News reports from Asian journals and publications proves that many Asian countries are now one of the major supplier of steroids in the Western Countries and especially in Europe. Most pharmaceuticals in Asia were tapped by the European distributors of Steroids. This is an indication that these companies can meet the strict quality standards for these drugs. Most of these companies are certified and accredited by international agencies ensuring the quality of medicines. These exported steroids products varies from pills, capsules, injectables and other forms.

One emerging company in the export of steroids products is the Renata Limited in Bangladesh.The Potent Product Facility of the company which is located in Mirpur, Dhaka is dedicated for manufacturing hormones, steroids, oncology, and immunosuppressants products. According to the reports, their facilities boast of its high manufacturing standards. There are only 5 companies which have these facilities in Asia.

This pharmaceutical company just recently sent its first shipment of medicines to the UK the second week of November. They have received the accreditation of the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) of UK. The UK is among the growing list of countries to where Renata has been expanding its markets. They also entered other international markets such as Guyana, Hong Kong, Jordan, and the Philippines. In total, they are currently exporting medicines to 72 countries worldwide. No doubt, Renata has already a market capitalization of 8.6 billion taka and growing at almost 50 percent per annum.

Another award was given to Renata earlier this year by the Ceylon National Chamber of Industries. Renata was given the Gold Trophy for its performance in the pharmaceutical market of Sri Lanka. There are 2 Renata brands, namely, Zithrin (Azithromycin) and Celox-R (Celecoxib) which are considered as leaders in their respective product categories in Sri Lanka.

Aside from Renata, there are four other pharmaceutical companies in Bangladesh which has been in the forefront of a quiet revolution in manufacturing standards that is taking place in Bangladesh. The other companies are Square, and Eskayef which have been already approved by MHRA. The other 2, Incepta and Beximco have been accredited by EMEA (Austria) and TGA (Australia) respectively. These are based on the reports by The New Nation, Bangladesh’s Independent News Source.

Other Asian countries that is also making its dominance in the distribution of pharmaceutical products in the European markets are India, China and Malaysia. Asian Pharma from Malaysia is also a major exporter to Europe of Steroids. Even if there are some negative issues in the use of steroids, more pharmaceutical companies in Asia are still focusing on the manufacture of this products. They know that steroids will always have a good market.

Anyone who is an aficionado of sports would never be ignorant about the cases faced by baseball legend Barry Bonds, Cyclist Floyd Landis, Olympian Marion Jones, and Lance Armstrong. All of them are world-renowned and accomplished athletes who were linked to steroids use. It was not long enough when Jones faced the sentence for her doping violation by testing positive for steroids use in 2000 Olympics.

In connection with this, Tracee Loran suggests a debate on Democrasay.com about the legalization of Steroids in professional sports. As qouted from the statements of the later, technological advancements have brought the athletes into an advance level of their performance. Through the use of performance-enhancing drugs, they became stronger, faster, and more competitive. Then eventually, these athletes have started to earn big salaries without facing too much pressure in maintaining their performance during trainings.

If one will look up on the recent reports on steroids, the issue about the use of these performance-enhancing drugs among the athletes appears to be endless. According to the statement of Loran, steroids are hard to eliminate on the athletic landscape from the time it sprung; even random drug testing does not stop many athletes in taking the banned substances. In fact, Loran stated that performance enhancing drugs became directly synonymous to athletes, among professionals especially.

With this case, the debate poses several questions using the said notion above. The First question is “should steroids be allowed in professional sports to level the playing field?” “If yes, how should the individual Leagues govern the drug usage?” Lastly, “If no, what measures must the Leagues take to cripple steroid usage for good?” The issue about the legalization of steroid use in the athletic field has long been discussed. Another related news that link to this issue is the published article of Ed Bouchette on online Pittsburg Post Gazette just recently, which similarly posed a question whether it is proper to allow steroids in sports these days. “Should steroids use be permitted, monitored, and regulated by the NFL?” Bouchette also mentioned the reasons of many players why they use steroids. Some of these is the potency of steroids in preventing and overcoming injuries is an enough reason why these drugs should be allowed in the athletic field.

