University of Michigan former defensive, Rondell Biggs, was acquitted by a jury on a felony charge of illegal possession of steroids according to the report published by John Heuser of The Ann Arbor News. Report stated that the jury of Washtenaw County Circuit Court deliberated for 15 minutes before Biggs was declared not guilty based on the statement given by defense attorney Marc Lakin. “It’s good that he cleared his name,” Lakin stated. ”He’s always been a clean athlete, and he didn’t want his reputation tarnished.”

Biggs was dragged into this controversy last January when police discovered 10 yellow pills in the middle console of his vehicle located in a bag that had a label saying it contained 50 pills. At that time, he was arrested on a traffic violation according to the report published by The Ann Arbor News. The pills were later discovered to be stanozolol, a synthetic anabolic steroid drug intended to help users in reducing fat while maintaining lean muscle mass. The same drug that was used by Ben Johnson, which caused him to lose his gold medal in the 100 meters run in 1988 Summer Olympics.

This case was clarified by Lankin by saying that the steroids were said to be “weight-loss pills” by the person who gave the steroids to Biggs. Lankin added that “the jury definitely felt that there was not enough evidence to convince them that he knowingly possessed a steroid.”

Biggs faced court hearings on the felony charge for illegal possession of steroids during the past months, which were similarly covered by The Ann Arbor News. Their report last August also stated that Biggs was in Michigan supporting with the conditioning and training of the U-M football team before he was found out to possess the illegal drugs.

However, Dave Ablauf, U-M football spokesperson cleared out that Biggs was only employed by them as an hourly worker by the football staff of U-M under the previous head coach Lloyd Carr. But Biggs was not retained when conditioning coach Mike Barwis with coach Rich Rodriguez took over the program after the bowl game of UM last Jan 1.

Because of the allegations, Biggs was charged with $2,000 felony charge last April 7. He was also arraigned last Aug.1 in the 14-A District Court, wherein he was released on personal recognizable bond that amount to $10,000.

This time, Lakin said that Biggs will pursue his career as strength and conditioning coach. However, the attorney said he is not really certain if Biggs would apply for the reinstatement of his hourly wage job with the athletic department of Michigan in strength and conditioning program. Biggs began with 18 games during his career at Michigan. This already includes the entire 13 as a senior in 2006. He also had 16 tackles with six sacks as well. And in 2007, he signed a free agent NFL bond with the Carolina Panthers; although it was waived due to an injury settlement in the same year.

After all the tell-tales, denials, and hesitations, one brave man finally stood up and admitted his steroid use. The former MSU football player in the person of Tony Mandarich said that he indeed used steroid and cheated on steroid test given in conjunction with the 1988 Rose Bowl wherein the Spartans were proclaimed as the winner.

For those who do not know, Mandarich was a former offensive lineman for the famous MSU during the late 1980s and he was selected by the Green Bay Packers as the No. 2 Pick in the concluded NFL Draft during the year 1988. During his heydey, he was known as the “Incredible Bulk”, but now he is faced with much shame and disgrace after confirming the steroid use and the Rose Bowl steroid test. Mandrich revealed his fearless confession during an interview with Showtime’s “Inside the NFL” that was aired Wednesday at 9 p.m. And to shed further clarification on the issue, he will be releasing a book explaining every detail of his steroid use.

Although this confession cast intrigue and doubt to other players, Mandarich denied that other MSU football players had also cheated on their drug test because he said that he simply cannot speak for everyone else. But then again, with him as a former football player on the spotlight, he can’t help but drag the name of other players who are also being implicated in the steroid issue.

After Mandarich’s bare-all confession, other players would probably start cleaning their own names to prevent their careers from getting dragged into the controversy. It is not really clear why Mandarich admitted to his steroid use, but one thing is for sure and that is the fact that the confession will have a great impact on the 1988 Rose Bowl Title. When other people were asked about the issue, they do not have anything to say since they said that they would rather stay silent about it than create more intrigue and controversies.

Even Paul Dee, who is the vice chairman of the NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions, declined to give his comment on the procedures and investigations being done by the committee. He further stressed that he is not aware of Mandarich’s personal battle.

To note back history, Mandarich was never declared as ineligible for the Rose Bowl simply because he never failed the drug test even once. He always has the reputation because he passed the drug test legally, then he is eligible. And although a lot of messages were given in order to ask MSU Athletics Director Mark Hollis, other member of the MSU’s athletics compliance department and various member of the NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions in terms of the impact of Mandarich’s admittance, none of them gave a even a single testimony.

“I worked extremely hard to get to this point in my career and now I have this attached to my name, even though I’m 100 percent innocent,” Sherk uttered.

Sean Sherk is still compulsive when it comes to his health. Up to now, in case he sees someone lighting up a cigarette in a car situated in front of him, he will immediately move to another lane so he could be as far away from second-hand smoke as possible.

The former UFC lightweight champion also said that although his behavior may look cynical to some people, a through and through health buff is who he really is. He said that he wants to uphold this health fanatic image more than anything else, to the point of not caring whether people find him goofy.

