OFFICIAL Steroids & HGH Discussion Thread

[Logan]

You know this is necessary.

Cross-references:

Rick Ankiel (http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=60243)
Troy Glaus (http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=60797)

Rodney Harrison (http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=60662)
Shawne Merriman (http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=53600)

Jay Gibbons, come on down!

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/baseball/mlb/09/09/drugs.probe/index.html

Gibbons received banned drugs
O's outfielder latest athlete tied to pipeline pharmacy

In the ever-widening Signature Pharmacy scandal, Baltimore Orioles outfielder Jay Gibbons is the latest pro athlete tied to an alleged illegal internet drug distribution network. According to information obtained by SI, Gibbons received shipments of performance-enhancing steroids and human growth hormone (HGH) from an Orlando-based compound pharmacy raided last spring as part of a multi-agency bust, even after both drugs were on Major League Baseball's banned substance list.

A source in Florida with knowledge of Signature Pharmacy's client list alleges that between October 2003 and July 2005, Gibbons received six separate shipments of Genotropin (a brand name for synthetic Human Growth Hormone), two shipments of testosterone and two shipments of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), a hormone produced naturally during pregnancy, but taken by anabolic steroid users to stimulate the production of testosterone, which is suppressed as a result of steroid use. The information regarding Gibbons only pertains to receipt and not actual use of the drugs.

Testosterone was banned by MLB in 2003, the same year baseball initiated steroids testing. HGH was added to the banned list in January 2005, but Gibbons allegedly received a shipment in July of that year. (HCG is not banned.) The prescriptions were written in Gibbons' name and sent to a Gilbert, Ariz., address that traces to the player.

The drugs were obtained through South Beach Rejuvenation Center/Modern Therapy, a Miami Beach anti-aging clinic, and were processed by Signature. Of the two prescribing physicians in Gibbons' file, one was A. Almarashi. Investigators believe Almarashi is an alias for a Queens, N.Y., doctor, Ana Maria Santi, who was stripped of her medical license in 1999, but continued writing bogus prescriptions for thousands of on-line customers she never examined. In July 2007, Santi pleaded guilty to a felony count of criminal diversion of prescription medications and prescriptions, making her the first person to do so in a case spearheaded by the Albany County (NY) District Attorneys office and New York State's Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement.

The "Almarashi" signature was also affixed to prescriptions for Genotropin and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) allegedly sent to Texas Rangers outfielder Jerry Hairston Jr. in 2004. In Hairston's case, the drugs originated from a compound pharmacy in Alabama, according to documents reviewed by SI, but similar to the Gibbons' case, the information pertained only to the receipt of and not actual use of the drugs. Moreover, Genotropin was not yet banned by MLB.

Hairston and Gibbons were teammates in Baltimore at the time. (Hairston, a third-generation major leaguer, has emphatically denied any connection. "Not one time have I taken steroids or anything like that," he told SI last March. "I would never do anything like that to jeopardize my career or my family's name.")

Gibbons, 30, has spent his entire Major League career with the Orioles, and made his big-league debut in April 2001. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Aug. 13 with a right labrum tear. He did not respond to messages left on his cell phone and with the Orioles' media relations department.

Since last summer, Sports Illustrated reporters Luis Fernando Llosa and L. Jon Wertheim have been investigating an alleged illegal steroid distribution network that has implicated pro athletes. On Feb. 27, the reporters accompanied federal and state drug enforcement agents on a coordinated raid of an Orlando compound pharmacy and a Jupiter, Fla., "anti-aging" clinic that investigators allege conspired to fraudulently prescribe steroids, human growth hormone and other performance enhancing drugs over the Internet.

[Logan]

I'm sorry, there are too many Bonds threads to include.

This will rival the "Another Bengal Arrested" and the Stalls thread as those in which I am happiest to see bumped.

[lighthousekeeper]

Don't forget this one (which for some reason bugs me the most, especially when I see him doing Nike commercials):
http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=53600

[Logan]

Thank you sir.

[miami_fan]

This sounds familiar

http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=1543409

"Sugar" Shane Mosley says he is a "health-freak-type of guy" who had no idea that what he took for a few weeks in the fall of 2003 were the BALCO designer steroids "the clear" and "the cream," which he said he was pressured to take by his former strength and conditioning coach.

