The American-Israeli swimmer, Max Jaben, received his final verdict after testing positive for boldenone anabolic steroid in a drug test held last summer. The disciplinary tribunal of Israel Swimming Association (ISA) handed the swimmer with one year suspension after several months of hearing.

However, the 23-year-old-swimmer is said to resume to the game as early as June 5, 2009 because the committee decided to make his 12 months suspension effective from the date when he was forbidden to join in any game of Israeli Olympic swimming team. To recall, the claims of Jaben about the improper testing of his urine samples were declined by the committee when the issue about his involvement on steroids use broke out. Haaretz.com mentioned that the swimmer’s attorney, Ephraim Barack, stated that the two tests performed to Jaben resulted to two different substances—signifying inaccuracy. But their claims were immediately denied by the ISA tribunal.

The committee decided to hand Max Jaben a short suspension after realizing that the swimmer was denied with an opportunity to compete at the Beijing Olympics even though he only committed a first time offense. This was implemented by the swimming governing body even though they have the authority to give out a more severe penalty according to the report published by the Haaretz.com.

Supposedly, Jaben was about to take part in the Beijing Games last August after winning the 11th position in the 200 meters freestyle during the European Championships last year. Unfortunately, because of his doping offense, he was forced to step out from the competition and let Nimrod Shapira Bar-Or do the game.

Certainly, several reports for the past months showed disappointments to what happened to the swimmer. Israel’s Elite Sport Department Director, Gili Lostig, expressed severe dismay to this findings, which was published by the Jerusalem Post last July when the issue for Jaben’s doping violation was intense. Lostig said that he has closely followed Jaben from the time he made aliya in America last summer after his appearance in the Maccabiah in the year 2005. According to him, the unexpected twist in Jaben’s story last summer in swimming had deeply disappointed him.
“This is very disappointing. We’re talking about an athlete who came to the Maccabiah and decided to make aliya and live his life in Israel,” Lostig said.

“He settled in very well and made impressive progress in the pool, meeting the Olympic Committee of Israel criteria. This is a shattered dream and undoubtedly a bitter disappointment,” he added.
Apparently, Jaben’s failure to steroids test last summer gave out a strong impact to his swimming career. But what is more depressing is that the bad news received by Jaben last summer also created an impact to Israel. So it is not really surprising why the drug—Boldenone—that caused Jaben to step out from the competition for sometime was claimed to shatter the swimmer’s Olympic hopes according to one of the reviews in the Jewish Blogging.

Anyhow, Jaben is soon to come back in the swimming scene next year. And from the day he plunges to the competition pool again, the opportunity to clear his name and regain his reputation completely relies on his hands.

The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control (OBNDCC) have seized several vials of anabolic steroids from Chris Waid, a national competitive bodybuilder. These were found in his home at Bixby. The report published by the Tulsa World stated that a set of highly potent illegal anabolic steroids, syringes, and intramuscular needles that are usually used to inject performance enhancement substances were discovered at the home of Chris Waid who resides in the East 136th Street, 9000 block, Bixby. A dozen of bottles and tablets were also seized and were immediately sent to a drug-testing laboratory to identify if they are anabolic steroids or some other types of performance enhancement drugs according to the report.

Police files showed that agents were able to seize the items after conducting several searches in Waid’s home since Oct. 23 with search warrants with them. Meanwhile, OBNDD officials refused to give any comment on the seizures. However, court records confirmed that the confiscated materials and drugs are part of the investigation. A grand jury investigation is also being held this time. This rivets into the distribution and use of anabolic steroids and other performance enhancement substances in the Tulsa area, as stated by the confidential sources of the Tulsa World.

The Associated Press (AP) also published the same report, saying that since December 2007, the seizure of anabolic steroids in large quantities were often performed by the agents from different unrelated individuals within the Tulsa area. This report is reflected in the affidavit signed by an undercover agent who is a legitimate specialist on the unlawful use of performance enhancement substances.

