Jan 29 2010
NBA Players Not Spared From Steroid Controversy
The major league is dominating the headlines for a few weeks now because of the admission of Mark McGwire that he used steroids during the peak of his career. But other sports organizations are coming into the picture because of revelations of steroid dealers that it is not only the major league players but NBA players were also among those frequent customers of their steroid products. There are a few basketball players who were reported sanctioned by the association because of their involvement in banned substances but the number is minimal as compared to baseball, football and athletics.
The minimal number may be due to the effective anti-doping policy of the league or players were able to circumvent their existing policies. Last year, Dallas Mavericks owner commented that he personally favors steroids use in sports but only draws criticism. His statement was in connection with the suspension of Orlando Magic Rashard Lewis for testosterone use. Dwayne Wade was also accused of using steroids by business partners but the allegations stemmed from their business problems. Wade denied using any performance enhancing drugs and the NBA did not make any action to investigate the star player.
The basketball association is firm on its stand that steroid use is not rampant among their players. But the reputation of the association could become questionable if the accusations of former steroid dealers and whistleblowers were true. During an interview with ESPN’s TJ Quinn, Curtis Wenzlaff said that his customers were not confined in baseball and football but it also include basketball. Wenzlaff was convicted for selling and distributing illegal steroids to professional athletes. Some of his clients were Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire. According to Wenzlaff he worked with “25 to 30″ college and professional athletes, from Major League Baseball, the NFL and NBA. He personally prepares “steroid recipes” to these athletes for them to achieve better performance in their field of endeavor. “When I took on a client, not only did I write them workouts; I worked out with them. I wrote them a diet to the point where it was so refined that I wrote what to eat and what time to eat,” he says. “If I took you on, you agreed to do what I said. You came to me to become bionic,” Wenzlaff said.
When asked to name these players, Wenzlaff replied that he is not ready to reveal their names. Instead he told Quinn that the details will be included in the book which he planned to write.
Kirk Radomski, another steroid whistleblower aside from Jose Canseco, also wrote in his steroid book that he sold performance enhancing drugs to an NBA player for several years. Radomski also added that based on his information, numerous NBA players were also into steroids. Radomski was one of the key personalities who helped the congressional inquiry regarding the rampant steroid use in baseball.
In the statement given to ESPN, NBA spokesman Mike Bass said refutes the claims that they are facing the same dilemma with the major league. “We have no comment about an allegation that an unnamed player bought steroids,” he said. “But we have a comprehensive random-testing program for steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs. A handful of NBA players have been disciplined for failing tests for what the NBA calls SPEDS (steroids or performance enhancing drugs). But by and large it has been assumed that the League does not have this problem -even as players have been getting bigger, faster and stronger,” Bass added.


































































[...] more from the original source: steroidsources.com » NBA Players Not Spared From Steroid Controversy Share and [...]