"Unknowingly, yes, some of the substances they are talking about, were being used as part of the workouts. I didn't know what the hell it was," Mosley said in an interview with ESPN.com Friday from Big Bear, Calif., where he is training for a Nov. 10 fight with welterweight titleholder Miguel Cotto.

Mosley was responding to a report earlier Friday by SI.com, which, citing multiple unnamed sources who attended an international anti-doping conference in Colorado Springs, Colo., last November, said that lead BALCO investigator Jeff Novitzky alleged that Mosley used the steroids, as well as EPO, in a doping regimen prior to his junior middleweight championship rematch with Oscar De La Hoya in September 2003. Mosley won the fight via controversial decision.

"I had no intentions of trying to cheat or do anything crazy," Mosley said. "My thing is live healthy, eat healthy. That's how I live. I'm not afraid what people will think. I know the truth."

Mosley said that when former strength and conditioning coach Darryl Hudson asked him to go with him to visit Victor Conte's Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative, he didn't want to go. But Hudson convinced him to take the trip, he said. Mosley, who testified on the matter in front of the BALCO grand jury four years ago, said he only agreed to visit Conte to obtain legal supplements.

"Someone gave [Hudson] a tip that [Conte] could help with my strength and explosiveness and [Hudson] talked to [Conte] a couple of times, I guess," Mosley said. "I told [Hudson], 'I'm good with the stuff I am doing in training now.' I was already feeling good, but I think Darryl wanted to make a big impression, for me to go out there and be really explosive. So I just listened to him and finally said, 'Let's check him out.' We went to San Francisco for one day and I talked to Victor Conte. I explained to him that I am already in great shape but the right vitamins and supplements here and there might help."

Mosley said he gave Conte a blood sample so he could figure out what supplements would be best for him. Mosley, however, said he told Conte and Hudson that he wanted to "make sure everything is OK, so let's call the Nevada [athletic] commission to make sure there are no problems. They called the commission, found out what was legal and what was illegal, and from there they did the program. ... And then, after I fought, I took my [drug test, which were clean] and I thought everything was alright. Everything to my knowledge was on the up and up."

Mosley said he paid Conte $1,500 with a personal check, which shows that he wasn't trying to hide anything. And then, for about four weeks late in his training camp he used the program Conte prescribed for him, which he later learned included undetectable steroids "the cream" and "the clear," in addition to the blood-doping drug Erythropoietin, commonly known as EPO, a hormone that artificially increases red blood cell production.

"I didn't know anything about that stuff," Mosley said. "It was something given to me, pushed up on me. I'm a health freak-type of guy. I like to have everything organic, natural. I believe you keep the organic and natural things and you will live longer. Maybe that's why I look and feel as young as I do. I am very in tuned with my body. When I heard they were investigating the guy [Conte], was like, 'Oh my God, what's going on here?' I feel used and abused. This guy is doing this crazy stuff. That's the only time I ever touched the thing."

Mosley doesn't even believe it helped him, citing the fact that so many believed that De La Hoya deserved the decision in the fight.

"If that stuff is supposed to help, it didn't do nothing," he said. "It hurt me. It was a close fight and I got the decision."

Mosley said when he fought De La Hoya the first time, in June 2000, he hadn't used anything and won more easily.

"So, to me, it really hurt me a little bit," Mosley said.

Mosley said he regrets that he didn't do more homework on BALCO before visiting.

"I definitely regret not being more involved and studying it and putting my trust in other people," Mosley said. "When it's all boiled down, it's not those guys being discredited, it is myself. I regret not following up and not knowing what it was. I didn't do much background check on (Conte). When I went (in front of the grand jury), I gave my testimony. It was truthful. I told them everything I took. But you wouldn't think rubbing anything on me is really going to do too much of anything."

Mosley said he and Hudson parted ways one fight later, after Mosley lost the Winky Wright in March 2004. Hudson eventually went to work with Wright.

"I know Darryl's mentality," Mosley said. "His thinking was this guy (Conte) deals with all these different athletes, that he's a top guy and I am trying to get Shane an edge. I don't think he knew what all this was about.