Based on the police affidavits, they assert that Chris Waid used steroids as his preparation for the upcoming competition to be held in Dallas again. The report also stated that two private informants revealed the involvement of Chris Waid to the distribution of anabolic steroids and other illegal performance enhancement drugs in the area of Tulsa. Court records also show that the authorities presented a warrant to seize electronic and computer storage devices including cell phone records to obtain more evidences against Waid.

Particularly, Chris Waid is a known bodybuilder who was ranked as the 10th bodybuilder in heavyweight based on the list provided by Muscular Development Online Magazine. The bodybuilding Web sites also reported that Waid also took the 10th place in a national bodybuilding competition in Dallas last August.

Moreover, Waid also contends in the National Physique Committee. This bodybuilding organization does not tolerate the use of illegal performance substances. However, they do not test the participants for illegal steroids. Currently, Waid cannot be contacted to explain his side or give any comment. His reputation is now tainted as one of those people who have been involved in the use and distribution of steroids including other performance enhancing substances in the Tulsa area.

It was also shown in court records that another professional bodybuilder, Guy Ducasses, was seized with steroids and human growth hormones in his home within Tulsa area eight months ago. Ducasse was believed to be the primary distributor of anabolic steroids and other performance enhancement substances in Tulsa. Unfortunately, OBNDD officials refused to comment on any arrest or charges they performed.

Believe it or not, steroids have been used in poultry production. Dr. Leo Nollet, an editor of diverse books on food analysis, received an information from a concerned individual who has moved in Thailand, about the use of steroids on chickens which are sold in some grocery stores in the country. According to the informant, chickens appear in massive size, quite hard to chew, and are also different in taste. The more surprising thing here is despite of the chickens’ massive size, they still cost the same as the smaller ones per kilo. This person also said that the smaller ones taste a lot better as compared to the larger ones.

Certainly, this claim is true. Steroids have been used in poultry production—not just in chickens in particular but as well as in turkeys. Jay L. Clendenin of Los Angeles Times revealed that steroids serve as added ingredients for these two poultry products. Purposely, Clendenin’s featured story stated that some turkeys are injected with these substances to make them juicier and tastier. Also, the substances are adding more weight in the turkey.

Dr. Nollet stated that growth hormones are not good for the human health. According to him, humans should not eat chickens that contain hormone residues. Presumably, such incident only occurs if the place has no regulations about hormone residues.

Steroids in poultry production have been viewed illegal since 1950s according to Francie Bradley, an extension poultry specialist in the Animal Science Department located at UC Davis. “It is definitely illegal to treat turkey with hormones,” she said. Because of this law, many turkey products now are claimed to be free from the substance. Some farms even makes this as one of their marketing strategy. An example of this brand is the Foster Farms. One of their ads on selling turkey products use this ad: “You can feel good about serving it to your family as we promise that it will be the freshest available at your store and will never contain added hormones or steroids.”Another brand that assures a hormone-fee turkey product is the Whole Foods Market. In fact, they also place a note that appears in small letters, saying: “federal regulations prohibit the use of hormones in raising pork and poultry.”

Unfortunately, since steroids are used as added ingredients for the turkeys to significantly enhance its taste, some are still injecting steroids on their turkey product. According to Clendenin’s report, if in case steroids were injected to turkey, the package label of the product must indicate either as “basted” or “self-basted.” The package must also list the included ingredients in the solution and indicate how much amount of steroids was used to the turkey. Possible ingredients may include moderately hydrogenated corn oil or soy, butter, and salt.

The nutrient data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service revealed also that different brands make use of different solutions. Although generally, self-basted turkey is csaid to be saltier and fattier. But this also contains lesser amount of calories and less protein since this is packed with more water.

