Greg Stejskal, with over 30 years stay in the FBI, headed a landmark investigation in the steroid distribution called Operation Equine. Along with Stejskal is a fellow retired agent Bill Randall. The said investigation started from 1989-1993 and led to over 70 steroid-related convictions and exposed big names in sports including baseball players Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco. In 1994, he even warned the Major League Baseball (MLB) on the escalating steroid problem but was only taken for granted. And five years ago, the Daily News featured an exclusive story of McGwire’s steroid use. Two FBI agents even attested that Curtis Wenzlaff was McGwire’s dealer.

In his account to the investigation, Stejskal wrote that over 20 years ago, he met with Michigan’s football coach Bo Schembechler to discuss the coach’s concern on the growing use of steroids by football players. According to him, Schembechler was not only concerned about college players but high school players as well that he was seeing in Michigan’s summer instructional camp. During the meeting, Mike Gittleson, Michigan strength coach, was also present. The coach even asked Stejskal on what was being done to enforce the law. At that time, steroids have been made a felony under the federal law. Stejskal promised Schembechler to investigate on the matter.

After the probe, the retired FBI agent discovered that nothing was being done and therefore proposed a limited undercover operation to the drug unit at FBI headquarters. FBI administrators however did not see that steroids could pose a serious problem and was originally planned to be only a local initiative. As the operation progressed, Operation Equine became an international case, which resulted to 70 convictions and the seizure of over 10 million dosage units of steroids. FBI agents worked with Canadian Police and the Canadian Parliament even amended the statutes governing steroids and included veterinary steroids.

Curtis Wenzlaff was the highly publicized supplier of steroids as he delivered them to several Major League players. He supplied steroids to Northern District of California where he lives. The District’s US Attorney’s office however declined to prosecute him in 1992 stating that they did not view steroid dealing as a serious offense. After the end of the undercover operation in 1994, Stejskal shared the gathered information obtained from Wenzlaff on MLB with Kevin Hallinan, Director for Security of MLB. Hallinan also expressed his knowledge in the league’s steroid problem but since the players could not be tested, did not think that there was much that they could do about the problem.

In his account, Stejskal wrote, “all of us who were involved in Equine take pride in what we accomplished. We overcame many obstacles to develop an unprecedented UC operation that is still the most successful case of its kind. I often wonder how things would have been different had MLB acted on our warning. (In 2005 MLB even denied we warned them, and they have never unequivocally admitted that we did warn them.)”

Stejskal also would like to set the record straight that the Operation Equine was the first major federal initiative to target the illegal distribution of steroids and not BALCO as what was reported by the New York Times. “I sent an E-mail to the New York Times a few weeks ago expressing my concerns, but haven’t yet received a reply,” he wrote.

The UFC Hall of Famer, Ken Shamrock is eyeing for a return in the ring after a respite from MMA. He was busted for anabolic steroids last year when he fought Ross Clifton at War Gods: “Valentine’s Eve Massacre”. He made an impressing win through an armbar submission during the first round but was later found using 3 different kinds of steroids. The California State Athletic Commission found in his system 19-Noretiocholanolone, 19-Norandrosterone, and Stanozolol which were all banned by the sports organization. These 3 positives caused his 1 year suspension and was given a fine of $2,500. He was also banned in participating in any UFC event.

His comeback was made public when it was announced through twitter that the “world’s most dangerous man” will be fighting at IUF (International Unlimited Fighting) on March 6 at Cancun, Mexico. He will be fighting against Seth Petruzelli who posted in twitter that the WBO belt is at stake in the big fight. The match-up will last for 5 rounds and MMA fans can watch it live via satellite through PPV.

Seth “The Silverback” Petruzelli is also planning for a UFC comeback after his back-to-back losses to Matt Hamill and Wilson Gouveia. He has only one fight this year at Art of Fighting 4 where he stopped Chris Baten. Petruzelli becomes a sensation when he knocked down brawler Kimbo Slice with a fade away jab. On the other hand, Ken Shamrock supposed fight against Kimbo Slice in Elite XC in 2008 was canceled due to an injury he sustained during warm-ups.