"I'm not really angry at Darryl. I'm angry at the situation and how it happened and how it put a strain on my life and how the writers are writing about me as if I am a sneaky villain trying to get this edge in fights and trying to win by all means necessary. I like to win my fights because I am the better man. If I lose, I lose. I have nothing to hide. I am a fair fighter, a clean fighter. I don't get down like this."

Dan Rafael is the boxing writer for ESPN.com.

[Young Drachma]

But his explanation at least sounded less contrived than a lot of the people who "don't want to talk about the past." or "I was wrong for taking that stuff."

[Atocep]

Mosley doesn't even believe it helped him, citing the fact that so many believed that De La Hoya deserved the decision in the fight.

"If that stuff is supposed to help, it didn't do nothing," he said. "It hurt me. It was a close fight and I got the decision."

Thats some great logic there.

[JeeberD]

Paul Byrd's turn...

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/playoffs2007/news/story?id=3072845&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines

Paul Byrd, who pitched the Cleveland Indians to the brink of the World Series with a victory in Game 4 of the ALCS on Tuesday, bought nearly $25,000 worth of human growth hormone and syringes, according to a published report.



The San Francisco Chronicle reported Sunday that Byrd's purchase was from the Florida anti-aging clinic that was the focus of law enforcement for illegally distributing performance-enhancing drugs, according to business records.


The paper reported that the purchases were made via credit card from the Palm Beach Rejuvenation Center between August 2002 and January 2005. In that time frame, Byrd pitched for the Kansas City Royals, the Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Angels.

Byrd, who is 2-0 this postseason with a 3.60 ERA as a starter for Cleveland, did not comment after The Chronicle attempted to reach him through his agent via phone and e-mail.

Indians general manager Mark Shapiro released a statement Sunday saying the team is supporting their pitcher, who earned the victory in Cleveland's ALDS-clinching win over the Yankees on Oct. 8.

"We aware of the story regarding Paul. I have spoken with Paul about the situation, however, at this time I don't feel I have enough information to make any further comments on the matter. He has been an important member of this organization -- on and off the field -- over the last two years and we support him in this process," Shapiro said.

The paper said Byrd spent $24,850 to buy more than 1,000 vials of growth hormone as well as hundreds of syringes. The records reviewed by The Chronicle included such items as purchase and shipping orders, Byrd's birth date and his Social Security number. The source that provided the records said the orders placed were consistent with personal use of HGH.


In a recent interview with ESPN.com Page 2 writer Sam Alipour, Byrd talked about how important the role of religion was in his life. Byrd has written a manuscript called " The Free Byrd Project" that details his spiritual journey through the major leagues and the pitfalls that pious jocks must leap in navigating a ballplayer's lifestyle.


"Religion can go over into every area, like whether I should cheat out on the field," Byrd told Alipour. "I write about the desire to just make money at any cost. I share about my temptation to spit on the ball, put KY jelly on it or scuff it, to win more games and make more money. That's a big temptation for me, being a guy who throws 82, who relies on movement.

"You have a pull, because you have a certain window up here that stares you in the face. Are you willing to take steroids? Because that's available. People viewed that as me being weak. Like, 'This guy doesn't want to win.' "

"I don't call people out like Canseco," Byrd said. "I share my struggles. I think the last thing the Christian community needs is another person who says they have it all together, a 12-step process for being perfect. That doesn't exist. I can help people by being honest."

During his 13-year career in which he has played for seven different teams, Byrd is 97-81 with a 4.35 ERA. This season, he started 31 games and had a 15-8 record with a 4.59 ERA.

[miked]

Didn't that story leave out the fact that he was diagnosed by 3 docs with some hormonal issues and made no attempt to hide it. Also, he has a pituitary cancer or something that affects his hormone levels. I think it's safe to say the effects of HGH must not be so much if Byrd is taking them :)

[larrymcg421]

Didn't that story leave out the fact that he was diagnosed by 3 docs with some hormonal issues and made no attempt to hide it. Also, he has a pituitary cancer or something that affects his hormone levels. I think it's safe to say the effects of HGH must not be so much if Byrd is taking them :)

Someone oiled Honus Wagner's glove one day. See, performance enhancing has been going on forever!

