As schedule III substances, purchase of testosterone and anabolic steroids requires a doctor’s prescription. These drugs have been used to treat many medical conditions but it is sometimes misused by athletes and bodybuilders. One of the uses of testosterone is in the treatment of abnormal hormone levels in the body. Anabolic steroids have been a perennial problem in major leagues and even in Olympics.

Although the use of testosterone and other performance enhancing drugs were popular in sports, the demand for these drugs for personal use is also on the rise. Even professionals practicing in the field of health and nutrition are also tempted to use this drug because of the benefits they can get. In Bradenton, Fl., an owner of a health clinic was arrested by the authorities for purchasing testosterone from a pharmacy in Ft. Lauderdale.

The case of the chiropractor is not an ordinary case since he used another doctor’s seal to be able to purchase testosterone. Bradenton.com reported that chiropractor David Stuart Zamikoff, 39 was charged for obtaining prescription drugs through fraudulent means. He used a doctor’s Drug Enforcement Administration clearance number to enter a prescription request and used another doctor’s stamp to sign for the prescription. Both doctors already denied their involvement in the case. They told the investigators that Zamikoff was not authorized to use their identifications to purchase steroids. Although one of the doctors told the authorities that he had given the accused a prescription for testosterone in 2008 but only once.

Manatee County Sheriff’s operatives raided the Natural Healing Arts clinic of the chiropractor at 2215 59th St. W., Bradenton and found two bottles of testosterone purchased from the Ft. Lauderdale pharmacy. A credit card used to purchase the steroid was also found. Based on the records of the pharmacy, Zamikoff was able to purchase testosterone many times. It is not yet clear whether the doctor used the product for his own personal consumption or offers the product to his clients at the clinic.

For the meantime, Zamikoff was released from the Manatee County jail for $1,000 bail. Dave Bristow, spokesperson of the sheriff’s office, told the media that the investigation is still on-going. He believes that more charges could be filed against the chiropractor once the investigation is completed.

Zamikofff had not issued any comment on the case. Based on the records of Florida Department of Health, Zamikoff’s license as a chiropractor will expire this year. He has been practicing as a licensed chiropractor in Florida since 2000.

The MLB announced a few days ago that they will be implementing a test for HGH or human growth hormone in the minor league this summer. This is in response to the latest HGH case in British rugby where a player was tested positive for the drug. Rugby player Terry Newton was banned from the English Rugby for two years because of a positive test for HGH by the United Kingdom Anti-Doping Agency. Some people in the sports industry is optimistic that this will be the start of a more reliable and effective testing for the drug since the current test is still being questioned for its effectiveness in detecting the drug.

The Major League Baseball and other major league organization do not test for HGH. The performance enhancing drug HGH is effectively traced in blood samples than urine samples. The league uses urine to test players for steroids and other performance enhancers. For the past few decades, baseball players were more known for steroids use. Although there were players who were accused of using HGH, none of them were caught by the league under the anti-doping policy.

The plan of MLB to test players in the minor league just caused some people to raise their eyebrows. Although it could be a good start to determine the extent of HGH use in the minors but others are still expecting that the major league should set as an example. Testing for HGH should start from them. A spokesperson from the commissioner’s office told the media that they will be talking about the possibility of the inclusion of HGH test in the next collective bargaining agreement. The National Football League (NFL) also showed enthusiasm in adopting HGh test in their league.

However, union representatives of both leagues were not that enthusiastic about the proposal. Major league Union official said that they have to consult first their experts on the said issue. According to NFLPA spokesman George Atallah, testing for HGh is not yet a necessity in the football league. “There is no reason to forcefully implement any blood testing at this time. There is no reason to believe a blood test for NFL players will or should be implemented,” said Atallah. They also prefer to have the test use urine samples rather than blood samples.

The accuracy of the test for HGh was defended by Travis Tygart, the head of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. “All of us who have helped develop the test wouldn’t put it in place if it wasn’t forensically sound and reliable. Particularly in Newton’s case; it’s proof positive the test works,” Tygart said. It will now depend on both leagues whether they are sincere in catching players using human growth hormones or it is just one of tactics to show the fans that they are doing something to clean the sport.

