A former batboy with the New York Mets pleaded guilty Friday to distributing performance-enhancing drugs to dozens of major league players over a decade, delivering another blow to the image of America’s pastime.

Kirk J. Radomski, 37, admitted to felony charges of distributing steroids and laundering money before U.S. District Judge Susan Illston at the federal courthouse in San Francisco. He faces a 25-year sentence and a $500,000 fine.

Radomski, who describes himself as a personal trainer, agreed to cooperate with baseball’s investigation into steroids that is being led by former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell. Radomski also worked as an equipment manager and clubhouse assistant while with the Mets, from 1985-95.

If his information can be corroborated, it could be the biggest break since the Balco Laboratories case that involved such stars as Barry Bonds, Jason Giambi and Gary Sheffield.

“This individual was a major dealer of anabolic steroids, including human growth hormones, whose clientele was focused almost exclusively on major league baseball players,” prosecutor Matt Parrella said outside the court.

He declined to name Radomski’s clients. The case, though, underscores the fact baseball’s drug problem is bigger than Bonds, who is 15 home runs shy of becoming the most prolific long-ball hitter in the game. “We look forward to working together with federal law enforcement toward our shared goal,” Mitchell said in a
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steroids are overhyped right now for sure!
 
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prepared statement.
Radomski dealt with a variety of drugs such as human growth hormone, deca-durabolin and testosterone, according to a search warrant affidavit obtained by the Mercury News.

The warrant had some information blacked out, including what appeared to players’ names.

According to the warrant, Radomski became a major source of drugs for baseball players after federal investigators shut down Balco Laboratories in Burlingame.

Lead Balco investigator Jeff Novitzky of the San Jose office of the Internal Revenue Service took over the case in 2005 after receiving a tip from the Federal Bureau of Investigations. It fell under the IRS’s jurisdiction because of the charge of laundering money from the illegal sale of steroids.

Signs of baseball’s acute drug problem were evident even as the game flourished during the magical season of 1998, when Mark McGwire broke Roger Maris’ single-game home run record.

The revelation that McGwire used androstenedione, a pro-hormone then banned by the International Olympic Committee but not by baseball, caused a minor stir before almost everyone returned to celebrating the pursuit of the record.

Not even Ken Caminiti’s honesty registered loudly. He told Sports Illustrated in 2002 that he used steroids when he was named the league’s Most Valuable Player in ‘96.

“It’s no secret what’s going on in baseball,” said Caminiti, who grew up in San Jose. “At least half the guys are using steroids. They talk about it. They joke about it with each other.”

Caminiti wasn’t taken seriously because he struggled with alcohol and recreational drugs. He died in 2004 of an overdose.

Tony Gwynn, Caminiti’s All-Star teammate in San Diego, lent credibility to the claims when telling the New York Times in 2003 that amphetamine use was rampant.

“People might think there is a steroid problem in baseball, but it’s nowhere near the other problem,” Gwynn said. “Guys feel like steroids are cheating” and amphetamines aren’t.

The drug issue didn’t seem to resonant with fans until after federal agents raided Balco Laboratories in Burlingame in September 2003. Of the more than 30 athletes subpoenaed to testify in front of a grand jury investigating the Balco case, about a third were baseball players. Bonds and the New York Yankees’ Jason Giambi and Gary Sheffield were the most prominent.

By then, baseball officials had begun a campaign to rebuild faith in their game. The league and players union adopted what many considered to be a toothless steroids policy for the 2004 season. But that was about to change.

The outcry came in late 2004 when the San Francisco Chronicle reported Bonds acknowledged taking two of the Balco steroids, “the clear” and “the cream,” according to leaked statements of his grand jury testimony. The Giants slugger also said that he thought they were flaxseed oil and an arthritis balm.

Giambi and other players admitted to outright use of steroids, according to the leaked statements.

A month later, former A’s star Jose Canseco released a tell-all book in which he recounted his use of performance-enhancing drugs. Canseco wrote he took drugs with McGwire when they played for the A’s. He also named other prominent players - and even suggested President Bush knew about steroid use when he was part owner of the Texas Rangers in the 1990s.

The weight of the allegations led to a contentious 12-hour hearing by the House Government Reform Committee in March 2005. Lawmakers pressed baseball officials about their weak drug-testing policy; they also questioned some of the game’s biggest names. McGwire’s repeated answer, “I’m not here to talk about the past,” left many wondering about his clean reputation.

Baltimore Orioles Rafael Palmeiro defiantly denied using steroids during the hearing, but five months later was suspended for 10 days for violating baseball’s drug policy.

The game faced more controversy before last season with the release of “Game of Shadows,” which chronicled Bonds’ use of steroids from 1998. While the book didn’t offer much new information about the Balco case, it provided the context to help the public understand the gravity of the drug issues.