However, he explained in the later part of his article that steroids were actually found out to promote injuries instead of preventing them. He said that the capability of steroids in helping athletes to quickly recover from an injury is really true but that should not be the sole thing to be considered. As what was featured in many reports and as what was mentioned by many physicians, the use of steroids give out severe ill-health effects after some time of using the drugs. So, Bouchette said that steroids are not advisable to be used by the athletes. The fact that steroids are largely used by many people under the physician’s care to treat some of their health problems does not precisely mean that they can already be used by athletes without legal prescription.

So then, the answer to the seemingly endless argument is clear, steroids should not be allowed in sports for a very vital reason. These drugs, once taken without the guidance of the physician, bring more harm to one’s body gradually after providing a boost on one’s performance for some time.

For over 30 years already, steroids have been constantly used to help premature babies according to the report given by Jeff Lavine of WebMD Health News. Lavine’s report stated that steroids can give more benefits than by bulking up the body of some athletes. It helps the prematurely delivered babies to be safe from brain hemorrhage, lung injuries, and even death. In addition, mothers are also being helped by steroids when they are at risk in delivering their babies at an earlier time. In 1994, a panel of specialists gathered to determine the right dose of steroids that these women should get; and they suggested that one course of steroid treatment, which is equivalent to two shots, will do to lessen the lung problems that can possibly be acquired by the developing infants in mothers’ womb.

However, there is another claim that steroids can’t help protect the premature babies. The results of a new research found out that steroids benefits to an infant is a FALLACY. Mary Brophy Marcus of USA Today revealed in her report that steroids can actually harm the infants by killing their brain cells. This claim was stated by the scientists from Washington University School of Medicine located in St. Louis who disclosed the result of their research during the conference of the Society for Neuroscience in Washington D.C.

According to these scientists, a type of steroids drugs named glucocorticoids, which is usually used to strengthen the weak lungs of premature babies, was found out to cause harm to the cerebellums’ brain cells of baby mice. Cerebellum is the area of the brain that is responsible for balance and coordination. They also determined a timeframe wherein the brains of newborn babies are weak to the effects of steroids.

Study reveals that the brain cells of mice died after the treatments were provided four to 10 days after their delivery according to Kevin Noguchi, a postdoctoral member of the department of psychiatry in the University. So, they concluded that human babies can be endangered by the drugs from the time they have reached 20 weeks inside the womb up to six weeks after delivery.

Noguchi also explained that other studies revealed that the use of synthetic steroids, which called as dexamethasone, can cause cognitive problems and later motor problems in children. Unfortunately, despite of the results given from the previous research, glucocorticoid is still used at times by some physicians to mothers who are at risk for early deliveries. In fact, Noguchi gave an approximate that almost eight percent of infants with 3.3 pounds or less are still provided with these drugs. “Thousands of babies a year receive these drugs that can cause damage to the brain,” said by Noguchi.

The scientists also studied the pubescent mice that were given with glucocorticoids during their early infancy. And they found out that once they were exposed to the medication, even at once, their cerebellums are permanently damaged. Levine’s report also stated that doctors have been worried even before for the possible threats of steroids to infants who are taking these kinds of treatments. This worry was caused by the observed results to infants who were exposed to these drugs such as smaller heads and late development of vital motor skills.

Canby Police Chief Greg Kroeplin was placed on paid administrative leave after accusations on one of his officer’s misconduct, according to the City officials of Canby Oregon. The Associated Press (AP) reported that Kroeplin is currently under an investigation headed by the Canby city on his alleged covering-up or failure to examine the charge faced by one of his officers who was accused of buying and using steroids.