Professor Chuck Yesalis, one of the worlds leading anti-doping scientist, opined that HGH testing in the league may not become effective because of many factors. “Collectively, there’s way more money involved to help circumvent the tests than the amount of money available to catch the cheaters. Look at all these multi-gazillion-dollar athletes and these sports federations, all with a strong, vested interest in being bigger, faster, stronger, and compare it to the paltry couple of million to develop new tests,” he said in an interview. “Does this [Newton positive] really change things? If I had to bet my house, all I could do is use the past to predict the future. I have heard for 30 years stuff like, ‘We had a problem with drugs in this sport, but now it’s solved.’ Thirty years. If it’s a roulette wheel and you’re asking me to put my bet on the drug cheaters or the drug testers, I know what to do,” Yesalis added.

The MLB has banned human growth hormone since 2005. However, they have not implemented a test for the substance. Even if the league made some improvement on the anti-doping policies, they still did not include HGH. Last year, they have instituted random drug testing and adopted a tiered suspension system. Players who will be caught using steroids or any other banned substance will be suspended 10 days without pay. A 30-day ban and 60-day ban will be imposed on succeeding offenses.

The FDA issued new guidelines for taking asthma drugs because of reported health risks to the patient. Long-acting beta-agonists or LABA drugs are used to relax muscles in the lung’s airways thus improving the patient’s ability to breathe freely and reducing asthma symptoms. But a recent study showed that taking LABA drugs alone can be dangerous and can even result to deaths.

As part of the agency’s campaign for safe use of every drug approved in the market, they have directed the pharmaceutical companies to put new labels on their drugs specifically informing the patient that it should not be taken for longer periods. FDA also recommended that LABA drugs should be taken with inhalable steroids. Dr. Diane Murphy, director of the FDA’s Office of Pediatric Therapeutics said in a statement that the risks of hospitalization and poor outcomes are of particular concern for children. “Parents need to know that their child with asthma should not be on a LABA alone,” she said.

The four popular asthma drugs available are Foradil, Serevent, Advair and Symbicort. These were commonly prescribed by doctors to children and adult asthma patients because of its efficacy in controlling the symptoms. However, the studies revealed that it can also mask other symptoms which can trigger serious asthma attacks. Patients may suffer exacerbations of asthma symptoms which can lead to hospitalizations and death for asthmatic children and adults.

Salmeterol (Serevent) and Formoterol (Foradil) which are prescribed as a single agent LABA, will be prescribed in combination with an asthma controller medication such as an inhaled steroid. Additional information on the package insert of the drugs should also reflect the changes required by the FDA. The labels of each product should now contain the following warnings:

1.) LABAs should only be used long-term in patients with asthma not adequately controlled with inhaled steroids or other controller medications.
2.) The agents should be used for the shortest time possible to achieve symptom control. Once patients are no longer experiencing symptoms, LABAs should be discontinued if possible with patients maintained on controller medications alone.
3.) Children and adolescents needing a LABA should use a combination product that also contains an inhaled steroid to ensure compliance with both medications.

LABA drugs used for intermittent exercise-induced bronchospasm and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are not included in the directive.

Medpagetoday.com published additional information why the FDA issued the warnings. From a placebo-controlled trial called SMART, FDA said that salmeterol was associated with excess deaths at an overall rate of 8 per 10,000 patients (95% CI 3 to 13). African Americans were more prone to the risk where the excess death rate was 27 per 10,000 (95% CI 8 to 46). 60,000 patients who used salmeterol and formoterol suffered from side effects with a composite of hospitalizations, intubations, and deaths. The excess rate was recorded at 28 per 10,000 patients (95% CI 11 to 45). The study also found out that the case is more prevalent in adolescents and children at 58 cases per 10,000 and children 148 cases per 10,000 respectively.

Product recalls is not necessary according to the FDA since the benefits of the drugs still outweigh the risks involved. John Jenkins, MD, director of the FDA’s Office of New Drugs said that their concern is the benefit of the greater public and the action of the agency will reduce the use of LABA’s. These drugs are still available for patients who need additional therapy.

The agency also suggested that manufacturers must develop risk evaluation and mitigation strategies. New medication guide should be given to patients while healthcare professionals should be given enough education on the appropriate use of LABAs.

