Olympian Justin Gatlin is now preparing to dominate once again the event which gave him the gold medal in the 2004 Summer Olympics. He was a record holder in the 100-meter. However his fame was tainted with performance enhancing drugs when he tested positive for steroids in 2006. Gatlin fought his case saying that a massage therapist intentionally used a steroid cream that caused his positive test. But this alibi did not prosper and he lost his battle.

The sanction for the American sprinter will end in July 24 but he may have a difficulty in returning to his sport since most European meet organizers have said that Gatlin is not welcome in the competition. They have a strong stance against athletes who were involved in the use of steroids. Even one of their famous track and field athlete Dwain Chambers was not spared in their policy.

Gatlin is lucky to have on his side the chief of the US Anti-Doping Agency. USADA chief Travis Tygart have said that once the suspension ends, Gatlin has the right to participate again in competitions. “He served his time,” Tygart told the Washington Post. “He ought to be fully reinstated. . . . The [World Anti-Doping Agency] Code ought to be upheld by any meet or organization that has adopted the Code. That’s the spirit of the Code. Anything short of that would be inequitable,” Tygart said.

He said that organizers should follow what the rule says. “If you want lifetime bans after the first offense, then you should be screaming and yelling about that, not disregarding a rule that is in place that allows someone to compete. That’s unfair,” he added.

Gatlin is still hoping that he will be able to run again and prove himself in the field. “I hope and pray I’m not blackballed. I just want to get back out there and run again. I’ve served my time. I’ve done my punishment. I want to be able to prove myself,” Gatlin said.

But European sports organizers does not have any intention to invite athletes who were former steroid user. According to Patrick K. Magyar, the president and meeting director for Weltklasse Zurich, Gatlin has massively damaged the sport. “It is very clear that we will not be in a position to invite him this or the upcoming years,” said Magyar.

Gatlin also cooperated with a federal investigation that involved his coach Trevor Graham. His help has led to the conviction of Graham and got a lifetime ban in coaching. However, this will not remove the speculations of many that he may be still involved in the use of performance enhancers. Gatlin was able to establish 9.77 record but in the last Olympics it was erased by Usain Bolt who is the current world record holder of 9.58 seconds.

Right now, Gatlin is under a long time track coach Loren Seagrave who also trained other prominent athletes and Olympians. He said in an interview that his group welcomed Gatlin because they believe that the sprinter will not do anything that will cause him a lifetime ban in the sport. “They do not condone the use of illegal performance-enhancing drugs, but on the other hand, he served his penalty. They feel comfortable that he is not going to do it again,” said Seagrave.

News of professional athletes involved in the use of anabolic steroids has not vanished from the headlines. Many of them still take the risks of taking these substances even if they know that their sports organizations impose stiff sanctions. It also shows that the use of performance enhancers were common, if not rampant, in almost all forms of sports.

Recently, the German Athletics Federation suspended one of their athletes for doping. Olympian hurdler Thomas Goller tested positive for anabolic steroids and was kicked out of Wattenscheid club. Goller participated in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. However, his career was affected by several injuries like his failure to compete in the world championships in Berlin because of a calf injury. Last year, Goller, who is already 32 years old, won the national 400-meter hurdles.

According to the German Athletics Federation, Goller can still ask to test for his “B” sample if he has some doubts on the positive steroid test. The type of steroid detected on the system of Goller has not been disclosed yet.

The MLB also announced that a 50-game suspension was given to Dodgers prospect outfielder Andrew Lambo for violating the baseball’s drug policy. The suspension was based on Lambo’s second positive test for a drug of abuse. Since the suspension did not identify what particular steroid or drugs found during the test, it could be due to other banned substances like marijuana, cocaine, heroin or LSD. Lambo has a history of using marijuana during his high school years.

The Dodgers was disappointed on what happened to Lambo based on their statement. “The Dodgers are disappointed to learn of this news and we fully support Major League Baseball’s drug policy and its penalties. The organization does not condone the use of any substance not sanctioned by MLB’s medical staff.”

Lambo is considered as the top prospect of the Dodgers. He has an impressive record with .342 batting average in 19 games at double-A Chattanooga.

In WWE, the hearing for Jeff Hardy case was postponed again. The Moore County court in NC rescheduled the hearing on June 3, 2010. The pro wrestler was arrested last year on charges of trafficking in controlled prescription pills and possession of anabolic steroids. A search in his home on September 11, 2009 results in the seizure of several prescription pills and anabolic steroids. According to authorities, Hardy was in possession of 262 Vicodin prescription pills, 180 soma prescription pills and 555 milliliters of anabolic steroids. A residue of powder cocaine was also found including some drug paraphernalia.

