Canby police officers were already sanctioned for their illegal use of anabolic steroids. Their chief also resigned after trying to protect his officers during the investigation. However, the FBI investigation on the illegal use of steroids by police officers does not end in Canby police department. In the latest development of the case, federal investigators told the Oregon Live that the information provided to them by the steroid supplier lead to other police departments and one of them is in Portland area.

William J. Traverso, the supplier of steroids for several police officers cooperated with the investigators by identifying other officers who were involved in the use of performance enhancing drugs. Of course his help was also rewarded by giving him lighter penalty for his illegal steroid operation. This was the demand of John Henry Hingson III, the defense lawyer of Traverso. He urged the court to reward his client for his cooperation by sentencing him to community service.

One of his reasons is the danger that his client will be facing if given a jail term. He told the court that Traverso testified against cops. “Deason has one strike against him in jail. He’s an ex-cop,” Hingson said. “Traverso has two strikes against him. He’s a snitch, and he’s somebody that fingered cops,” Hingson added. The lawyer also pointed out that his client is still willing to help federal investigators in identifying police officers who are using steroids in the Portland police department.

Based on court records, the FBI Special Agent Christopher Frazier told the Clackamas County judge that Traverso already gave the full details of his drug distribution activities. “The public safety employees identified by Traverso included law enforcement officers, corrections officers, fire and rescue personnel and university public safety officers. Several spin-off FBI public corruption investigations were initiated as a result of these allegations, and are ongoing,” said Frazier.

The OregonLive identified one police officer from Portland who was already questioned by federal investigators. He is Sgt. Charles Brown who also resides in Canby. He declined to comment on the case when asked by the media. “I’m not at liberty to discuss anything,” Brown said.

William Traverso was sentenced 15 days in jail, 30 days electronic home detention and 24 months probation. The district attorney however argued that Traverso should at least spend 30 days in jail. Michael Wu said that Traverso’s crime and effect on the community deserve a jail sanction.

Judge Douglas V. Van Dyck applauded Traverso for cooperating with the FBI in pinpointing officers who were buying steroids from him. “Good, that’s the way it should be, because this community should stand no corruption in those charged to uphold the law. When a police officer operates outside the law, one or two, it can undermine the noble work of thousands of officers,” the Clackamas County judge said.

Traverso is a former competitive bodybuilder and used steroids to attain his bodybuilding physique. He was a former “Mr. Oregon” but was later addicted in the use of methamphetamine.

The most awaited appearance of steroid whistle blower Jose Canseco in the grand jury hearing the case of Roger Clemens was postponed again. Canseco was scheduled to testify last April but according to his lawyer it was rescheduled due to the availability of his client. Andrew Kirsch, lawyer of Canseco, said that they are trying to reach a date that will work for everyone and they are aiming for an early June testimony.

Canseco was called to testify in the grand jury because of his connection with Roger Clemens. The two were former teammates in Boston, Toronto and with the Yankees. Both were also called in the congress investigation headed by Rep. Mitchell. Roger Clemens was already implicated in the report when his former trainer told the investigators that he knows Clemens was using steroids. Trainer Roger McNamee even described how he took away a bottle of steroid from Roger Clemens and handed it to Jose Canseco in the Blue Jays locker room. However, both players denied that the incident happened. Canseco also denied that his former teammate attended a party at his Miami residence.

The perjury case of 7-time CY Young awardee will not end soon as the prosecution is trying to present new evidences against Clemens. Several MLB players and officials were already called to testify in the grand jury. And the latest is Jose Canseco who previously admitted that he used performance enhancing drugs when he was still active in baseball. Two years ago, he pleaded guilty for drug charges when he tried to bring in HCG or human chorionic gonadotropin from Mexico. It is a fertility drug usually used to treat the side effects of long term steroid use.

Another possible reason why he was called to testify was his previous statement that Clemens could be doping. He described it in his steroid book Juiced. The prosecution is hoping that they will get more information from Canseco and could finally pin down Clemens.

The grand jury will determine if Clemens really lied under oath during the investigation of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Up to this moment, Clemens still maintains his stand that he never used anabolic steroids or human growth hormone.

Meanwhile, the MLB suspended two minor leaguers for violating the Drug Prevention and Treatment Program of the league. Outfielder Benjamin Harrison of the Florida Marlins was caught using amphetamines. The league imposed a 100-game suspension which will be effective when he signed for another contract with a team. Shortstop Fidel Hernandez of Philadelphia Phillies also received a 50-game suspension for testing positive for metabolites of Stanozolol. It is a type of steroid used to enhance performance and it is marketed as Winstrol. He plays at the Florida State League for Class A Clearwater.

After serving his 4-game suspension, St Louis Rams linebacker David Vobora filed a lawsuit against the company who allegedly supplied him with a tainted diet supplement. Vobora denied that he intentionally ingested anabolic steroids but his failed test for steroids caused his suspension from the 2009 season. He blamed the company for selling him a diet supplement which contain methyltestosterone, a banned substance in the league.