The FDA will monitor the prescribing patterns for long-acting beta-agonists (LABA) drugs to determine if these are still prescribed as a solo treatment. “If we find this is still happening, we can work with our partners [in the Safe Use Initiative] to directly provide information to those practitioners and patients to make sure they have the knowledge needed to use these drugs safely,” said Janet Woodcock, MD, director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. The “Safe Use Initiative” is a collaboration of physicians, hospitals, pharmacies, insurers, and other groups to reduce preventable harms associated with drugs. It tackle issues such as medication errors and abuse as well as adverse biological effects of drugs in normal use.

A former soldier was convicted last week for dealing illegal anabolic steroids, the Herald Ireland reported. Bernard Foy (38) and Anna Nawroka (27) of Dublin were apprehended by the authorities a few years ago because of their involvement in illegal distribution of anabolic steroids and other prescription drugs like insulin and Viagra. The Irish Medicine board (IMB) took part in the investigation and during the surveillance on the respondents they found out that Foy was receiving packages of steroids From Thailand and Greece.

Based on the investigation, Foy was not the main man in the illegal importation but he was only used to distribute the drugs to customers. His wife was also paid for repacking the steroids based on the orders sent to him by the main distributor who according to the authorities already fled the country.

Judge Katherine Delahunt of the Central Circuit Criminal Court in Dublin told the accused that the court takes a very serious view of the devastating effects drugs can have on people. The judge takes into consideration the former work of Foy as a soldier who served their country. She said that 2 years of custodial sentence is already appropriate. The offense could lead to a maximum fine of €127,000 and/or 10 years in jail.

Bernard Foy met a serious traffic accident in 1993 which caused injuries to his pelvis, leg and arm. He had to undergo physiotherapy but because of the high cost of the treatment, he started self medicating with steroids. That was the time when he met the guy who later on used him as an errand man to distribute anabolic steroids to different customers in Dublin.

The authorities said that they were able to seize more than 44,500 steroid pills from Foy and his wife which is worth more than €205,000. Cash worth €6,000 was also confiscated which according to Foy was his sales profit. Records of steroids transactions, 2 mobile phones, price list, lists of steroids, and names of mailbox agencies were also recovered.

Meanwhile the ex-NBA player Juan Dixon said that the lack of research on the supplements which he took caused his positive steroid test. He is still optimistic that his Spanish team Unicaja will reinstate him soon. He tested positive for steroid nandrolone and was suspended by the International Basketball Federation.

In an interview by ESPN, Dixon said that he is a supplement junkie. “I like to try different things and I made the mistake of not doing the research and making sure it was legal,” he said. He denied using steroids when asked during the interview. “Steroids? C’mon,” Dixon said. “I was 145 pounds in high school, 160 in college and I’m up to maybe 175 now. Look at me. Be serious. People can say whatever they want, but I’ve played the same way my whole life,” the ex-NBA player said. Once his B sample came clean, he will be playing again in the court.

The proponents of the steroid testing program in Texas are now worried because of the possibility that their initiative could be removed from the budget. The Texas Education Agency announced that they will be cutting down budgets for many programs at Texas High Schools. Of the $135 million budget cut proposal from the agency, $1 million of it will be deducted from the steroid testing program for high school athletes. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, who sponsored the program in 2007, was not happy with the proposal.

Other lawmakers already questioned the efficiency of the program because of the small number of steroid positives in high schools. During the first year of implementation, only 11 students were found positive for steroids out of 29,000 student-athletes tested. One of the people opposing for the huge budgetary allocation for the said program is Sen. Chris Harris of Arlington. However, Dewhurst was able to defend his project last year but only got $2 million for school year 2010 and 2011.

Dewhurst still believes that the testing is an effective deterrent to high school athletes in taking any performance enhancing drug especially steroids. “Clearly our state’s mandatory, random testing program is working as a strong deterrent to keep our young people from using illegal steroids,” the Lt. Governor said. “I’m open to discussing adjustments to the program, but if any changes are made, they must not reduce the deterrent level we have established to protect the health and lives of young Texans,” he added.

