A state judge has dismissed a criminal case against the operators of a pharmacy in Florida, in a sharp rebuke of the Albany County district attorney, at the center of a national steroid scandal that implicated major sports figures.

The judge, Stephen Herrick of Albany County Court, noted in dismissing the case that the company (Signature Pharmacy) operators, were pursuing a civil lawsuit against the district attorney, P. David Soares, in which they accused him and his office of committing federal civil rights violations stemming from the criminal case.

From Nytimes.com:

Judge Herrick said that in light of the civil lawsuit brought by the pharmacy’s operators, Mr. Soares and his office had a professional and financial stake in the outcome of the criminal case against the operators.

“In the present matter, the court has found a conflict of interest sufficient to warrant dismissal of the indictment,” the judge wrote in the six-page decision. “Likewise, the court finds that this demonstrated conflict of interest warrants the disqualification of the Albany County district attorney’s office from further prosecution of this matter.”

The district attorney’s office condemned the judge’s decision, saying it established a dangerous precedent that undermined the legal system.

“Judge Herrick’s decision is a get-out-of-jail-free card for every criminal defendant in New York State,” said Heather Orth, a spokeswoman for Mr. Soares. “His message to defendants is, ‘If your D.A. is being too tough on you, sue him, and you can get a new one.’ ”

Mr. Soares’s statewide profile has grown as a result of his investigations of top New York public officials, most recently on the question of whether to prosecute Gov. David A. Paterson on perjury charges.

It is worth noting here that Mr. Soares had said that Signature Pharmacy was at the center of a nationwide ring of shady Web sites and unethical doctors who had made steroids and other controlled substances easy to obtain over the Internet.

Tags: controlled substances, steroid scandal, steroids

Posted in buy steroids, Steroid Cycles, steroid nation, Steroids and Anabolic Steroids, Steroids in Sports

Madol and two other drugs, boldione and 19-nor-4,9(10)-Androstadienedione, have been classified as controlled substances by the Drug Enforcement Administration. The three steroids were previously marked as dietary supplements but have found a place on the shelves of nutrition stores.

Classification of a drug as an anabolic steroid is a lengthy process. Under the Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 2004, a confirmation is required to be made by scientists that the chemical structure is similar to testosterone and then a lab must prove that it could synthesize the drug in a controlled environment.

From NYTimes.com:

Under a rule that will take effect Jan. 4, the D.E.A. has classified a substance known as Madol and two other drugs — boldione and 19-nor-4,9(10)-Androstadienedione — as anabolic steroids, meaning it is now a crime for retailers to sell supplements that contain these substances. As controlled substances, some anabolic steroids can be used legally, if a doctor writes a prescription for a patient to treat a legitimate medical condition.

In a telephone interview, Tygart said that antidoping officials have known about and tested for all three substances for years. Madol was first identified six years ago during the investigation into the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative. Earlier this year, Madol was the focus of an F.D.A. inquiry into a manufacturer, American Cellular Labs, that authorities said was marketing the drug as a legal alternative to steroids.

In 2008, the D.E.A. identified 58 products containing the three steroids that are the subject of its most recent rule. Tygart said he purchased a supplement containing Madol one week ago.

Travis Tygart, the head of the United States Anti-Doping Agency, said his agency has identified at least twenty other steroids marked as supplements that have not yet been classified as controlled substances.

Tags: anabolic steroid, controlled substances, dietary supplements, steroids, supplements, testosterone

Posted in buy steroids, Steroid Cycles, steroid nation, Steroids and Anabolic Steroids

This week, Canby businessman William Jake Traverso was arrested for drug-related and theft charges. It all began years ago when Jason Deason, a Canby police officer, was allegedly using anabolic steroids which are a controlled substance in the country. Deason had resigned since then and just a few months ago, his former roommate, Canby Police Chief Greg Kroeplin, was suspended with pay after he was proven to have concealed that Deason had been using the illegal drugs. After a year of further investigations, leads pointed to Traverso who was one of those who had allegedly given Deason his supply of steroids.

From Oregon News:

Federal authorities identified Traverso, a former competitive bodybuilder who works at Canby Landscape Supply, as one of Deason’s suppliers. Traverso admitted selling steroids and human growth hormone, or HGH, to Deason. In fact, Traverso turned over to federal agents an April 30, 2002 order for steroids that Deason had given him, written on Canby police stationery, according to federal court records.

