of us.
Update 10-6-07 Are athletes and other steroid users starting to feel the heat?
After years of angry denials, Marion Jones is apparently ready to admit she used steroids.
Jones is a three-time Olympic gold medalist who will appear in U.S. District Court in White Plains, N.Y., on Friday to plead guilty to charges in connection with steroid use, a federal law enforcement source told the A.P. "The clear" is a performance-enhancing drug linked to BALCO, the lab accused of supplying steroids in professional sports. Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants, New York Yankees Jason Giambi and Detroit Tigers outfielder Gary Sheffield all have been linked to BALCO. More than two dozen athletes testified before a federal grand jury in 2003. Bonds denied ever knowingly taking performance-enhancing drugs, saying he believed a clear substance was flaxseed oil and a cream was an arthritis balm.
Thanks for the update. I put athletes in a different class then body builders since with athletes, they are technically cheating...
In every article about steroids they always bring up how they are protecting our children from these evil substances. I find it funny that whenever I have gone into a school I don't see any muscle head kids but I do see a large amount of obese kids. If the government is really so concerned with the health of our children maybe they should have used the money spent on operation "Raw Deal" to provide healthy and nutritious school lunches for the children rather then the crap they offer currently. Childhood steroid use is simply a scare tactic while childhood obesity is a epidemic that you can witness firsthand everywhere you go.
National Level Bodybuilder
I would register here but it makes me nervous...can you say big brother? Seriously now, I am paranoid...maybe not if they are watching! I am very happy to see not everyone is blind to propaganda! Have you noticed all the dirty lab comments? Well that is what you get with ANY DRUG THAT GETS PROHIBITED ! 100% of the time! Geezus you think they would learn from so many mistakes! They created every drug trade by prohibiting peoples free will. Heck, they created organized crime! They cannot stop it.They never will. Where there is a demand there is a supply. I see so many meth heads around anymore I am just going WHAT? Steroids? Steroid users work and have familys and are regular people. We do not rob or steal. And I have NEVER met a steroid dealer that whoul sell to a high school kid much less an eighth grader for Gods sakes! Please!
Greetings to everyone,First off I would to say I am 51 years young and I have been lifting for a little over half of my life.I have held one job for 35 years and worked my way up to general mgr.position,I have never been arested,never had the police called on me for domestic violence,never cause problems for anyone.Steriods...HUM,let's see,I can drive a car while using,I can make major business decisions,I can fly a plane,I can hold a decent conversation,I can take asobriety test,I can drive a car, and the list goe's on....Someone please explain to me what I am doing wrong..PLEASE
First, let me say that I have worked out for over 30 years, myself. I have never used steroids, although I have never condemned anyone who has used them. Like your experience, I have found that my experience with steroid users has been that they are friendly, happy healthy productive members of society. I can not say the same for smokers.
From a logical viewpoint, it is near impossible to argue that steroids should be treated differently from alcohol or tobacco. Yet, because of the money involved, it seems that they are treated differently. Stallone looks great in his 60's. Even if it could be proved that steroids reduce life expectancy, should an individual not have the right to choose quality of life over quantity of life?
Viper, as always, excellent post. National Bodybuilder, you can post on this forum without registration. Freedom of speech is just that, it is free. Since you could be posting fiction, big brother is not likely a problem. On the other hand, forums like this one and petitions and lobbying need to be explored to get the word out to politicians and law makers that they need to consider changing the law.
I have never used steroids, but I can honestly say that I just don't see steroid related crimes happening. I don't see a significant amount of health related issues either, although there may be some. Like viper, I see the issue as one that should be treated like smoking and alcohol. And since I do not smoke, drink or take steroids, I think I can look at it logically...
Very balanced presentation. One of best sites on the web. J.P.
This presentation is frequently updated so I have book marked this story.
Jan
Need too...
probably where the story will break as to the next round of busts. Legal Pub is usually right up with the big boys on breaking news...
The DEA has indicated that they have no intention of targeting end users. They are interested in manufacturers and dealers.