With lawmakers pressuring them again, baseball officials revised their year-old drug policy, calling for 50-game suspensions for first-time offenders of steroids. Commissioner Bud Selig also appointed George J. Mitchell, the former Senate majority leader, to head an investigation into steroid use in the sport. Mitchell’s investigation is ongoing.

IRS agent Novitzky continued his work as well. Last summer he led agents into the Arizona home of journeyman pitcher Jason Grimsley, who was caught accepting a $3,200 shipment of human growth hormone. The Diamondbacks pitcher ended his career after news of the raid.

This year, another drug episode erupted in the East Coast as federal agents targeted an illicit steroid distribution network, which allegedly was responsible for Internet sales of performance-enhancing drugs nationwide.

Some of the customers allegedly included athletes, including Los Angeles Angels outfielder Gary Matthews Jr.

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We all know that professional athletes use steroids, it’s no different for boxing.  Steroid use is prevelant among all professional athletes.  In boxing, moreso then any other sport, steroids are used for aggression and stamina - which are both a factor in a possible 12 round fight!   Halotestin, cheque drops and equipoise are the steroids of choice.  Halotestin is used for aggression, same with cheque drops, equipoise is used for stamina.

Steroids in Boxing

The notion of a professional athlete using drugs to enhance their performance is a throroughly shameful one; some sport fans would prefer to think that their idols would never consciously perpetrate such a contemptible act of dishonesty, and in most cases believe the hastily issued statements blaming general neglectfulness or unwitting participation. Others are a little more open to the minute but ever-present evils that lurk in the background of professional sports. It’s easy to see the reasons behind employing these deceitful tactics but difficult to comprehend the relaxation of all principles and complete disregard of integrity.

One of the biggest sufferers in the everlasting steroid scandal is the sport of cycling, which has been hit by allegations of drug abuse against some of it’s most prominent competitors, and hit hard. Floyd Landis, the 2006 Tour de France winner, was found to have unusually high levels of testosterone in a urine sample taken after the event and may have his title stripped this year. Jan Ullrich, a past winner and a huge presence within the sport, was forced to retire after suffering similar allegations.

Athletics, and in particular sprinting, has been damaged by adverse publicity since Canadian Ben Johnson was found guilty of cheating in 1988 after an other-wordly 9.79 second sprint in Seoul’s 100m final. Since then Tim Montgomery, Britain’s own Dwain Chambers and the legendary Linford Christie, plus countless others have been linked to the shady world of athletic doping. And this is without even dipping a toe into the recent history of the crown jewel of sport in the USA, Baseball.

Boxing has not quite fallen under the broad shadow that darkens the image of other athletic professions, but for this reason the impression is given that it basks in the light of sporting integrity (I am obviously only speaking in terms of steroid abuse, not the fight game in general.) A lack of high-profile cases seems to reinforce that notion, but it also makes you wonder whether they are the tip of a substantial but well-concealed iceberg? Considering some of the more sinister and questionably regulated aspects of the sport, I find it difficult to believe that boxing’s involvement in the world of steroids is minimal as it seems, but as there is only a small amount of damning evidence things certainly point in that direction. Although a number of huge names being linked with allegations of drug abuse in the past couple of years, few boxers have actually tested positive for a banned substance and punished accordingly.

Fernando “Ferocious” Vargas, the youngest ever champion in his weight class and one of the better sub-middleweight fighters of the past decade, tested positive following his grudge match against Oscar De La Hoya in 2002. When the news emerged that Vargas’ sample had contained a performance-enhancing steroid, the notion seemed believable in retrospect: Vargas had entered the bout with an incredibly sculpted and an unprecedentedly (for him) toned physique- the man was a bona fide monster. Considering the tension that had led up to the fight between the two Latin superstars and in particular Vargas’ aggression, it seemed entirely likely that De La Hoya would be eaten up considering the strength and sheer muscular mass of his challenger.

Of course, De La Hoya ultimately prevailed with a superb performance, which also throws up the question of whether Anabolic Steroids actually enhance a fighter’s performance or hinder it. The drugs are known to increase muscle mass, protein synthesis, strength and also bone growth, all seemingly physiological advantages that a user would have over an opponent, but a change in size could also reduce a fighter’s speed and reflexes. When asked a few years ago whether he believed the drug would make a difference to his performance, young prospect Yuri Foreman said, “Technically, I think steroids wouldn’t help much in boxing. You might have more strength, but it’s not going to help your reflexes and make your chin stronger.”