The product in question is the “The Ultimate Spray” which was sold by a supplement company SWATS (Sports With Alternatives To Steroids) from Fultondale, Ala. Vobora said that he started using the supplement when SWATS endorsers recommended the product to him which later caused the positive test. He also sent a sample to a Tennessee lab to confirm if the league’s test result was accurate. The lab also provided the same result.

In the lawsuit, Vobora asked for damages for breach of warranty and product liability. “As a result of his suspension, plaintiff David Vobora missed four important games for the St. Louis Rams during the 2009 regular season. In addition, he has suffered a loss of income derived from football-related endorsements and performance incentives. Furthermore, Plaintiff’s reputation is permanently tarnished,” said in the complaint.

Vobora who was the last player to be drafted in the 2008 NFL Draft, was able to prove his performance in the field. After 3 years he got the starting position and was able to provide the team with 15 tackles in just 3 games before his suspension.

The owner of the supplement company, Mitch Ross issued a press statement that the claim of David Vobora is baseless. Ross said that there are no banned substances in the spray. The test result of Vobora is questionable because other athletes who used the same batch of spray never tested positive for steroids. The spray contains deer antler velvet.

Ross also argued that their products are free of steroids and a lot of professional athletes from different sports are using their products but have not encounter any failed test for a banned substance. He insists that Vobora did not directly purchased the product from him but it came from a SWATS endorser.

SWATS owner also insinuated that Vobora might be using other supplements which caused his positive test. He had a proof that will prove this allegation saying that he had a picture of the locker of the player.

This is again another example why professional athletes should be very careful in choosing supplements. Vobora will have a difficulty in gaining back his tainted reputation. Steroids will always be associated on his name. Whether he was another victim of a tainted supplement, the damage to his career has been done. Right now, Vobora signed as a free agent.

Purchasing anabolic steroids from individuals and fitness centers may be a risky thing to do. There is a possibility that these steroids comes from underground laboratories. Although there are products which are manufactured by licensed pharmaceutical companies, some unscrupulous groups and individuals are distributing counterfeit products which are harmful to the users. Some steroids may even carry a brand with authentic packaging so it’s very difficult to determine if it is really coming from reputable suppliers.

One major concern is the formulation of these anabolic steroids. If these were made from improvised home laboratories, it is possible that the products may contain ingredients which are not safe. The dosage may also exceed or may be less than the actual amount printed on the label. The sanitation of the manufacturing area can also cause other health problems.

In Oklahoma, authorities raided a home based steroid laboratory producing steroids which looks like the branded ones. The manufacturers created their own brand of steroid which according to the authorities resembles those drugs produced legally. The Red Line Steroids were manufactured from a home lab by 3 Moore residents.

Arrested during the raid were Dakota Epperly, 23, Cortny Choate, 19 and Marcus Wade, 26. They were charged with conspiracy to manufacture steroids and possession of steroids with intent to distribute and currently held at the Cleveland County jail.

According to Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control spokesman Mark Woodward, the investigation on the home based steroid operation of the group lasted for 2 months after they were able to get hard evidences that will put these people into jail. Undercover agents were able to purchase steroids and other prohibited substances like Ecstasy and cocaine.

Various equipments and raw materials were seized from the suspects. Agents found steroid powder and liquid steroid compounds which according to the investigators were purchased online from China. Other paraphernalia includes unused glass vials, a vial sealer, scales, empty pill capsules, pill capsule presses, and syringes. They also found drug ledgers used to record their steroid operation. A labeling equipment was also found which can produce hundred of finished products in a day. According to Woodward, the suspects labeled their steroids as Red Line.

Authorities were alarmed because the customers may think that the product is a legitimate one and safe to use because of the professional appearance of the packaging. The steroids are sold to bodybuilders in the Oklahoma City area and on the west coast.”There is tremendous black market for steroids within certain bodybuilding circles throughout Oklahoma,” said Woodward.

The next time you purchase steroids or any supplement, it is better to do a research first on its manufacturers to ensure that you are buying from the legitimate pharmaceutical companies. Products from these home based steroid laboratories will only bring greater health risk to the user and probably result to severe side effects and complications.

Steroids use in almost all kinds of sports is banned due to its performance enhancing effects. Anabolic steroid in particular is one of those banned drugs in professional sports like the MLB, NFL, and NHL. There are already countless players who were penalized for using these banned substances. In racing, officials are also trying to clean their sports of anabolic steroids when they implemented new rules and guidelines with regards to steroid testing in equine.

The clamor to include steroid testing started after the 2008 Derby when Rick Dutrow, the trainer of Big Brown, admitted that he regularly injects the derby winner with stanozolol. The anabolic steroid is more popular as winstrol. The state of Kentucky already banned the drug and implemented new steroid policy with the help of the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium which is now accepted across the country.