However, Sherk is at the same time concerned that his reputation has been tainted owing to the much-publicized case of anabolic steroid nandrolone which was found in his urine after the routine postfight urinalysis test. Sherk had just successfully defeated the famous Hermes Francaa at the UFC 73 in Sacramento California when the tests were ordered.

Up until now, Sherk is still denying the issue and claiming innocence. In fact, he has spent more than $20,000 in his futile effort to clear out his name.

In December, the California State Athletic Commission gave its final verdict despite having stepped in to lessen the suspension that executive officer Armando Garcia gave him. From one year, it was reduced to 6 months suspension.

Garcia said that they do not have any clue how the steroid got into the body of Sherk although he said that he was convinced that there is really a presence of steroid on the urine and he believed that the commission treated Sherk’s case as fair as possible. “The one thing I am absolutely convinced about is that he had nandrolone in his body when he fought Hermes Franca,” said Garcia.

However, Sherk can’t seem to have a full grip of the issue, up to know he is still angry about the steroid case and is consistently denying everything. But he could not account for the three tests that found him positive for the presence of nandrolone.

Together with his attorney Howard Jacobs, Sherk even gave a packet of evidence to the commission with the aim that it would exonerate him. He said that the evidence is just a carryover from all the previous tests on the machines that were employed to test his urine. “The three tests that were done before mine all tested positive (for steroids),” the player said. “They are supposed to clean the machine, which they did, but there was still carryover. That’s documented”, he further stressed.

He said that Jacobs’ investigation revealed that there had been some sort of contamination in a supplement he was taking. He even argued the point that he tested negative in a blood test, but failed in the urinalysis, given the fact that the former is more conclusive and reliable than the latter when it comes to determining the presence of steroids.

Sherk also said that he was able to pass various polygraph examinations.

Kevin Wayne Tanner, the proprietor of Illusion Labs, also popular as the Canadian underground steroid lab (UGL),is likely to plead guilty to the charges pressed against him. His name was back on the provincial court docket in Bridgewater last week to arrange a pre-trial conference between the Crown, defense and a judge. Tanner’s scheduled trial was set on January 12, 13 and 14. However, the case will be back on the docket on January 7 to determine if a pre-trial conference is needed.

Tanner’s lawyer, Alan Ferrier told reporters that the case may not proceed to trial as scheduled in January. Moreover, he expects that there will be positive developments on the case. Ferrier said that When the case comes before the court in January, Mr. Tanner will likely enter guilty pleas to some of the charges he faces. He also suggested for a joint recommendation on sentence or the sentence may be contested, requiring one or both sides to call evidence.”The issues that may be in dispute are factual issues. They’re not legal issues,” Ferrier added.

Some of the charges filed against Kevin Tanner are under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, the Customs Act and the Food and Drug Act involving raw hormones, steroids and counteracting drugs he was allegedly importing, producing and selling over the internet. With these charges, Tanner would be getting heavier sanctions and penalties.

Tanner may pay penalties of up to $500,000 and 5 years in prison for charges related to violations of the Customs Act and penalties of up to three years in prison for charges related to violations of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

Based from the records, it is estimated that the steroids, raw hormone products, and lab equipment found in Tanner’s home is worth $400,000. Another $46,000 cash was also found by the authorities when they searched Tanner’s home in late January 2007.

Moreover, Tanner allegedly used false names, fake addresses, postal outlets and courier companies to buy raw hormone products from China over the internet. These raw product are then processed into anabolic steroids in a lab set up in a spare bedroom in his home and sold to customers across Canada and the United States under the brand name Illusion Laboratories.

During the search on his home, the authorities found 21 types of steroids and four drugs to counteract the side effects of steroid use. He sold his products in internet chat rooms and on message boards.

Aside from steroid related charges, Kevin Tanner also faces other charges which is set on a separate trial on February 3. The allegations are connected with child pornography and accessing a computer in late January 2007 after being ordered not to as a term of his release.

Who does not know Mary J. Blige? She is a Grammy winner and the artist behind the famous Family Affair song. However, all of the fame and recognition given to her will soon vanish because she and some A-list celebrities is being targeted by the state-wide steroid investigation.

Over the past years, Blige has been repeatedly identified as among those entertainers that allegedly use performance enhancing drugs - the most recent of which was by the Albany Times Union on Sunday. But as expected, her camp vehemently denied the issue. “Mary J. Blige has never taken any performance-enhancing illegal steroids,” thus reacted Karynne Tencer, who is the singer’s spokesperson in an interview conducted by the Daily News.

Blige leads a roster of entertainers in the probe given by Albany Country District Attorney David Soares, reported the Times Union. She joins rappers 50 Cent, Wyclef Jean and Timbaland and actor Tyler Perry who were also said to have ordered steroids or other kinds of human growth hormone from doctors and pharmacists that were the object of Soares’ investigation.

However, despite the accusations, authorities have yet to uncover a single piece of solid evidence pointing that the celebrity had in fact violated any drug law. On the other hand, Timbaland, 50 Cent, Jean, and Perry never even gave a comment.