That is the view of one of the fighters, but the benefits of steroids don’t just apply to a boxer’s performance in the ring. They can also boost a fighter’s endurance and recovery time, according to Dr. Margaret Goodman of the Nevada State Athletic Commission: “People tend to think of steroids as something that will benefit the big, heavy-weighted fighter,” said Dr. Goodman, “but that’s not the case. This benefits athletes who want to train harder and recover quickly. If a fighter wants to have heavy sparring sessions all week, he’s going to benefit by steroids, because, by the next day his body won’t be feeling sore or tired. It enables them to work on their skills longer.”

James Toney is the other name of note who provided a positive test, coming after his world title “win” over 2-Time WBA Champion, John Ruiz, in 2005. Toney (briefly, it was eventually returned to the former champion) captured the WBA Belt from the sluggish John Ruiz in a superb display of defensive aptitude and counter-punching, triumphing with something to spare on the scorecards, but the result was nullified when traces of Nandrolone were discovered in his sample. In comparison to Vargas, Toney’s transgression is nowhere near as clear in retrospect in a visual sense, with “Lights Out” coming into the ring against Ruiz with his trademark heavyweight waistline and flabby frame, but with further benefits of steroids being those explained above, a reason for use of the drug can be fathomed in this case.

Toney’s promoter Dan Goosen claimed that the positive test was a result of an oversight: “Toney received medical treatment for recovery from his biceps and triceps surgery last year. His doctor has stated that the combination of medications used to control the inflammation and tissue growth caused the positive test result,“ said Goosen. ”This is further supported, since the body, in combination with the medications, naturally create the form of substance (”Nandrolone”) reflected in the test results … It would be unjust for the sport to reprimand a fighter who was under a doctor’s care and direction many months before in healing a career threatening injury.”

The generic reason/excuse issued by those that test positive almost always seeks to pin the blame on the ineptitude of their doctor, or nutritionist, or at least someone who they work with in that capacity. Toney and Goosen may be telling the truth in this case, but hearing that line of defense got tired some time ago. Are the doctors/nutritionists/whatever in each case really that neglectful? They are all aware of the stature of these athletes and the implications that comes in working with and treating them that such a high number of cases of genuine professional negligence stretches the realms of plausibility.

Although these are the only two high-profile occurrences of proven steroid abuse in boxing in recent times, fighters such as Shane Mosley and Evander Holyfield have all been the subject of rumors involving drug abuse but have never actually tested positive. Both men were linked with companies who were investigated for supplying steroids to athletes- and both have vehemently denied any wrongdoing. After Roy Jones, JR. defeated Richard Hall in 2000, both he and Hall tested positive for the androstenedione, a substance banned by the IBF. Jones admitted taking a produce named “Ripped Fuel” which contained androstenedione, a natural hormone which was available over the counter until 2004 when it was made illegal by the FDA. The IBF took a lenient stance to Jones’ positive test, declining to fine or ban him and letting him keep his title.

A consistency becomes apparent when considering these fighters: Mosley, Jones and Toney have fought in a number of weight classes in their professional careers, and the need to put weight in terms of muscle then becomes an important factor (or weight of a different kind, in Toney’s case.) Holyfield originally campaigned in the cruiserweight division before becoming champion at heavyweight. The use of steroids would certainly appear beneficial to someone who needs to increase their strength and muscle mass. Vargas’ possible motive may lie behind his hatred of De La Hoya and an intense desire to win at all costs, a move that backfired after he was on the receiving end of an eleventh round knockout.

Something which makes it difficult for testers are the use of diuretics, which have been known to be used as masking agents but can also be used to lose weight. It is the duty of state Boxing commissions, the BBBC and other regulatory bodies around the world to ensure that their testing policies and procedures are stringent, widespread and as up to date as possible.

That said, positive tests are still a rarity in the sport, so the statistics do indicate that this form of cheating is not a prevalent problem. The pressure on sportsman to succeed has always been astronomical, and those who choose to use steroids probably believe that it is worth it, despite the possibility of being caught and suffering the consequences. Even with the burden of pressure which weighs on athletes, cheating by use of performance-enhancing products is still an inexcusable act which deserves the heaviest of punishments; the onus is on the athlete to employ trustworthy staff, who are fully aware of the treatments and supplements that they are supplying. I am convinced that the majority of fighter’s do adhere to a regimented code of conduct in their conditioning and the subtances which they ingest, which backs up the lean statistics in terms of those guilty of offences. We are lucky that our sport has not been crippled by use of the drug, and long may the relatively clean bill of health continue.