Mixed martial arts fanatics will surely watch this match-up to see if Ken Shamrock is still in shape after long break from the cage and prove that he is still the world’s most dangerous man. Another thing that fans will ask is if he already learned his lesson from taking steroids. These two fighters, Ken Shamrock (27-13-2) and Seth Petruzelli (11-4), will try their luck at the International Unlimited Fighting (IUF: “The Return of Buluc”) and want to show that they can still be a fighter worth watching at UFC.

Meanwhile, the Tennessee Athletic Commission, through its director Jeff Mullen, told the media that the tests of UFC 107 fighters were all clean. The 22 fighters who competed in that event did not fail any test for steroids and other recreational drugs like cocaine and marijuana. The UFC’s 107 main event is the clash between two best fighters. The fight was dominated by the lightweight division champion BJ “The Prodigy” Penn. He was able to defend his title against the number one contender Diego “Nightmare” Sanchez. Heavyweight champion Frank Mir was also successful in achieving his 3rd title against Cheick Kongo.

According to the Tennessee Athletic Commission (TAC), 4 of the 22 competitors were tested for banned substances. BJ Penn, the current lightweight champion and Diego Sanchez, the challenger, both returned negative results. Two other fighters were also subjected to random tests, welterweights Jon Fitch and Mike Pierce. UFC 107 was held last December 12 at the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tenn.

The investigation regarding the online pharmacy in Mobile has lasted for more than three years. And years after, the charge on 10 men in steroids conspiracy is set to start this week. Chief U.S. District Judge Ginny Granade already concluded the last-minute logistical issues and gave prosecutors a good chance since she decided to allow them to present evidence on the alleged history of Colorado’s businessmen on steroids.

Brett Branch is one of the 12 people named in the 198-count indictment. Branch runs a health company that authorities allege to have illegally sold steroids. One defendant had already pleaded guilty and another will be tried later this year.

Based on the investigation, Branch and business owners are recruiting doctors to write fake prescriptions for anabolic steroids, which Applied Pharmacy Services provide. Authorities also revealed that the said pharmacy where Branch once worked as a salesman, filled prescriptions outside legal parameters.

Meanwhile, Dennis Knizley, Branch’s attorney, would like to bar the testimony of Branch’s ex-wife. According to her, Branch used testosterone in high school in the 1980s. The ex-wife’s testimony also state that the accused gave money to people to buy steroids from Mexico between 1994 and 1997, and injected his two minor children with human growth hormone. According to Branch’s lawyer, Tracy Branch’s testimony would be irrelevant and would unfairly prejudice the jury.

Judge Granade already told the prosecutors not to raise the said allegations in the opening statement. The judge would also withhold a final ruling on the testimony after hearing questions that prosecutors ask. However, the testimony appears to be relevant, Granade added. Lead prosecutor Donna Dobbins contends that the testimony of Branch’s ex-wife is crucial in establishing a pattern with regards to Branch’s involvement with steroids such as his public advocacy of the muscle-building drug and his claim to be an expert. Dobbins said that Branch uses steroid himself. “He suffered side effects from the abuse of the drugs, himself. This isn’t something new for him… This is who he is.”

Prosecutors also intend to introduce further evidence such as invoices and other documents, substances seized from Branch’s home and wiretaps to nail Branch and bring him to jail. Secretly recorded conversations reveal that J. Michael Bennett, Applied Pharmacy’s supervising pharmacist, admitting his acts and part-owner Jason Kelley coordinating it.

Granade also refused to prohibit testimony from Paul Doering, professor at the University of Florida’s College of Pharmacy and Dr. Gary Wadler, who practices sports and internal medicine in Manhasset, N.Y. and serves as a professor of clinical medicine at New York University School of Medicine. Defense lawyers on the other hand argued that Wadler’s report improperly drew legal conclusions on the guilt of the pharmacists. They also argued that Doering is not qualified to testify on different matters such as doctor-patient relations and whether the prescribed steroids for medical purposes are safe. Granade will be waiting until Doering testifies to rule on objections to questions as they are made.

Even after rigorous questioning by lawmakers, they still could not concoct any proof on the connection between football head injuries and brain disease. US Representatives in Congress repeatedly asked Dr. Ira Casson, former co-chairman of the NFL’s panel on head injuries and a neurologist in New York on the matter. The doctor’s only answer is that there is no valid, reliable or scientific evidence that causes long-term brain damage due to repeated head impacts.

Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Calif, even compared the NFL’s stance to tobacco companies who denied the connection of smoking and lung disease. She said that it is ridiculous for the doctor to say that concussions do not cause long-term cognitive problems. The congresswoman added that even ordinary people would know the effects of repeated blows. According to Sanchez, NFL’s concussion committee was formed in 1994 and said, “it seems to me that the NFL has literally been dragging its feet on this issue until the past few years.” “Why did it take 15 years?”

Casson claims that there have been flaws in the head-injury studies that were recently conducted including some funded by the NFL. He said that he strongly disagree with the position that the scientific evidence is already conclusive and further research is no longer needed. Casson also added that more research must be undertaken on the effects of performance-enhancing drugs on the brains of football players. Lawmakers also questioned other witnesses on the possible steroid links. Since performance enhancing drugs are commonly used by players in football, its effects to the brain are also being look into. This issue is also similar to the allegations that most hip injuries of professional athletes were primarily caused by performance enhancing drugs.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was not present during the hearing which was held on the campus of Wayne State University. Last October, he was already questioned regarding the concussion policies of the league. NFL has already formulated stricter return-to-play guidelines for players who show concussion symptoms. The league has required each team to enlist an independent neurologist as an adviser, entered into a partnership with Boston University brain researchers who have been critical of the league’s stance on concussions, and conducted tests on helmets. The validity of those tests was questioned by witnesses at the hearing.

Casson also questioned the merits of the new guidelines of the league regarding the independent neurologist mandate. He has doubts on the expertise of the neurologists and questioned if their opinions are going to be independent and reliable. Also present in the Monday’s hearing is Joseph Maroon, a team doctor for the Pittsburgh Steelers and a current member of the NFL concussion committee. Sanchez asked Maroon on what took the NFL a long time to bring about the rule changes. “I dispute your position that nothing has been done since 1994,” is Maroon’s only reply.

Meanwhile, West Virginia University brain researcher Bennet Oamalu, testified it “has been established since the early 20th century” that repeated blows to the head cause damage. Executive director DeMaurice Smith of the NFL Players Association , also told Congress that NFL has not shared the injury data it collected from every player from 2006-2008. Another witness, West Virginia University brain researcher Bennet Oamalu, testified that it “has been established since the early 20th century” that repeated blows to the head cause damage.

With this hearing, lawmakers and the league’s official should come up with new guidelines and policies to protect the welfare of the players. If indeed steroids and head injuries cause brain damage to football players, an immediate action is needed.

It was in 2007 where a Florida compounding pharmacy was raided by a multi-task force for allegedly prescribing HGH to professional athletes, bodybuilders, celebrities and other clients. The owners and operators of the Signature Compounding Pharmacy were charged in the Albany County Court but were later dismissed. The respondents and pharmacist-owners Stanley and Naomi Loomis filed their own charges against the federal agents and Albany prosecutors in a federal court in Orlando. They argued that the raiding team violated their civil rights. The owners also laments that their business was destroyed because of malicious prosecution and wrongful arrests.

The series of raids against pharmacies involved in the distribution of anabolic steroids, human growth hormone and other banned substances were part of the government’s action against illegal importation and distribution. The Operation Raw Deal which is composed of different federal agencies is an example of the government’s effort to curtail illegal activities involving regulated drugs. Several store owners and inviduals were already charged in court in this multi-state campaign. The authorities were alarmed on the volume of HGH imported from other countries particularly China. Anabolic steroids and HGH were commonly imported in raw form and then processed locally by underground laboratories. It is sold in the market through pharmacies and health supplement stores without FDA’s approval. Clients are also inclined to purchase HGH and steroids online from these distributors which may cause health risks to the users.

The Albany County district attorney filed an appeal in an effort to prove the involvement of Signature Compounding Pharmacy in a wider network of illegal importation and distribution of HGH. According to state attorneys, the pharmacy was linked to another HGH case in Rhode Island. They are hoping that the appellate court will reinstate the criminal charges against the pharmacy owners which were dismissed by Judge Stephen W. Herrick in 2008. In the report of the Times Union, Stanley Loomis invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination in refusing to answer questions during a deposition by defense attorneys which included Loomis’ dealings with Victor Martin Effron.