However, the AP reported that the new rules included six types of corticosteroids, an anti-inflammatory drug. While anabolic steroid is famous for its performance enhancing effects, the use of corticosteroid is more on the medical treatment. The rule states that trainers should not give corticosteroid several days before a race to avoid steroid violations.

According to Derby track veterinarian Larry Bramlage, the new drug testing will involve a crackdown on this type of steroid. Although this drug does not promise bigger muscles but it can provide therapeutic benefits to the horses. Its abuse can be more fatal than the anabolic steroids because it can mask injuries and forcing the equine to work too hard. The risk is more on the cumulative effect of running several times in a row without rest.

Dr. Bramlage, who is a surgeon at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, believes that corticosteroid has a more potential for abuse. “The anabolic steroids get more press because people can understand them easier. The NFL and everybody else is involved in banning them so we don’t have 400-pound offensive linemen. But the corticosteroids have more abuse potential,” he said.

But some trainers feared that the racing commission overreacts on the issue of corticosteroid use. According to Dutrow the current testing probably goes too far. “I thought it was a good thing. I thought it helped the horses. I did not see an issue,” he said.

Trainer Bob Baffert said that they try to make it a big deal. “Now they want to take everything away. These horses have got pretty tough testing. It’s been like that for a long time, but people want to change a lot of things. They make a bigger deal out of it than it really is,” Baffert said.

Many believe that there is still a gray area in the effects of corticosteroid to race horses. Todd Pletcher who also has race horses participating in this year’s Derby expressed his concern on the issue. He thinks that the blanket statement that all drugs are bad, or an attempt to cheat, is misguided.

In an interview with the press, Pletcher said that it’s a delicate balancing act. “I think we have to look at every angle and everything we can do to make sure the horses stay healthier longer. It’s a delicate balancing act.” He said that authorities should be careful in classifying drugs since not all are harmful and that using this drug is purposely done to cheat. “Some science is good. Some medications are good. I think there is a misconception that we’re trying to create and edge or do something illegal. That’s now what we’re doing here. We’re trying to keep the horse out there and performing at a high level over a long period of time. I think we have to be careful of classifying everything as a negative,” Pletcher added.

Based on the new policy, a high level of corticosteroid will result to a lighter penalty as compared to anabolic steroids. Race horses tested positive for anabolic steroids will result to disqualification, huge fines and loss of purse. The trainer will also face suspension. But if the commission found out that the drug was intentionally used to dope the horses, similar penalties will be given.

Most golfers believe that Tiger Woods probably used HGH or other performance enhancing drugs. This the result of the latest survey conducted by Sports Illustrated on professional golfers. The complete details of the survey which will be published on May 3 issue of SI Golf Plus interviewed 71 PGA Tours golfers. The annual survey of SI asked the players on many issues from Woods’ sex scandal and steroid issues to President Barack Obama.

When the scandal broke out late last year, there were already some reports that aside from the infidelity issues, the number 1 golfer could also be involved in the use of performance enhancing drugs. News agencies tried to link him to a Canadian doctor, Dr. Anthony Galea who is now under federal investigation for possible illegal prescriptions of anabolic steroids and human growth hormones to his patients.

During the press conference on the opening of the Master’s, Woods confirmed that he was once a patient of Dr. Galea. He availed the services of the doctor because a lot of professional athletes have claimed the effectiveness of his treatment procedures. However, Tiger Woods denied that he used performance enhancers or that Dr. Galea prescribed him any steroids or HGH. “He never gave me HGH or any PEDs. I’ve never taken that my entire life. I’ve never taken any illegal drug, ever, for that matter,” Woods said during the press con.

He explained that Dr. Galea treated his left leg injury using platelet-enriched plasma therapy. This method of treatment improves the healing process of any injury especially when a patient underwent a surgery. This what makes the Canadian doctor famous to most professional athletes. “As you all know, in 2008 I blew out my ACL, and part of my reconstruction with my LCL, it wasn’t reacting properly, it was a little bit stuck. And so I had the PRP injection into my LCL,” Woods said. Woods also said that Galea was recommended to him by his physical therapist. It was later known that the therapist is also connected to Galea’s clinic and also treated clients from Victor Conte, the founder of the Bay Area Lab Cooperative who was also charged for illegal distribution of steroids.

24% of the 71 PGA golfers surveyed believes that Woods used HGH or other performance-enhancing drugs. Although this may not represent the majority of the pro golfers but the survey is a significant one. Even if other golfers may not be vocal on this issue, their views were revealed in the poll. The result could also mean that other athletes believe that Woods’ excellent performance could be a synthetic one and not coming from his natural skills.

It was also noted that 8% of players already heard or knew something about Woods’ affairs even before the Thanksgiving incident. Woods’ popularity helped him lead the other categories in the survey. 30% of the respondents said that he should have his own reality show.