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Ok , I have to vent.  I read the whole article.  It’s about a bodybuilder who used anabolic steroids and had some type of negative (life threatening) side effects because of the alleged drug use.  There is talk that he’s been running steroids since 1960s with massive dbol dosages (oral) with no protection for a long period of time, along with NONE STOP steroid abuse.  Now, I ask you, what exactly do you expect to happen when you ABUSE steroids ?  serious ? are you expecting no side effects ? you have to be stupid.  If you abuse tylenol you’ll get liver damage, if you drink a bottle of aspirin - you will DIE, if you eat too much fast food you’ll die and so on… anything is good in moderation.  He did not understand steroids, abused them, then went out there to blame the drug for his health problems - all of which were caused by HIM.  He doesn’t even clearly state his FULL steroid usage, cycles, was he using HGH (human growth hormone) , was he able to buy steroids in large quantities ? use PGF-2a ? IGF-1 ? who knows right….-> Bodybuilder knew dangers of steroids
A champion weightlifter and bodybuilder, Rauch long abused steroids. Years later, he talked to anybody who would listen about the risks.

Rauch’s own medical problems began in 1971, with boils over his entire body. Blood tests found a staph infection, severe liver damage and a diminished immune system.

It would be just the beginning of his health problems - and steroid abuse.

“I think about all I went through since I took that stuff,” he said. “I have boxes of trophies, over 200 of them. I look at that and say, ‘Was it really all worth it?’ Would I take all of that and melt it down and cash out a clean bill of health, swap it out?

“I mean, if I could I would. But I can’t.”

Rauch died of heart failure April 11. He was 65.

A native of Allentown, Pa., he came to Wisconsin in 1960, assigned to the U.S. Air Force’s Truax Field in Madison. In 1984, Lake Geneva became home.

Rauch first started using steroids in the late 1960s, while in the Air Force and training to try to make the 1968 U.S. Olympic weightlifting team. The team physician handed out pills and told the lifters to take two a day for eight weeks, he said.

“We didn’t know what they were,” Rauch told Gary D’Amato, Journal Sentinel sports reporter, in 2005. “They were little blue pills; dianabol. Oh, yeah, they worked. I got stronger.”

He cycled on and off those pills for three years, getting stronger and stronger. Then came the boils.

“I asked the doctor what my choice was,” Rauch said. “He said, ‘Quit and live or take them and die.’ “

Rauch quit and tried unsuccessfully to make the 1976 Olympic team. He turned to bodybuilding, winning a Mr. Wisconsin title.

Later he began “stacking,” the risky practice of combining pills and shots. He was looking good, including in the over-40 division of 1982 Mr. America competition.

Even more happened in 1983, as he used more drugs.

The best thing was meeting the former Trudy Thompson, who became his wife in 1987. The worst was episodes of “roid rage” from the steroids. He won the Mr. America title, but immediately admitted to Trudy that he had been using.

No more, he promised her.

Rauch kept that promise for three years.

“Then I caught him with a needle in his butt,” Trudy Rauch said.

He again promised to quit. One week later, he woke with a lump in his neck the size of a golf ball. It was malignant.

Other health problems followed. Basil cell carcinomas and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Cancer treatments and a bone-marrow transplant. A staph infection that damaged his kidneys, followed by years of dialysis. Arthritis and heart trouble and bouts with depression.

He and his wife ran Rocky’s Gym in Lake Geneva, where Rauch preached the message against steroids.

“I really don’t want to see anyone else go through what I did,” Rauch said. “I could have avoided all that.”

He also became a presence in the community, active with the Rotary and the American Legion.

“My daughter, Jody, said he came into a small community, not knowing anyone, and now everybody knows him,” Trudy said. “He got involved and cared about his community.”

Survivors also include daughters Sally Rauch, Jennifer Humphrey and Jody Brock; mother Dorothy; brother Charles; and grandchildren.

Visitation was held Thursday. A brief visitation will be held at 10 a.m. today at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, W775 Geranium Road, Pell Lake. The funeral service will follow at 11 a.m.

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I got to move to pakistan  , the markets there sell steroids lol I mean straight in the open like a flea market for steroids.  That’s funny since it’s demonized everywhere else… this shows you that steroids are not as bad as people think #1, but more importantly are mainly attacked so badly in the USA - no other country in the world is spending $ on hunting steroids.  USA has one of the worst DRUG problems in the world, meth, coke, crack, heroin, E, weed etc… that’s where government resources should be spent , NOT on catching some guy who did an amp of test and works as a truck driver, what a dangeround thing - some truck driver shooting up some steroids!  GIve me a break.

The Karkhano Market is famous for selling medicines containing steroids and most people buy them for sexual potency or physical strength.

“There are around 35 shops and stalls selling these medicines,” said Sher Umar, a shopkeeper at the market. Asked about the price of a packet labled ‘Happy Life’, he said, “These tablets are sold for Rs 250 per packet and are very helpful in improving sex.” All such medicines are brought from India to Af