Users, the law is the law. Work within the system to change it. Write your congressman. Get petitions. If you get the facts out, many non steroid users may support your right to choose.
WE shall see!
Was doing some surfing when I happened on this site, and I've already bookmarked it. AWESOME thread here! I want to thank you in advance for allowing me to post here.
Isn't it ironic that we live in the fattest country in the world yet the law is cracking down on those that use substances that help the user to enhance his physical well-being?
I personally have some experience with AAS (androgenic/anabolic steroids). I also know a lot of people that have used them and am a member of boards that discuss them.
From what I've seen, the biggest risk from steroids is the possiblity of depression. To play devils advocate, anti-depressants are the most prescribed drugs in the world!
It is VERY ironic that George H.W. Bush was the president that made AAS class 3 controlled substances, yet he is the same guy that appointed Arnold to be on the Presidential Fitness Council, and it's a well known fact that Arnold was a steroid user!
Most people also aren't aware that the DEA, HHS and the AMA were against their restriction. This is a link to a report on RealSports that is the first that I am aware of in the media that doesn't make them seem purely evil! http://youtube.com/watch?v=z0LEj8IPHGU
The above post is excellent! We need to deal in facts, not supposition. Arnold was a steroid user. He appears to be a model of fitness. But even if steroids cause health problems (perhaps depression, heart disease, and higher risk of cancer)and science has not proven that they do, why should it be the government's choice and not the individuals. How does it hurt others? What has become of personal freedom?
Jobe
reminds me of prohibition.. kind of a history repeating itself.. some quicks thoughts that come to my mind.. fast food linked to obesity/heart disease. Soda linked to diabetes and who knows what else. smoking to cancer/emphysema/heart troubles. alcohol linked to liver problems and responsible for far to many deaths due to drunk driving.. the gasoline i pump in my car has a warning that it may cause cancer. Where is our government at to save our kids and us from these things?
the only reason i can find (anywhere) that AAS is illegal is unfair advantage in sports.. Baseball was in the toilet till some big sluggers came around. oh wait they took steroids.. THEY SOLD TICKETS!!! i dont care what they took they made it exciting again. i will quit rambling now. this kinda thing just pisses me off to no end.
I don't take steroids. In my line of work, it would be counter productive. I might consider HGH if it were legal as it may keep me in front of cameras a bit longer. As of right now, I have no interest and when I do, I will see a doctor. That being said, I have to agree with the anonymous post above. There are a lot of bad things that people have a right to do. Why are steroids so different? Why are we so paternalistic when it comes to steroids? I have met body builders in my life time. Presumably they use steroids. My experience is that most of these guys are some of the most "quiet" "polite" "gentle" guys that I meet.
So much for me as a witness against "roid rage."
Your Secret L.A. Reader
This makes me sick!!! Now i can get a burger a bucket of soda pack of smokes and drive to the the local safe heroin injection room supervised by a nurse! Are they really thinking about this??? What a joke our country has become.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=3748066
Hard for even me to disagree with Secret reader and anonymous on this one.
"Baseball was in the toilet till some big sluggers came around. oh wait they took steroids.. THEY SOLD TICKETS!!! i dont care what they took they made it exciting again."
Yeah, and the kicker here is that our sitting president that is so anti-steroids was the owner of the Texas Rangers in the 1990's. During his time as an owner, the team tripled in value and employed the likes of Jose Canseco, Rafael Palmiero, Ivan Rodriguez and Juan Gonzales, all believed to have been steroid users. Bush made most of his personal fortune on people like these using illegal substances. If he wouldn't have had to divest all of his personal investments to run for president, who knows how much more he would have made.
George W. Bush also originally wanted to be the commissioner of MLB. Just imagine that. Then he could have sent ALL of the 'roid raged users into Iraq to topple Saddam Hussein and find those WMD's!
Here is another argument why making steroids is b.s.