The Times Union, for its part,maintains that credible sources have revealed that Blige and the other stars would sometimes make use of fake names in order to receive prescriptions that were issued by Dr. Gary Brandwein of Florida. Brandwein is an osteopath, who was also reported before to be the doctor who gave steroids to Chris Benoit. This is the pro wrestler who made a name in the history because he reportedly killed his wife, son and himself. As of this writing, the doctor has a pending trial in Albany on many drug charges.

But why would entertainers make use of steroids in the first place? Well, the unproven anti-aging effects of steroids has created a great temptation to entertainers and celebrities - who engage in the never-ending quest to preserve their youth and vitality.

The Soares’ investigation, however, is primarily directed at cutting the steroids pipeline by simply cracking down on the suppliers whom Soares compares to modern-day cocaine dealers. As of press time, 10 people have already pleaded guilty to felony charges involving steroids; and this is made up ofthe operators and three doctors of anti-aging clinics situated in Texas, Florida and New York,respectively.

The problem on steroids and other illegal drugs is at its peak right now; “pretty much anyone with a computer can go out and obtain … things that shouldn’t be obtained without the control or observation of a treating physician,” said Soares.

A new book on steroid was published recently by Dr. Jesse Haggard, the doctor who is currently under federal investigation for illegally prescribing anabolic steroids. He was even forced to surrender his license to the Arizona Board of Naturopathic Medical Examiners. Dr. Haggard admitted the charges against him. He said that he only tried to help people by practicing medicine.

Dr. Jesse Haggard is the former medical director of Revolution Medical Centers in Phoenix Arizona where they prescribe illegal steroids to patients and other clients. Other doctors in the  clinic are also under investigation. Other charges filed against Haggard includes altering medical records and failure to maintain adequate patient files.

In a report from ABC15.com, some of their staff even went undercover just to prove that the clinic is prescribing illegal steroids. ABC15 Investigators were able to purchase more than $2,000 in anabolic steroids and human growth hormone.

Dr Haggard’s book Demystifying Steroids uncovers the “other side” of anabolic steroids and their possible benefits using real case examples from thousands of patients and medical research. This book empowers the reader to discover a new truth about anabolic steroids for themselves. The book was organized in 2 sections. The first part discusses steroid use in medicine and sports.  He challenged the popular beliefs about anabolic steroids and includes the dangers of steroid use.  Dr. Haggard presents case examples which includes the unfamiliar benefits of steroids in cancer, multiple sclerosis, women, and HIV. He gave assessments and recommendation of the effect on professional sports and on the medical use of steroids.
 
The second part covers a more technical approach and is intended for those who wants to achieve a greater understanding of the medical research and clinical pearls of anabolic steroid therapies. it includes some historical and current medical literature regarding prostate cancer, intervention models of anabolic steroids and the subsequent effect on disease prevalence are projected using this information. He also described clinical methods for achieving the greatest clinical outcomes and reducing or eliminating many potential adverse effects of anabolic steroid treatments.

The book is now available online and cost $36.99. An excerpt from the book is given below.

“Steroids” has been a strong topic for the media for several years now, and the topic continues to grow in popularity. Although “steroids” is a broad topic, the media has mainly focused on the subtopic of anabolic steroid use among professional athletes. A great debate exists currently in the public and medical community in regard to the legitimate medical use of anabolic steroids in general and in professional sports. Since the media thrives on the conflict, the media’s influence is directed at further propagating the debate, rather than to help resolve it. Despite the media’s charade, the true source of the debate, in my opinion, is a failure to communicate.

A void exists in the data presented in this debate that may hinder good communication and the potential for societal resolution. There seem to be major differences among the demographics of the players on both sides of the debate and hence the type of data used by both sides to analyze the situation. Simply put, no one is comparing “apples to apples,” and the lack of each side’s willingness to appreciate the other’s paradigm creates a stalemate. In general, the people who are actively against steroid use are more conservative and well-educated members of the medical community. However, their education about steroids is more derived from books, reports and medical hearsay rather than personal experience or firsthand observation of steroids’ effects on people. There seems to be a large component of fear involved in their perception. The medical literature they reference is usually not as ironclad as one may expect from well-educated professionals in regard to the dangers of steroids. A typical person who is a proponent of steroid use for legitimate medical purposes usually has personal experience using steroids firsthand or through someone they know. Supporters of steroid use have demystified steroids and usually respect their power but do not fear them. The people who are advocates of steroid use are not commonly members of the medical community and seem to lack organization and medical research to support their viewpoint in comparison with the antisteroid advocates.

I present this manuscript to provide a point of view that encompasses both medical expertise and a large amount of firsthand observation. I have no agenda or financial interest to declare for the topics presented in this text. I present the concepts I have found through my clinical experience and research as plainly as possible, while minimizing speculation. I hope to provide data that may serve to find truth, balance or compromise to this current debate. Lastly, I look forward to uncovering further possibilities that are concealed in steroids.

In my opinion, every woman and man should be aware of this available medicine, or medical tool, per se, in case a time arises or a current situation exists in which using steroids may improve their health condition. The knowledge contained in this text may be motivating enough for one to seek out a practitioner who specializes in steroids.  For people who currently use steroids, this text may offer information to help guide them to achieve the best results possible.”