According to the city administrator, Kroeplin was ordered to take a paid administrative leave after the report published by The Oregonian, one of Oregon’s local newspapers. It was disclosed in the report that involvement of a police organization and one of Kroeplin’s officer to steroids use while on duty. Officials claimed that Kroeplin ignored the proof that reveals the purchasing and using of one of his officers of illegal performance enhancing drugs. The Oregonian also reported that the FBI is performing a public corruption investigation, which is focused on the concerned officer and the illegal drug. The published report said that the story is based on court records and search affidavits.

“The City of Canby takes seriously any allegation of employee misconduct,” uttered by the City administrator Mike Adcock in a prepared statement as reported by AP. “The City understands the importance that the community maintains the trust in the integrity of the Canby Police Department that it has worked so long and hard to earn over the years,” he added.

Meanwhile, KPTV.com also released a report saying that the case originally started last July when a suspect’s home was raided by the FBI agents and discovered several canisters of banned steroids. The arrested man immediately revealed to the Officials that he had been selling the illegal drugs to Jason Deason, former Canby officer who said to purchase steroids while still in uniform. KPTV.com also stated that the said informant asserted that the motorcycle cop Deason was often seen to drive in his uniform to get the drugs. And according to neighboring police agencies, they have warned Kroeplin about the issue on Deason’s drug use. Sources also added that Kroeplin was not seen to perform a follow-up on the accusations faced by Deason. Good thing, the FBI did.

KPTV.com also mentioned in its report that the FBI investigation exposed a close relationship between the police chief and Deason. Because of this, Deason can immediately inform his suppliers whenever there is an impending search warrant. This report has alarmed the people in Canby. They also said that the allegations can mark a big let down for the entire community. “This issue of using drugs to enhance people’s lives has been something that’s plagued an awful lot of society. So the fact that it would hit us here in Canby is not surprising, but it is very disappointing,” said by Canby local Jim Dodge.

Meantime, the report said that Canby police is in search of an outside agency to lead the investigation and discover the actual events that occurred. Canby Human Resources Director Amanda Clock gave out a report from the city saying: The city is taking any assertion of employee misconduct seriously; so, Kroeplin will stay on paid administrative leave until the end of the investigation.

“The City understands the importance that the community maintains the trust in the integrity of the Canby police Department that it has to work so long and hard to earn over the years. With this objective, the City administrator has ordered that the personnel investigation be carried out by an independent third-party entity as soon as possible. The city is said not to release any further comment about the issue until the result of the investigation is not yet achieved, said by Clock. “They’re supposed to be setting an example for everyone and picking up other people on steroids, I don’t think an officer should do it,” stated by Audrey Bettendorf, also a dweller near Canby.

Today, there is one man whose name is greatly resounding in the sports world, the Professor of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, Lee Sweeney. The intelligent man who revealed to the world his “mighty mice” that appears to be taking steroids but actually hadn’t. The report published by Simon Hart of Telegraph.co.uk revealed that Sweeney is receiving at least five to 10 emails each week from athletes continuously. According to Sweeney, this started when he first introduced his “mighty mice” in the American Society for Cell Biology conference almost 10 years ago. But until this time, he said that every time he is going to appear in an interview or issues an academic paper, an avalanche of emails as well as phone calls always follow.

According to Hart, the super-strong rodents of Sweeney appear with huge muscles that help in preserving their regenerative ability and strength even they have reached their old age already. Michael Dobie of New York Newsday explained that the primary purpose of Sweeney for this experiment is to increase muscles. And through his genetically engineered mice, he was able to give hope to individuals who are experiencing weakening muscles, especially to the elderly and to those people who are affected by crippling due to muscle-wasting diseases like muscular dystrophy.

However, to Sweeney’s surprise, many of those people who are seeking his formulated muscles are the ones who can be viewed as the healthiest people on earth — people from the world of sports. “Initially, I thought they were jokes,” said by Sweeney according to Dobie. “But no one was kidding. Athletes asked to undergo the procedure. A high school football coach wanted his entire team treated. And a college wrestling coach also made a similar request,” he added.