A lot of people were surprised when the NFL announced that the 2009 Defensive Rookie of the Year awardee Brian Cushing was suspended for 4 games due to a failed test for steroid. Based on news reports, the Houston Texans linebacker’s positive steroid test was in September last year but the sanction will be imposed in the 2010 Season. This means that he will not be able to play for the first 4 games of the season and will be banned in the ProBowl after the season. Although Cushing can still practice with the team and play in the preseason.

Players found using banned substances are not uncommon in the league. However, Brian Cushing’s case is something that made other people voice out their concern. This is because of the title that he won in the 2009 as the Defensive Rookie of the Year. Cushing won a landslide victory when he was chosen by 50 sports writers and broadcasters across the country. He received 78 percent of the total votes while his closest rival Buffalo safety Jairus Byrd only got 12 percent.

The initiative to strip him off his award was initiated by Buffalo Bills strong safety Donte Whitner, a teammate of Byrd. The team also supported the calls to remove the title from Cushing as shown in its website. The Defensive Rookie of the Year award will definitely go to Byrd once the AP finally made its decision.

However, the Associated Press will conduct first a re-vote from media members for the title before making the final decision. Other players who are also in the list are Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews and Washington Redskins linebacker Brian Orakpo.

Some people also questioned the league in its decision to allow the Houston linebacker play in the 2009 season. According to one sports writer, why is it that it took so long for the league in imposing the sanction to Brian Cushing?

Another writer also observed that several players of the USC Trojans are involved in steroid controversies when they turned into pro. This is also another issue for the college football team’s policies on substance abuse and the values that they inculcate on their athletes. Cushing’s failed steroid test already made his achievements questionable. Cheating just to improve the performance will not give him praises but ruined his reputation.

The steroid issues against Brian Cushing is not new. In April of 2009, a website reported that Brian Cushing and Clay Matthews were found using steroids during an NFL Combine in February of the same year. USC was quick to defend its players saying that they will file a lawsuit if the site will not retract their allegation. The only problem with the site was they were not able to present concrete evidence that will prove their allegation. Their source came from inside the NFL but nobody wants to point a finger to these players. So with the recent confirmation of the league of the positive steroid test of Cushing, we can now say that this player was really taking something even before he turned pro.

Because of the popularity of steroids among bodybuilders and professional athletes, a lot of people would try to engage in the manufacture and distribution of this controlled substance. The illegal trade of these drugs promises great returns because of minimal overhead costs, non payment of taxes and appropriate licenses to operate such type of business. Steroids can also be manufactured easily as compared to other supplements or drugs available in pharmacies.

In Georgia, police investigators accidentally discovered a large steroid manufacturing operation. They were astonished of the alleged steroid operation of the suspects because the drugs were manufactured at home. Douglas County investigators were tasked to investigate the suspects for child pornography. There were reports that Kyle McCullough, 29 year old and Lawrence Patmon, 51-year old of Douglas County were involved in downloading child pornography materials from the internet. The police got the information from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation according to the report of myfoxatlanta.com.

According to Chief Stan Copeland they are still continuing their investigation on the steroid operation of the two suspects. The steroids were confiscated including other materials and equipment used to manufacture steroids. A computer was also seized from the suspects which can be used to track down their clients, suppliers and distributors. “We do have laptops, our forensic people located child pornography. So, if they kept records of who their customers are, whether at a particular school or gym, then our forensics folks will get it,” he said.

Authorities identified the steroid as trenblone. According to Copeland, this substance is a livestock growth hormone. The growth hormone which is primarily intended for cows was mixed with other substances to make an injectable steroid. “They take this, break it down and mix it. They mix it with another liquid because it is for cattle,” Copeland said. It is not yet clear whether the raw materials found in the illegal steroid operation were imported from other countries. There are already many cases where the raw materials were purchased from China or Pakistan and other parts of Asia.

They were worried about the health risks that could be caused by these illegally manufactured steroids. Since these are manufactured without any quality control and approval from regulatory agencies, there is no warranty that the products will be effective and safe for human users. You have to take note that the steroids found in the home of the suspects were intended for livestocks.

Kyle McCullough was charged with child pornography and manufacturing and distributing steroids. Lawrence Patmon also faces the same steroid charges. They were held in jail while authorities are still gathering more information about their steroid operation. Police officials also discovered that McCullough was on parole for a similar steroid offense. This time, police officers are expecting for a longer jail term for the accused.

The use of anabolic steroids has become a common addition to the supplements for professional athletes, bodybuilders and even for ordinary health enthusiast. You can find these supplements in gyms, health stores and pharmaceutical companies. People taking it may have different objectives like enhancing performance in sports or by simply toning down muscles to have a better physique. But the use of anabolic steroids may pose danger if not taken the right way.