Effron was involved in the smuggling and distribution of human growth hormone. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to facilitate the sale of smuggled goods, smuggling, distribution of human growth hormone and money laundering. Based on the court records acquired by the Times Union, Signature Compounding Pharmacy was referred to as Pharmacy X who contracted Victor Effron to facilitate the importation of HGH from China. “Pharmacy X was a licensed pharmacy located in Orlando, Florida. Pharmacy X contracted Effron to facilitate the smuggling of HGH from GPC in China to Florida,” as stated in the court records. It was between 2004 and 2007 when Effron acted in behalf of Pharmacy X to illegally import more than $690,000 worth of HGH from China. The owner of the GeneScience Pharmaceutical Co. of Hongkong who supplied the HGH, was also indicted for felony charges but the case is still pending.

Court records also showed how Pharmacy X and Effron took steps to conceal the origin of the HGH that was being imported from China. The prosecutors argued that the two knew that HGH manufactured by GPC was not an approved drug, that it was on the FDA seizure list, and Effron was not a licensed wholesale drug distributor.

Some of the prominent people who allegedly bought from the pharmacy include Mary J. Blige and former New England Patriots Rodney Harrison. Blige denied purchasing HGH from the said pharmacy but the latter admitted receiving the drug. Human growth hormones are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It can only be used with a doctor’s prescription. Its use is becoming popular because of its anti-aging effects and is believed to rejuvenate muscles.

The investigation of a Canadian doctor for his involvement in distributing HGH or human growth hormone revealed some of his prominent patients from the field of sports. The first name linked to Dr. Anthony Galea was the possible use of steroids or HGH of Tiger Woods. Woods who is now on indefinite leave from golf was one of the patients of Dr. Galea. He was treated with platelet-rich plasma therapy when he suffered an injury last year. Although the treatment was not illegal, the involvement of the doctor to illegal performance enhancing drugs raised the suspicion that the best golfer in the world was also treated with steroids.

News agencies did not stop probing the long list of clients of the prominent doctor of professional athletes. Dr. Galea admitted that many professional athletes from the different major sports organization in the country asked his medical advice and underwent treatment for injuries. Some clients even call him the “Miracle Man” because of the high success rate of his therapy. Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy may be new to some people but it is popular in the field of sports since it speeds up the recovery of athletes from injuries. The process involves extracting blood and putting it on a centrifuge to separate platelets. It is then injected back to the patient to promote healing.

Of course, the major league baseball will not be left behind if we talk about performance enhancing drugs. The New York Times reported that Mets shortstop Jose Reyes is also on the list of Dr. Galea. Reyes suffered from a leg injured last year and went to Toronto to receive PRP treatment from the doctor. His agent, Peter Greenberg suggested it to the team to address the condition of Reyes which was diagnosed as a torn hamstring tendon. The Mets initially has apprehension on the procedure but later agreed provided that a medical representative from the team is also present during the treatment. They want to be sure that the treatment will not include any drug banned by the league.

If there are positive claims on the effects of Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy, Reyes’ condition did not improve. According to Greenberg, the treatment from Dr. Galea did not help his ward. “We did do due diligence and checked up on all his references. He came highly recommended from all the different doctors we spoke to and the references we followed up on. Unfortunately, it didn’t work,” said Greenberg. The two-time All-Star was not seen in action in the 2009 season since he underwent a surgery for an aggravated hamstring injury while on rehabilitation. It is expected that he will be back on the spring training.

Other baseball players who went to Dr. Galea for medical treatment were reliever Huston Street of Oakland Athletics and pitcher John Patterson of the Washington Nationals. Street received extensive oxygen therapy for an irritated ulnar nerve in his right elbow. Patterson was also suffering from a nerve problem when he went to Canada for treatment in 2007. The consultation with Dr. Galea was recommended by their agents, Randy and Alan Hendricks. “Our understanding was that Dr. Galea was a well-known doctor in Canada who had worked extensively with well known professional tennis players, football players and hockey players,” said Randy.

Sprinter Donovan Bailey and swimmer Dara Torres were also named as clients of the doctor. Although there were numerous professional athletes linked to Dr. Anthony Galea, he denied prescribing illegal substances like anabolic steroids and HGH to athletes. He told the media that he personally use HGH and only prescribed HGH to patients over 40. He is now facing charges for illegal distribution of performance enhancing drugs like HGH and Actovegin.