[nilodor]

I'd like to see guys who get nailed for taking performance enhancers get hit with a different style of penalty in addition to the suspensions. How about they are not allowed to be considered for any post season awards, no MVP's, no All-Pro's, no superbowl ring, name on the stanley cup, none of that. If they want to taint the game don't let history remember them.

[Chief Rum]

I view Byrd's use differently than others here. I remember when he was with the Angels, and this seems to be a straight up guy. I believe what he says, and I don't think he should be punished for that use, so long as he was taking properly prescribed medicated doses for a diagnosed condition.

[Vinatieri for Prez]

$25,000 worth of HGH and 1,000 vials? I find it hard to believe that was prescribed.

[miami_fan]

Okay which one is it?

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071021&content_id=2274684&vkey=ps2007news&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

Byrd said he has been working with the league on this issue, but MLB spokesman Patrick Courtney said that MLB and the Commissioner's Office were unaware that Byrd was using HGH. The league issued a statement that the allegations involving Byrd will be investigated in the coming days.

"I don't know of a player who has been granted an exemption for HGH," Courtney said.




So did the league know about this or not?

[Atocep]

As I said in the MLB playoffs thread, one of the "doctors" he received HGH from was a dentist and the other was the online pharmacy thats under investigation.

I don't see why he'd get the benefit of the doubt over anyone else.

[MikeVic]

Drugs are bad, mmm'kay?

[miami_fan]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3088185

Jaguars defensive tackle Marcus Stroud is facing a four-game suspension, which could start as early as this weekend, for a violation of the NFL steroids and related substances policy.

News of Stroud's pending suspension was reported by the Florida Times-Union on Wednesday morning and confirmed by league and team sources and sources close to Stroud.

A three-time Pro Bowl performer, Stroud registered a positive test within the past two weeks, a source said, and he's exercised his right to have the so-called "B-sample" of his urine tested. If that test is also positive, Stroud would be suspended.

Stroud still would have the right, under the collective bargaining agreement, to appeal the suspension. But two sources close to the seventh-year veteran said he might forgo an appeal and serve the suspension immediately in order to return in time for the final month of the season and possibly the playoffs.

If the Jaguars receive notification of the positive test this week -- and some club officials expect this to occur by Friday -- then Stroud might begin his four-week hiatus beginning Sunday when the Jaguars play at New Orleans.

The banned supplement for which Stroud tested positive is not known. A suspension would cost him $332,941 of his scheduled base salary of $1.415 million for 2007. In 2005, Stroud signed a five-year, $31.5 million contract extension.

Stroud, 29, underwent offseason microfracture surgery on his chronically problematic right ankle, and it is believed he may have taken supplements to speed his recovery.

A first-round pick in the 2001 draft, Stroud teams with fellow Pro Bowl performer John Henderson to provide Jacksonville one of the premier tackle tandems in the league. Neither tackle has performed, however, to his usual standards so far this season. In seven games, Stroud has 21 tackles and three sacks.

For his career, the former University of Georgia player has 443 tackles, 22 sacks, seven forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and 22 passes defensed.

Perhaps knowing that Stroud was facing suspension, the Jaguars on Tuesday reached a one-year contract agreement with 11-year veteran defensive tackle Grady Jackson, who had been released by the Atlanta Falcons last week. The Jaguars are expected to place second-year defensive tackle Tony McDaniel on injured reserve with a wrist injury.

Senior writer Len Pasquarelli covers the NFL for ESPN.com.



Chalk up another one for the "recovery from injury" excuse.

[Brillig]

Three more named by the SF Chronicle

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/11/06/MNM2T2U24.DTL&tsp=1

Jose Guillen, Matt Williams and Ismael Valdez.

[JeeberD]

Hopefully this dude is just after his 15 minutes after getting busted and nothing comes of this...

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-steroidsplea_14met.ART.State.Edition1.d5369f.html

Plano trainer says he supplied Cowboys players with steroids

No names, evidence given; organization says man not affiliated with team

12:31 AM CST on Wednesday, November 14, 2007

By JASON TRAHAN / The Dallas Morning News
[email protected]

A man who pleaded guilty Tuesday to possession of illegal steroids has given federal authorities the names of former and current Dallas Cowboys players who he says he supplied with performance-enhancing drugs, according to sources familiar with the investigation.