According to Dr. Don Catlin, founder of UCLA Olympic Analytical Laboratory, athletes who want to be more competitive usually turn to steroids. In the report of the DailyBruin, this also includes people who are bulking up just to meet the demands of a physically intensive job. It could range from club bouncers to firefighters to police officers to help them perform better in their jobs.

But the use of steroids does not only confined to improving performance. This drug has also many medical uses particularly in the treatment of degenerative diseases like cancer. Assistant professor of physiological science Christian Roberts said steroids have an important use in the field of medicine. It can be used to treat men with low levels of testosterone or older individuals suffering from a degenerative muscle disease.

According to Roberts steroids are helpful in treating many diseases if taken at lower dosages as compared to dosages taken by athletes and bodybuilders. When taken in small dosages, steroids help improve the health of men who suffers from low testosterone levels. Taking at higher dosages may also speed up the treatment but it will usually provide unfavorable side effects.

The use of steroids of many athletes has made sporting officials and organizations ban this substance. In the early 1980’s, the US has no anti-doping and steroid testing laboratory and Dr. Catlin sees the need to establish one. When the Olympic Games came to Los Angeles, the doctor founded the UCLA’s Olympic Analytical Laboratory. “The world of sportsmen were concerned because there was no testing center in the U.S. They assumed that all (U.S.) athletes were doped,” he said.

After years of testing for many sports organizations like the NCAA, the NFL, Minor League Baseball and the Olympics, the lab was able to establish its reputation as one of the best steroid testing laboratory in the world. However, Dr. Catlin admitted that they still have to keep up with the new strain of undetectable steroids being produced by some pharmaceutical companies.

This concern was also echoed by Anthony Butch the director of the lab and professor of pathology and laboratory medicine. The challenge is how to detect new compounds which were not seen before. There are times that manufacturers made a few changes in the basic chemical compound of steroids which makes it a new and undetectable substance.

Another concern of the steroid testing lab is the proliferation of dietary supplements which is still unregulated industry. Most of these are freely available in most health stores and can be purchased over the counter. However, some of them contain compounds which works like anabolic steroids. Athletes using these dietary supplements are facing the risks of failing a steroid test. “One of the things that becomes a problem is that (the supplement companies) are manufacturing different things in the machines, and substances get contaminated. This week’s batch can be safe, but next week’s batch may be contaminated with something,” Butch said.

Dr. Catlin said that the steroid testing lab continue to improve their processes to effectively catch those athletes who are using performance enhancers. With thousand of steroid testing conducted per year, Dr. Catlin believes that they were able to clean the sports of steroids.

It was a few months ago when the nomination for Lt. Governor in Illinois became controversial when the Democrat nominee, Scott Lee Cohen was bombarded with issues such as steroid use, illicit relationship with a prostitute, attempted rape and beating his wife. It was also reported that Cohen failed to pay child support.

The businessman was also alleged to have shady business transactions and failed to pay appropriate taxes on his businesses. At first Cohen brushed off these allegations and says that these were politically motivated. However, the media was able to get court records that substantiated some of the allegations especially his use of steroids and extra-marital affairs.

With too much burden on his political ambition, Cohen decided to confront the issues by talking to the media about the details of these allegations. With regards to his steroid use, Cohen said that it was the thing of the past and he already stopped using it. However, the clamor of the party to have a candidate with clean record has prompted Cohen to give up his bid as Lt. Governor of Illinois. He was replaced by Sheila Simon, the daughter of former Illinois Sen. Paul Simon.

Winning the primary last February has surprised many politicians in Illinois. Many believed that Cohen will not be back in politics after his withdrawal from the race. But Scott Lee Cohen seems to like everyone to be surprised with his presence in the local politics. He re-launched his campaign a few days ago but not as a Lt. Governor. Cohen will be running as an independent Gubernatorial candidate.

In an interview with the media, Cohen said that his decision to run was to help instill change in Illinois. He is tired of waste and mismanagement in the current government. He wants to improve the business climate by giving more incentives to businesses. Right now, the state is offering a few incentives to local businesses.

Cohen also told the Chicago Tribune that his campaign will be centered on honesty. “Illinois needs honesty more than perfection,” he said. He also believed that running as an independent will not be problem to him and the current polls shows that he has a big chance of winning the election.

Funding a statewide campaign may not be a problem for Cohen but the general sentiments of the people with regards to steroid use, family values and other issues will be tested come the election day. These issues will also be used by his rivals in the election. Cohen believes that the people will support him.