Heading the most advanced drugs testing system ever, Professor David Cowan recently said that no doping cheats would be able to win gold during the London Olympic games.

During this year’s Olympics, around 5,000 urine and blood samples will be taken, which will eclipse the 3,667 in Beijing – plus another 1,250 at the Paralympics.

Professor Cowan insisted that the advanced drug testing system will even be able to pick up the new designer drugs.

From Thesun.co.uk:

The spectre of famous cheats like sprinters Ben Johnson and Marion Jones, with their use of anabolic steroids, means cynics will forever cast a shadow of doubt over the authenticity of results at the Games.

The Human Growth Hormone will be especially sensitive — previously it could only be detected if used just before a test. But, this summer, it will show up even if taken days before the event.

According to UK Anti-Doping rules, British athletes can be tested 365 days a year, with no notice.

The new Games £20million testing lab in Harlow and funded by pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline will be waiting to nab any one who tries to bend the rules.

Athletes Phillips Idowu, Beth Tweddle, David Weir, and Marlon Devonish are among those supporting pre-Games education and testing program of UK Anti-Doping.

Tags:  Anabolic steroids, Ben Johnson, human growth hormone, London Olympic, Marion Jones

Posted in  Steroids | Comments Off

Carl Fletcher who was convicted of trafficking anabolic steroids has received a ban of four years from UK Anti-Doping.

Fletcher was sentenced to nine months in prison at Liverpool crown court for drug offences, which includes the supply of 16 types of class C substances. The shot-putter was provisionally suspended from all competition on November 8and is banned from participation in sport until November 7, 2015. His offence includes the supply of anabolic steroids, including testosterone, human growth hormone, and Trenbolone, all of which are banned under the World Anti-Doping Agency code.

The UK Anti-Doping chief executive, Andy Parkinson, said the case clearly demonstrated the extent to which UKAD was increasingly working with law enforcement agencies, in this case including Merseyside police and the Serious Organised Crime Agency.

From Guardian.co.uk:

“This case proves the invaluable role that law enforcement agencies have in the fight against doping in sport and demonstrates that our intelligence system is working effectively,” he said.

“I would like to thank Merseyside police and Soca for their vital assistance in helping our intelligence team with this case. By attacking the supply chain and those that supply performance-enhancing substances, we stand a better chance of protecting the right of the clean athletes to compete in doping-free sport.”

The WADA code provides for a minimum ban of four years for trafficking or administering the provision of banned substances.

Tags:  Anabolic steroids, Carl Fletcher, human growth hormone, testosterone, Trenbolone

Posted in  Steroids | Comments Off

An important witness in the federal perjury trial of former baseball ace Roger Clemens could testify, according to a prosecutor.

Brian McNamee, Clemens’ former personal trainer, could testify, Prosecutor Steven Durham told U.S. District Court Judge Reggie Walton.

From Reuters.com:

McNamee’s claims that Clemens, 49, used anabolic steroids and human growth hormone during his 24-year career are at the center of the government’s charges that the pitcher lied to Congress about drug use.

Durham has alleged that McNamee injected Clemens with anabolic steroids in 1998, 2000 and 2001 and with human growth hormone in 2001.

Clemens has denied allegations he used performance-enhancing drugs. His defense attorneys have called McNamee a liar.

Former Internal Revenue Service agent Jeff Novitsky, who had investigated McNamee as part of a probe into performance-enhancing drugs, testified on Thursday about evidence obtained during the investigation.

Clemens is among one of the biggest baseball stars linked to alleged drug use.

Tags:  Anabolic steroids, baseball, Brian McNamee, human growth hormone, Roger Clemens

Posted in  Steroids | Comments Off

Players from the NBA, for the first time, have given their consent to offseason testing for performance enhancing drugs.

The league, in the past, did not tested players during its July-September offseason.

From Guardian.co.uk:

The memo was less clear about testing for human growth hormone, saying only that a committee would study the “possibility of an HGH testing program.” NBA spokesman Mike Bass, however, insisted that both sides agreed to HGH blood testing, subject to the process being validated by a “neutral committee of experts.” It wasn’t immediately clear who would be on that panel.

Major League Baseball and its players recently agreed to start HGH testing in spring training. The National Football League’s new labor contract also included a provision for HGH testing as soon as this season but only once the players’ union approves the process. That hasn’t happened, in part because the union says it needs more information about the test.

NBA players will be tested up to twice during the offseason for steroids and performance enhancing drugs beginning in the 2012-13 season, as per a memo.

Tags:  HGH blood testing, HGH testing, human growth hormone, NBA, performance-enhancing drugs, Steroids

Posted in  Steroids | Comments Off

Two St. Charles Nation men have pleaded guilty for importing HGH and anabolic steroids from suppliers in China and promoting them to muscle builders in regional gymnasiums, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.

Keith Ashabranner, 32, of O’Fallon, Mo., pleaded guilty to one charge of conspiracy to possess and distribute human growth hormone drugs.

From Stltoday.com:

In their pleas, both bodybuilders admitted buying steroids and human growth hormone from China. The men used some of the drugs and sold the rest to other bodybuilders.

The Chinese drugs were shipped here with false customs declarations that claimed they were other, inexpensive goods.

Ashabranner admitted buying roughly $32,000 worth of drugs and making more than $30,000 from the sale of them. Loomans spent roughly $10,000 and made the same amount from their sale.

Loomans may undergo probation to six several weeks in jail under government sentencing recommendations and Ashabranner may face six to 12 several weeks when sentenced May 4.