David Jacobs, 35, has not publicly named any of the players he says he has supplied with drugs. None of his claims has been publicly verified, and no evidence has been released related to the involvement of the athletes.

Federal investigators plan to use the information supplied by the personal trainer, who also owns a nutritional supplement store in Plano, in an ongoing nationwide effort to crack down on underground steroid providers and users.

The NFL, the Cowboys organization and football players contacted Tuesday say they know nothing of Mr. Jacobs.

"We are one of the hottest things out there, so we are going to get mentioned if somebody robs a McDonald's," said Cowboys linebacker Bradie James, one of several players who discussed the buzz around the case with reporters Tuesday.

"We don't know this individual," Cowboys spokesman Rich Dalrymple said of Mr. Jacobs. "He has never been affiliated with this organization, and we have just been made aware of this situation yesterday."

Mr. Jacobs was indicted in May by a grand jury working out of the Eastern District of Texas. Prosecutors have since revised that indictment to include six other people who they say conspired to illegally distribute steroids.

It is unknown whether the others named in the indictment, all of whom declined to comment or could not be reached for comment, have any alleged connection to professional athletes. To prove a conspiracy, prosecutors need only show that they dealt with one another.

On Tuesday, Mr. Jacobs pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Don D. Bush in Sherman to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute anabolic steroids.

Under the plea deal, Mr. Jacobs would get three years' probation in exchange for his help if a federal judge signs off on the agreement.

The conspiracy charge can carry a sentence of up to five years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

"He's cooperating in an ongoing investigation," said Mr. Jacobs' attorney, Henry E. Hockeimer Jr. He declined to elaborate.

Two other defendants also pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge last week, including Amber Joleblon Jarrell, Mr. Jacobs' former live-in girlfriend who is also a bodybuilder, and Matthew Blake Williams of Dallas.

The remaining defendants are Brandon Mark Smith, also a bodybuilder; Andrew William Schenck; Juan Carlos Ballivian of Houston; and Jamie Mongeau. Their cases are pending.

The investigation is part of Operation Raw Deal, an international effort by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Food and Drug Administration and other federal agencies that for two years has targeted importers of raw steroid materials from China, Mexico and other countries.

Raw Deal has resulted in 124 arrests and dozens of search warrants in September, and authorities continue to sift through the evidence and expand the cases.

Mr. Jacobs admitted distributing more than 40,000 units of steroids from February 2006 through April of this year, as well as several thousand units of human growth hormone, documents show.

Authorities allege that Mr. Jacobs ran the operation out of his home on Honey Creek Lane in Plano.

Mr. Jacobs owns the Supplement Outlet in the 3800 block of West President George W. Bush Highway in Plano, though the business is not known to be part of the investigation.

On his Web site, thesupplementoutlet.com, Mr. Jacobs says he is a "certified personal trainer" who "offers guidance to many top athletes across the United States" including "Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Falcons football players."

Falcons spokesman Reggie Roberts said he had no comment on Mr. Jacobs and the steroid investigation.

Court documents do not include names of Mr. Jacobs' alleged end users. Authorities would not comment on which current or former Cowboys players Mr. Jacobs had named to prosecutors.

"We look forward to learning the facts underlying today's developments in this case and to assisting the federal investigation in any way possible," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said.

"Consistent with our policies, we will deal with any NFL-related involvement promptly and aggressively."

The steroids story, first reported Monday evening on KTVT-TV (Channel 11), had sports fans and Cowboys players abuzz.

"For a player to start taking steroids to try to beat the system, it would be really foolish to try and do something like that," guard Leonard Davis said.

Several players noted that the league performs random testing for steroids.

"I know personally, the things I've done to get myself in shape ... are pure, and that comes from dedication and hard work," wide receiver Terrell Owens said.

"It's a little blemish on the success we're having right now," he said. "Until someone is identified, it's just speculation. We're not going to worry about that. ... We have to worry about the Redskins."

Staff writers Todd Archer, Calvin Watkins and Gary Jacobson contributed to this report, as did WFAA-TV (Channel 8) reporters Brad Watson and Craig Civale.