Neighbors of Traverso, who lives in a home on Canby’s North Vine Street, had grown frustrated by suspicious drug activity at Traverso’s home, and complained to Canby’s mayor and council about a lack of Canby police response to their multiple complaints.

FBI agents claimed that even back in 2001, during investigations on Deason’s steroid abuse, the former police officer had already tipped off Traverso. Deason even coached the drug dealer on what to say when the police question him about steroids.

Federal investigators raided Traverso’s home and workplace at Yamhill County where they found an address book containing Deason’s contact information such as his work phone number and his cell phone number. They also seized some stolen goods including two firearms. Traverso was charged several counts on the illegal possession and distribution of controlled substances which included steroids and methamphetamine, and first-degree theft. He will probably facing a prison sentence unless if he pays his bail that totals $75,000.

Tags: Canby, Canby Police Department, controlled substances, Greg Kroeplin, Jason Deason, steroids, William Jake Traverso

Posted in steroid nation, Steroids and Anabolic Steroids

An 18-year old in New Hampshire takes to heart the adage “persistence is the key to success”.

Jeremy Rosario was indeed persistent but not that successful as he was arrested by the police in Newmarket. The arrest has been Rosario’s third in just over a three-month period.

His initial arrest was on July 24, 2008. Rosario of Salmon Street, Newmarket was apprehended on an arrest warrant issued by the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Drug Task Force. He was charged with sale of a controlled drug in both Rockingham and Strafford County.

According to the police report, authorities found teenager was in possession of marijuana, anabolic steroids and a quantity of cash. Said evidence was seized by the NH Drug Task Force.

He was arrested the second time on Oct. 12, for DUI and transportation of alcoholic beverages by a minor. He faces these charges in the Exeter District Court.

In less than three weeks on Oct. 31, Rosario was arrested for facilitating a drug or underage alcohol house party, unlawful possession of alcohol and possession of a controlled drug.

Armed with a search warrant, police searched Rosario’s residence and discovered quantities of marijuana, alcohol, and a loaded handgun. A total of 18 individuals, including Rosario, were put under arrest during this incident.

From the incident it seems Jeremy Rosario was going to buy steroids from his local gym, believed to be Golds Gym, but there is no proof.  If he was going to buy steroids locally, he would probably be a bit smarter then to keep them in such an open situation.  Of course, him being under 24-25, steroid abuse will come as a possible problem.

Tags: anabolic steroids, controlled substances, DUI, Jeremy Rosario, New Hampshire Drug Task Force, New Hampshire teens, steroid, steroids

Posted in steroid nation, Steroids and Anabolic Steroids

Let’s face it – we are now in the steroid-era. Doping scandals are all over the news. Famous athletes from various sports disciplines have been implicated in steroid investigations and sting operations. It’s a known fact that steroids indeed improve athlete’s performance in the playing field as they increase strength and double the players’ intensity in playing the game. But do you know that non-medical steroid use of US males is not mainly for performance enhancement but for self-improvement?

This is according to a web-based survey. From the almost 2000 US males surveyed, the following facts were gathered:

• The typical recreational steroid user is aged around 30 years old, well-educated, and earns an above-average income in a white-collar occupation.
• Majority did not take steroids during adolescence.
• Majority are not motivated by athletic competition or sports performance.
• Their motivation is improvement of their physical appearance (increase muscle mass and strength, and lose fat). Other reasons for using steroids are to increase confidence, to improve mood, and to attract sexual partners.

This may improve the way others view steroids and steroid users. The study proves that not all users are ‘cheaters’ (i.e. athletes who use them as performance-enhancing drugs) or risk-taking teens (kids with raging naturally-occurring hormones who usually jump off of a cliff before thinking).

One of the authors of the survey was quite optimistic about the changes this may bring on government policy on steroids. “The users we surveyed consider that they are using directed drug technology as one part of a strategy for physical self-improvement within a health-centered lifestyle,” said Rick Collins. “Effective public policy should begin by accurately identifying who’s using steroids and why. We hope our research – the largest adult survey of non-medical AAS use we know of – is a significant step forward in that direction.”

The study was conducted almost two years ago; obviously, nothing has changed in the way the federal government perceives steroids and their adherents. They are still considered controlled substances; and, if you’re unlucky to get caught with them without a valid prescription, you get fined or get jailed.

Tags: controlled substances, non-medical uses of steroids, online survey, Performance enhancing drugs, self-improvement, steroids

Posted in steroid nation, Steroids and Anabolic Steroids