There have been several cases in sports wherein athletes were suspended. This is because of positive tests for steroids due to accidental intake of dietary supplements that contain these banned substances. Undoubtedly, such case makes an athlete go crazy. Simply, because they were victimized. The sad thing is, they would have to accept their mistake for buying a dietary supplement that contain steroids and move on. Amy Shipley of Washington Post featured in her report just recently about the inclusion of steroids in some “popular” dietary supplements. According to her, these dietary supplements are sold over the Internet, especially for the health and fitness enthusiasts. Since every athlete is a health and fitness enthusiast, they often have the tendency to buy the product without the thought that this can cause them future problems.

Unfortunately, despite of the existing law which regulates steroids, there are still some manufacturers that sells dietary supplements which contain these banned substances. In fact, 22 dietary supplements were found out to contain anabolic steroids by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) during the first quarter of this year according to the Federal Register report.

Streetdrugs.org also featured the contamination of steroids of some dietary supplements. They showed the result of a recent study conducted by a nonprofit dietary supplement coalition, Informed Choice, to determine the occurrences of the inclusion of steroids to dietary supplements in America. Surprisingly, study revealed that 25 percent of today’s popular dietary supplement is found to contain low level of steroids. In addition, 11 percent of these dietary supplements were also found to contain stimulants, ephedrine in particular. It is alarming that these steroids were not declared on the label of the products.

Meanwhile, a British Company also played a part on the study by probing the levels of steroid including stimulant contamination in the alleged popular dietary supplements which contain these illegal substances. Streetdrugs.org also stated that if this problem will never be stopped, the job of US anti-Doping Agency (USADA) will become more difficult since this can be used to claim for the innocence of those athletes who can be tested positive for steroids in sports.

Now, the question is why do these dietary supplements include the banned substance? There are actually three principal reasons, which are stated below:
1. Intended Contamination: Some allegations claim that manufacturers of these dietary supplements were adding the undeclared steroids and stimulant to let the consumer evidently feel the effect of the product. Logically speaking, once the consumer felt the effect of the product he would immediately think that the product is giving him a good result; hence, he will buy the product again and again—profit then is certain.
2. Cross-contamination: It is true that there are several manufacturers in different categories of supplements that use the same facility. Like for instance, vitamin and mineral products may be processed using the same equipment of ephedrine products. Once the equipment was not properly cleansed, cross-contamination can occur.
3. Contaminated raw substance. Since supplement manufacturers normally import raw materials from Europe, India, and Asia, these may possibly be contaminated with impurities.

Consumers are still the victims in general, whether they are active in sports or not. The government should do something specially in monitoring these companies producing dietary supplements.

It has been almost six months since Tennessee Erik Ainge has joined the New York Jets to perform the role of a rookie quarterback. But after six months of wearing the green and white jersey of the new team he belongs to, he is now facing steroids suspension according to the HSN Sports report.

Currently, Ainge is facing several controversies about his involvement in the use of steroids. This athlete is claimed to suffer from a foot injury so he was out to play for this season. But some people were surprised upon knowing that this rookie quarterback will resume playing on Dec. 15. Quite a long vacation for someone who has suffered a foot injury. What is more surprising on the part of the league’s fans is the prohibition for Erik Ainge to be with the team. He is also prohibited to use and to be within the facility until Dec. 15. These issues were cleared out when it was finally announced by the New York Jets that Ainge received a suspension for four games after violating the policy of the league on anabolic steroids and other related substances.

Mike Florio of the Profootballtalk.com explained that the announcement of Erik Ainge suspension only means that any appeal about the suspension has already been resolved against the athlete. Florio also clarified that this is the correct process to run the case. No report is allowed to be released to the public until the suspension has been settled. The purpose of such rule is simple, in case the suspension is overturned, no one would know about the suspension apart from the concerned party.

Looking back to the day when Ainge first participated in the team, Ainge stated in the feature article of Jetinsider.com that “being as competitive as I am, I wanted to be the first pick in the draft. But round regardless, I couldn’t be happier about going to the New York Jets.” Jetinsider.com also mentioned that Ainge battled both Chad Penington and Kellen Clemens for the starting position the first time he joined the team. “[The Jets] are really the only team in the league that I could tell you who their top two quarterbacks are,” Ainge uttered.