Let us suppose that I had an exercise machine. It was so special you only had to use it once a day for 5 minutes and it would turn you into a genetic freak muscle enhanced person. It improved physique and athletic performance 100x the benefit of current steroids. (No I am talking about an imaginery machine not Pete Sisco's training or machines!) Now imagine that the only draw back was that it increased your risk of heart disease by 10% and your risk of cancer by 10%.
Should the machine be banned or declared illegal?
Should people be able to make an informed decision and informed consent to legally use the machine?
If you say people have a right to choose, how can you say they have no right to take steroids?
Here is another argument why making steroids is b.s.
Let us suppose that I had an exercise machine. It was so special you only had to use it once a day for 5 minutes and it would turn you into a genetic freak muscle enhanced person. It improved physique and athletic performance 100x the benefit of current steroids. (No I am talking about an imaginery machine not Pete Sisco's training or machines!) Now imagine that the only draw back was that it increased your risk of heart disease by 10% and your risk of cancer by 10%.
Should the machine be banned or declared illegal?
Should people be able to make an informed decision and informed consent to legally use the machine?
If you say people have a right to choose, how can you say they have no right to take steroids?
I think that depends on the money you have if its patented and if someone somewhere is making it a charging less.. That seems to me to be part of the problem here. big pharm has a hand in this too!
I think we should be able to make informed decisions on anything we take or do not take..
My freinds wife died from taking prescribed pain meds. The doctor was prescribbing things that should not have been used together. How come that isnt in the news.. How come his children and him were basicly to my thinking paid off to shut up? the pharmacy distributed both drugs at the same time why didnt somone say there is a problem here. When have you heard of anything like this with steroids? I think asprin carries more dangers than injectable steroids. orals probably less also.
Seems like the pharmacy made a mistake. Money is the only remedy in our society.
Your point about the pharmacies having a hand in this is an understatement. HGH (growth hormone) is one of the most expensive drugs. It can be produced off patent in Hong Kong for pennies a capsule or syringe.
This is all about money!
Dollar Bill
Go DEA. I am tired of going to the gym, doing the same workout as the other guy and he keeps getting stronger because of drugs while I stay the same.
Jon
pharmacy and pharmacutical companies are a big reason that this is happening..
Jon you cant always do the same workout as someone who may be taking AAS.. I train differently when on than when off. Some people me included have people set up food programs and training programs so that there is little to no margin of error and most things are measured for proer macro nutrients.. food and consistacy make alot of difference.. this is much more important than the drugs.. this has always been the case fo me anyway.
Tom
Tom, thanks for your comments. I remember when I was a college Frosh football player. Two of us came into the program at the same size, weight, speed and strength. We both played the same position. We were roommates and ate the same dorm food. We had basically the same weight program. By the start of soph year, I weighed 5 lbs more, same 40 yard dash time and 20 lbs more bench. My roommate was 29 lbs heavier, cut .2 in his 40 time, add 50 lbs to his bench.
It left me bitter and him better.
Jon
So you push steroid user further underground, what does that accomplish. If it is a problem, why bury it? If it is not a problem, why not legalize it. Cut the B.S. and make the FDA and DEA deal in facts not rumor and suspicion and scare tactics.
Gonza
I am with Gonza! Why push the problem underground. Legalize steroids and offer counseling and monitoring so steroids can be used in a healthy manor.
Pete P.
It's about LOOKING GOOD!
Operation Raw Deal update 11-28-07 Kevin J. O’Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Kimberly K. Mertz, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced charges have been brought against six individuals as a result of Operation Phony Pharm.
In April 2006, the FBI’s Healthcare Fraud Unit targeted web sites and individuals who are selling Schedule II and III pharmaceuticals over the Internet without a doctor’s consultation or a legitimate legal written prescription. Operation Phony Pharm sought to identify and close down underground laboratories in the U.S.
“The dangers associated with the improper use of steroids and human growth hormone are well documented,” U.S. Attorney O’Connor stated. Penalties for the manufacture, distribution and possession of anabolic steroids and HGH have recently increased.