Tags:  Anabolic steroids, buying steroids, HGH, human growth hormone

Posted in  Steroids | Comments Off

After admitting being part of a plot to deal illegal and dangerous bodybuilding drugs, two St Helens-based police officers will spend time in jail.

An undercover police officer exposed detective Constable Paul Fletcher and Sergeant Paul Hornby. It was found that they were involved in the supply chain of anabolic steroids and human growth hormone.

From Sthelensstar.co.uk:

Fletcher, aged 47, was sentenced to the most severe punishment of seven and a half years in prison after Liverpool Crown Court was told he also admitted leaking confidential information to an underworld criminal about the arrest of four men following a house burglary in Dentons Green.

He also offered advice to a suspect who was being investigated for firearms offences and revealed the identity of a police informant, placing him in danger.

Fletcher, of Downall Green Road, Wigan, even persuaded his son, Paul Fletcher Jr., to enter the world of criminality and deal in steroids.

Tags:  Anabolic steroids, bodybuilding drugs, human growth hormone, Steroids

Posted in  Steroids | Comments Off

Baseball pitching star Roger Clemens, winner of a record seven Cy Young Awards, sat silently in federal court as his trial opened on charges of perjury and obstruction of Congress.

The baseball star is facing charges that carry a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison.

From NPR.org:

Clemens remained expressionless as the prosecutor, Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Durham, told the jury that the government had physical proof that the 48-year-old onetime pitching ace had been repeatedly injected with anabolic steroids and human growth hormone.

Clemens, whose fastball was so powerful he earned the nickname “Rocket,” is not charged with using steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs. Rather, it is his denial of steroid and HGH use in testimony before a House committee in 2008 that could cost him his freedom. He is charged with six different counts of perjury, making false statements and obstructing a congressional investigation into the use of banned substances in baseball.

Clemens said during his congressional testimony, “I’ve been accused of something I’m not guilty of. … I’ve never taken steroids or HGH.”

Tags:  Anabolic steroids, baseball, HGH, human growth hormone, Roger Clemens, steroid, Steroids

Posted in  Steroids | Comments Off

The NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell recently said the NFL would insist on a mandatory Human Growth Hormone (HGH) testing in the next labor deal with the players.

The National Football League needs to do more to ensure that banned substances are kept out of the sport, according to the commissioner.

From Playerpress.com:

HGH is a protein-based peptide hormone that stimulates growth, cell reproduction and regeneration in humans and other animals which affects the growth hormone on the tissues of the body and is described as an anabolic just as steroids are.

It is used by athletes in an attempt to enhance their athletic performance although recent studies have not been able to support claims that HGH actually improves athletic performance.

In the United States, HGH is only available legally with a prescription from a doctor.

The use of HGH by NFL players is prohibited by the NFL, but players do not currently test for it.

Tags:  HGH, human growth hormone, National Football League, NFL

Posted in  Steroids | Comments Off

The former Oregon City High School strength and conditioning coach, Brian Jackson, has pleaded guilty to supplying steroids to a Canby police officer.

The 36-year-old was led away to spend 30 days in Clackamas County jail, followed by two years probation.

From Oregonlive.com:

Clackamas County Circuit Judge Douglas V. Van Dyk ordered Jackson not to use or possess any steroids or human growth hormone, nor any alcohol or drugs and to pay a $107 fine to the court.

He also was ordered not to have any contact with co-defendants, Jason Deason, the former Canby officer who resigned from the job last July during an FBI investigation, and William Traverso, a Canby businessman also accused of providing steroids to Deason.

The judge and Clackamas County prosecutor Michael Wu said the sentence was reached partly because of Jackson took “early responsibility” for his actions and cooperated with the FBI inquiry that led to his arrest.

It marks the first criminal conviction resulting from the federal public corruption investigation into the Canby officer’s steroid abuse, and follows the resignation last month of Canby Police Chief Greg Kroeplin, accused of failing to properly investigate his officer’s drug use.

FBI was told by Traverso, a former competitive bodybuilder who worked at his family’s Canby Landscape Supply, that Jackson was his main supplier of steroid pills from 2002 through 2005.

Tags:  Brian Jackson, human growth hormone, steroid abuse, steroid pills, Steroids

Posted in  Steroids | Comments Off

The St. Louis Cardinals’ slugging left fielder, Matt Holliday, recently said that he never heard anabolic steroids and human growth hormone discussed anywhere in Major League Baseball.

Holliday said at the Cardinals’ Winter Warm-Up gala for fans at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, “I’ve obviously never taken part in any of that stuff.”

From NYdailynews.com:

Holliday, who hit a combined .313 with 24 home runs and 109 RBI last season splitting time between Oakland and St. Louis, met with reporters yesterday as McGwire was greeted with a standing ovation from Cardinals fans packing the Hyatt’s main ballroom. McGwire was reintroduced to St. Louis following his admission last week of using steroids for most his 15-year career with the A’s and Cardinals. He told Bob Costas on MLB Network last Monday that he had never discussed steroids with other players or heard others discussing steroids, despite the fact that he played in, and helped define, what he called the “steroid era.” McGwire hadn’t appeared publicly in St. Louis since 2005, the year of his evasive testimony about steroids before Congress, when he refused to directly answer questions under oath.

“I’ve only played six years (in the majors),” Holliday said. “In the six years I’ve played, I’ve never seen it (steroids) or heard anybody talking about using it.”

Holliday also remarked, “I don’t know whether it helps (performance) or doesn’t.”

Tags:  Anabolic steroids, human growth hormone, Major League Baseball, Matt Holliday, Steroids

Posted in  Steroids | Comments Off