Ainge showed his enthusiasm to join the team last April. In fact, he expressed his intention in playing alongside with his new teammates as another phase of his learning experience. “I’m going to be writing everything down and learning from them. That doesn’t mean I’m not going to be competing, but at the same time, I’m just going to come in there and take it all in,” Ainge uttered eagerly.

Erik Ainge, a 162nd in general pick, which he obtained from the Green Bay Packers, was chosen by the New York Jets to be one among its players. Essentially, Ainge appears with a solid frame at 221 pounds, 6’5 height and was regarded as the all time best of the Tennessee. What is more amazing to this athlete according to Jetinsider.com is that despite of his torn meniscus in his right knee in 2007, he was still able to make 31 touchdowns with only ten interceptions.

This time, Ainge is expected to rejoin the team on December 15 to show off his skill on the field for another time around. Whether he has learned his lesson for committing a doping violation, people would still look after him as one of the best in the league.

There have been several attempts to educate students and young athletes about the harms that can be caused by steroids—both to their body and to their lives as a whole. This is because of the growing number of teens who are learning to take steroids to boost their competency in sports, One example of this is the program sponsored by Scottsdale Charros that gathered 5,000 students from five high schools in Scottsdale, which features Taylor Hooton Vice-President Steve Smith and former player of major-league baseball Kevin Young as guest speakers according to The Arizona Republic report.

Taylor Hooton Foundation was named after the 16-year-old son of Don Hooton, its founder. Taylor Hooton committed suicide after steroid abuse. Smith provided more information about steroids use among the young athletes while Young ended the program by addressing athletes, parents, and coaches at the Hilton Scottsdale Resort & Villas. The students were oriented about the threats of steroid abuse by answering the questions thrown by The Arizona Republic. The following are some of the very vital issues that were addressed to student-athletes about steroids:

Q: What is the most significant thing high school athletes should know about steroids?

Young: The issue is not steroids as much as it morals. The ability to identify right and wrong is our responsibility as both role models and adults. This gives our youths the knowledge needed.

Q: What do parents need to be aware of about the involvement of students to steroids use?

Hooton: How prevalent it is. Don’t assume that it’s not going on in your child’s school, athletic team, or social group. Anabolic steroids are popular among lean guys who aren’t playing sports but want to look bigger. The fastest-growing user group is young girls who are using them to lose belly fat and have a leaner body. We call them “mirror athletes.” These are people who have no desire to play on the field; they just want to look good. Don’t think that just because your child isn’t playing sports that steroids aren’t a concern.

Q: What can the parents do to help their kids avoid steroids abuse?

Hooton: Train yourself to know the physical changes that will tell you that your child is using steroids. Recognize when mood swings are more than just teenage tantrums. Understand the pressure our society is putting on kids to be competitive, to achieve and look attractive. Parents should also know about the various forms of steroids. They can be ingested as a pill, injected, or used as body oil that simply looks like moisturizer.

Meanwhile, Young ended the program by informing the parents as well as the students to learn the right sources to ask for help in developing their athletic skills. According to Young, people can always refer to different resources that educate proper work ethics like protegespotsinc.com. This company aims to provide both parents and young athletes the training methods that are undergone by the athletes in professional level, especially in agility and speed exercises including workouts to achieve their full potential.

Similarly, the connectkids.com also featured a program that has the same goal as the one sponsored by Scottsdale Charros, the Ripped Apart. This is a direct program that can be featured in coaching sessions, inside the class, and even at home. Ripped Apart shows the testimonies of several kids who were involved to steroid abuse because of the thought that they can get ahead by taking them. This includes statements from counselors, doctors, and families who have witnessed the terrible effects brought by steroids to users.