In an Indictment unsealed on Friday, September 21, EDWIN F. PORTER, 41, of Chandler, Ariz.; MATTHEW J. PELTZ, 36, of Chandler, Ariz.; TYLER J. LUNN, 27, of Phoenix, Ariz.; and WALTER T. COREY, 37, of Cherleroi, Penn., are each charged with one count of conspiring to distribute anabolic steroids, and two counts of distribution of anabolic steroids. Allegedly, the defendants purchased raw steroid powder from China, manufactured anabolic steroids in home laboratories.and distributed them to customers through a MySpace.com profile and an Internet web site.
If convicted, PELTZ, LUNN and COREY face up to 15 years in jail and a fine of up to $750,000. PORTER has also been charged with making a false statement to the FBI during the course of this investigation and faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of up to $1,000,000.
BRIAN S. TOMPKINS, 29, of Deltona, Fl., pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of anabolic steroids. He admitted that, in July 2007, he purchased two kilograms of steroid powder from a supplier in China.
ALAN R. BLAIR, 52, of Wilton, Conn., pleaded guilty to one count of distributing Human Growth Hormone without a prescription. He distributed HGH to customers throughout the world using the web site www.jintropin.com. The HGH was shipped directly to BLAIR’s customers from a supplier in China. BLAIR agreed to forfeit to the Government approximately $260,000 of illegal proceeds generated as a result of his operation.
TOMPKINS and BLAIR are each scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Judge Christopher F. Droney in December. They face maximum terms of imprisonment of five years and fines of up to $250,000.
“I want to acknowledge the ongoing efforts of the U.S. Postal Inspectors, FDA, DEA and other law enforcement agencies who are diligently working to disrupt the illegal production and trafficking of anabolic steroids and HGH,” stated FBI Special Agent in Charge Mertz.
Operation Raw Deal has focused on raw material manufacturers/suppliers in China and other countries.
The United States Department of Justice announced that Operation Raw Deal represents the largest steroid enforcement action in United States history. 143 federal search warrants were executed on targets nationwide, resulting in 124 arrests and the seizure of 56 steroid labs.11.4 million steroid dosage units were seized, as well as 242 kilograms of raw steroid powder of Chinese origin. $6.5 million also was seized, as well as 25 vehicles, three boats, 27 pill presses, and 71 weapons. Enforcement activity took place in 27 states.
Approximately 50 people were arrested and 61 federal search warrants were executed on targets nationwide during the operation’s final stage which began on Sept. 14, 2007.
“The FDA Office of Criminal Investigations takes this illegal conduct very seriously and fully supports the investigation and ultimate prosecution of these profiteers who endanger the public by formulating and selling unapproved illegal drugs, even when those who would be endangered are willing participants. These buyers are solely motivated by a desire to gain an unfair competitive advantage by using illegal performance-enhancing substances and the sellers are not concerned with the buyers' health but with making money,” said Terry Vermillion, Director of the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Each defendant is entitled to a fair trial at which it is the Government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Operation Phony Pharm is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Edward Chang.
Cost is not relevant. It is getting steroid users off the juice.
Cost is not relevant. It is getting steroid users off the juice.
Cost benefit analysis shows this was a waste of tax paper dollars.
Muscleman
Maybe they will investigate Roger Clemons and waste more tax payer dollars. Steroids, who cares??
This is a one stop source for steroid and HGH debate!
The message is: the supply chain of raw materials to the small manufacturer has been severely disrupted. If you are looking for illegal steroids, better forget about it or you will need a really good lawyer!
Go back to basics, workout hard and eat well.
Update 3-16-08: Back in September, Kevin J. O’Connor, U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Kimberly K. Mertz, Special Agent (F.B.I.)brought charges against six individuals as a result of Operation Phony Pharm targeted at the illegal sale of anabolic steroids, human growth hormone, and other controlled substances over the Internet.
Update 5-13-08 Barry Bonds was indicted for two counts of Perjury. He will have to face trial unless he enters a plea!
Bonds to plead not guilty today.
Thanks for an objective, fair way at looking at the steroid issue.
Where can I learn more about the government operation to crack down on steroid use?
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