Moreover, Hart stated that the super-strong rodents of Sweeney were the product of his ground-breaking research into the technology of gene transfer. However, the implications of these were apparently perceived by the coaches and athletes. In fact, Sweeney said that one of them offered him $100,000 for the drug that the mice are getting. Sweeney also stated that he also got a request from a high school American football coach for the whole team he is handling to be genetically modified.

Sweeney explained that though he already told the people who are contacting him about the possible danger of performing gene therapy to humans this time, they always still insist to have it. “Even if I explain to them that to make it work might require all sorts of heroic measures, they basically say, ‘Fine, I’ll do it.’ And if it’s a matter of money, they’ll get the money.” Although, Sweeney said he still hasn’t received any call from prominent people. “I don’t get Barry Bonds calling me up. Some of them are from Europe while I also get quite a few from the UK and Germany,” he uttered.

Because of this, Dobie wrote in his featured article that the “mighty mice” of Sweeney can be viewed as the next big thing in performance enhancing. In fact, Gary Wadler, a member of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and a Manhasset-based specialist on performance-enhancing drugs, also uttered that “It’s probable that by 2012 there will be the first genetically modified athletes in the Olympic Games.” Corrigan Sports Enterprisers (CSE) also stated that once it happened “sports will be completely different and that can actually be the death of sport as we know it.”

The Sales Integrity Program (SIP), an organization that is managed by Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) and is devoted to educate both the thoroughbred buyer and seller at public sale, is reported by the bloodhorse.com to request 163 steroid screening.
According to the report, SIP released a data gathering the amount of exogenous anabolic steroid screening as well as the submission of ownership registry for the Keeneland, Ocala Breeder’s Sales (OBS) Co., and Fasig-Tipton to both summer and fall sales for yearling. The data given to TOBA by the three mentioned companies presents the totality of horses screened for exogenous anabolic steroids along with the equivalent results of the screening and the figure of submissions to the registry of ownership with the equivalent figure of registry for ownership inquiries. The data is also reported to be inclusive of Fasig-Tipton’s yearling sale during fall in Lexington, Ky.

Furthermore, it was also explained on the report that from a total number of 6,230 yearlings traded for nine sales, 163 of them were screened for exogenous anabolic steroids. And one among the 163 horses that were screened tested positive for the drug, which was returned from the OBS sale in August. It was clarified though that the positive finding did not end in a return since the buyer keeps the horse ownership.

The information was said to be willingly submitted to the registry of ownership with a number of 1,257 horses; and there were also two examinations conducted to observe the registry of ownership. OBS, unfortunately, does not offer a registry of ownership.

The same story was published at TheHorse.com, which serves in presenting health news and veterinarian-supported information for equine health. The story presents the statement of the Chairman of the Sales Integrity Monitoring Committee, D.G. Van Clief Jr., saying: “This data gives us an interesting but preliminary indication of how the market is responding to our reform measures.The good news is probably that activity levels don’t indicate high levels of concern amongst participants. Nonetheless, we will continue to monitor the markets closely to ensure that they are operating with the utmost integrity,” he added.

Now, the report said that OBS was the foremost sale company this year to start screening for anabolic steroids at two-year-old sales. OBS was reported to screen 53 out of 1,558 figures of two-year-old yearlings traded this year. Fortunately, not a single horse was tested positive for the drug. Meanwhile, Fasig-Tipton and Keeneland will be the first ones to start screening steroids at their two-year-old sales in 2009.

Additionally, report said that the screening to both yearlings and weanlings for exogenous anabolic steroids including the registry of ownership were organized to be included as new terms of sale by Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton as a product of the suggestions of the SIP Task Force a year ago. The task force was reported to create a bloodstock agent code of character to be imposed and a recent list of intolerable practices. It was also mentioned in the report the introduction of the Web site of TOBA for the program of SIP in July next year, which further illustrates the sale code of ethics.