Some of the Texas Education Agency’s suggested budget cuts include the Texas High School Initiative, a program which helps low performing students and grants for new science labs and textbooks. Teacher induction and mentoring program was also affected. The intensive summer program of 20 school district with at least 5,000 students each will definitely be affected. According to Assistant Superintendent Nate Carman of Pine Tree, the loss of the optional extended year means they will have to locally fund more of their summer school programs or reduce their services slightly. Although some schools were not bothered on the proposed cuts since they can source funds locally.

With regards to the steroid testing program’s budget, the agency said that there are potentially more effective drug use prevention programs which can be facilitated through alternative programs like the current steroid education. Director for extra curricular activities Pat Collins of Longview said that slashing the budget for steroid testing won’t have much impact on local schools. “If the state wanted to use the money more wisely, they should have been testing for street drugs at different schools. Steroids are very expensive and a lot of kids can’t afford them,” he said. According to the director, absence of steroid testing doesn’t mean that high school athletes will not be tested for other prohibited drugs anymore. There was even a plan in Longview to expand their random testing for student athletes which will include band and cheerleading.

An anti-steroid crusader was disappointed with the proposal. Don Hooton, who founded the Taylor Hooton Foundation, said that steroid education is not enough in high schools. “I’m disappointed because we’re losing a very important deterrent for the kids. We have been very disappointed that there are some in the state that have read the results of the testing as a determination that there’s not a steroid problem among the kids,” Hooton said. He said that basing their decision on the low turn out of steroid positives is a gross misreading of the results.

Football coach of Frisco Centennial was also surprised with the TEA’s proposal. “I’m surprised because there was such a big push for it.” coach Mark Howard said that the testing is not just a scare tactic but at the same time to bring to light what some kids could be doing and then getting them help. “There are always going to be kids who try it because they think it’s going to give them an edge. Our job is to tell them otherwise,” he said.

Australia has been implementing a strict policy on the illegal entry of anabolic steroids and other banned substances in the country. The latest case is the guilty plea of a former professional football player. Former WestCoast Eagle and Hawthorn player Daniel Chick entered into a plea agreement, through his lawyer, about his illegal importation of anabolic steroids from Thailand. He was investigated by customs officers at Perth airport last October when they found out that Chick failed to declare the drugs.

The Perth Magistrates Court fined the football player with $7,000 for illegal possession of anabolic steroids. The court imposed two charges of importing a prohibited import and knowingly or purposely making a false, misleading statement to a Customs officer. Chick was also required to pay additional $1,000 for the litigation expenses. He was also placed on an 18-month good behaviour bond of $2000 for each charge.

Magistrate Elizabeth Woods, who handles the case, agreed to the request of Chick’s lawyer for a spent conviction against his client. He told the court that Chick needs to travel to the United States to see his eight year old son.

Chick’s lawyer Michael Tudori said that the former footballer had done it tough after ending his career in professional league and their request for spent conviction would also allow Chick to continue working in a mining company as a drill and crane operator. “At the end of his AFL football career he has worked very hard to make a life after football,” said Tudori. “He is not like others who have pubs and alike. He has had to go back and had to do it the hard way, he has gone back to the tools,” Tudori added.

At 33, Chick wanted to rehabilitate his battered body after playing for more than a decade in professional football. When he went to Thailand he purchased anabolic steroids and started a “health program” which he wanted to continue after returning to Australia. According to his lawyer, Chick failed to declare the steroids because of a potent sleeping pill he took during the flight. “He ticked the green one instead of the red one - he accepts that,” said Tudori.

Toduri told the media during an interview after the hearing that his client was relieved and remorseful for his actions. “He made an error, he is sorry, he wants to get on with life after football,” he said. Reporters asked Tudori if Daniel Chick took steroids during his career. The lawyer replied in the negative. “Absolutely not. Anyone who knows him or has followed Daniel’s career knows that is not the case.” He also told the reporters that Chick was no longer taking steroids after the incident. However, another newspaper reported that Chick was under a steroid prescription for his asthma and chest infections.

Before retiring from professional football last year, Daniel Chick spent two seasons with Subiaco in the WAFL. Chick was known for playing a very physical game. He suffered many injuries while still playing for the West coast and Hawthorn. In the report of PerthNow website, Chick had an amputated finger after it was so severely broken it would not heal.