A former steroid user told the Toronto Sun that anabolic steroids in Edmonton, Canada are not hard to find. Actually, you can purchase it with ease from local distributors. The source also admitted that these anabolic steroids were mostly made in the area. This allegation could be true because local police recently raided a house full of steroids. A steroid home laboratory, which was allegedly run by a family, can produce thousands of anabolic steroid products based on the evidences gathered by the authorities.

Raided Home Laboratories

This is not the first time Canadian authorities raided home laboratories. In fact this is the second home laboratory for steroids busted for this month alone. Authorities have a continuing campaign against these illegal manufacturers but there are still many people who know how to evade authorities. The discovery of this steroid lab was due to an incident on Aug 24 when the drug and gang unit pulled over a 2009 Mercedes for inspection. But what they found were steroids and other prescription drugs worth $40,000 and cash amounting to $3,800. Information gathered by the authorities was significant in the arrest of the suspects and uncovering of their illegal operation. “This was a spinoff of that. We don’t typically get involved with steroid files. It’s certainly not for a lack of use - quite clearly. We just don’t get that many complaints,” said Greg Preston, head of the organized crime department.

Worth of Steroids

Police investigators have yet to determine how long this home lab is operating. “It would take some time to accrue these assets,” said Preston. According to the report of the Edmonton Journal, police seized $250,000 worth of anabolic steroids, $240,000 in cash, and $230,000 worth of luxury cars. They also seized weighing scales, several empty bottles. Several thousands of steroid pills and 12 liters of its liquid version were now under the custody of the authorities.

A Guide in Making Anabolic Steroids

A how-to guide in making anabolic steroids was also found in the home laboratory. The book which was written by a Professor named Frank is entitled “Anabolic Steroids and Making Them.” However, an inquiry on its website revealed that the author is a retired auto worker and currently working at Wal-Mart. The ingredients which were believed to be coming from overseas and an unknown formula used in making these substances is a perfect combination for creating a very dangerous drug.

Those people buying steroids from this home lab could be ruining their life. There are already reported side effects of taking steroids but taking these prescription drugs from unlicensed manufacturers could pose more serious side effects and complications. “What should be concerning to potential users is that it appears some of the steroids were being processed and packaged for injections in a makeshift lab in someone’s home. As in any uncontrolled laboratory, there are no guarantees on the cleanliness or contents of the product being made,” said Preston. “This is a homegrown lab. I’m quite confident Johnson & Johnson wouldn’t have pets and food around them in their laboratory. Look at the vials and machinery. It doesn’t look too clean,” he added.

The use and possession of anabolic steroid is not illegal in the country but manufacturing and distributing these steroidswithout the proper license is illegal. The authorities already charged the suspects; Charles William Fougere, Susan Ann Fougere, Trevor Raymond Fougere, Troy Charles Fougere, Brock Reginald Chichak. They were charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking, possession of the proceeds of crime and production of controlled substance. The anabolic products found in the home of the Fougeres were sold online, by mail order or through personal contacts.

Leave it to the state athletic commissions. This is the current stand of both UFC and Strikeforce. The two MMA promotions company are not in favor of imposing additional sanctions to players caught using anabolic steroids. This is an indication that they are not willing to give in to the clamor of the public for a more comprehensive anti-doping policy.

An increasing number of UFC fighters involved in the use of performance enhancing drugs is a proof that mixed martial arts is not yet a clean sport. Top officials of both promotions company believe that their existing policies are enough in confronting steroid use among its fighters. UFC President Dana White even commented in an interview that people should stop comparing them to NFL and other leagues like the MLB and NBA. “What you guys have to understand is that this isn’t the NFL [where] you get busted and we are going to decide to suspend you for four games,” White told MMAFighting. “The government comes in and takes away your ability to make a living for a year or whatever it is. Then, on top of that, the money you made in that fight, they are going to fine you.”

While they want to show to the MMA fans that they are independent and capable of handling steroid scandals, their stance on steroid testing and existing policy on steroid violators are still considered weak. The MMA is gaining a strong following from younger generations so failure to police their own fighters may send a wrong signal. Some sports analyst even predicted that they could become WWE where the steroid era had caused many deaths of young professional wrestlers.

StrikeForce maintained its position that they have a zero tolerance against steroid users. “We have zero tolerance for steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs. I think those who do cheat will be caught by the commissions. It comes down to the athlete and if he wants to self-destruct his career. We stand by the policies in place by the commissions and by their rulings,” said Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker.

Strikeforce defended their decision in acquiring Josh Barnett, the former UFC heavyweight champion who was caught 3 times for using steroids. Strikeforce spokesperson Mike Afromowitz said that Barnett must pass steroid test before CSAC can give him license to fight. The zero tolerance policy is still in place even if Barnett was allowed to play for the company said the spokesperson.

The number of fighters who are into PED’s may be higher since steroid testing is only focused on mid-level and top level promotions. An online source reported that there are at least 30 MMA fighters who failed steroid testing since 2002. But for former BALCO founder Victor Conte, an all year round testing on top fighters will be more effective in dealing with the problem of steroids use. “Those fighters need to be in a pool and subjected to 24-7, 365 testing. “You don’t have the dollars to test everybody, so you need to focus your attention at those at the top of the list,” he said.

Now the question is, can state athletic commissions solve the problem of steroid use? Certainly, they can’t. It still depends on how this problem is addressed by the UFC and Strikeforce. One of the issues is the differences in doping policies of each state. The state of Nevada, California, Oregon and Missouri require fighters to undergo testing during the fight and conducts out of competition tests. However, other states do not impose strict testing on players. This is also the concern of the Drug Free Sport. “Can you imagine a situation where other sports leagues or the NCAA had different standards applied state by state? It just doesn’t work. There needs to be an independent, national oversight program for there to be an effectively administered program,” said Frank Uryasz, president of the Drug Free Sport.

Football players should not only be tagged as steroid users. They are also against the illegal use of the drug. In an effort to build their image as anti-steroid crusaders, most NFL teams are conducting outreach programs educating the youth about the dangers of taking anabolic steroids. The Oakland Raiders recently hosted an event with participants from high schools in the East Bay. The day long activity was held in the Raider’s headquarters in Alameda.

There were at least 100 high school student-athletes from four Oakland high schools who attended the anti-steroid training session. Students from Mandela High, Davis senior High, Skyline High, and Media College Prep attended the training session which lasted for 5 hours.

The objective of the event is to enhance the awareness of the young athletes on the consequences of taking performance enhancing drugs. The discussion did not only focus on the side effects of anabolic steroids but they also tackled how these students can improve their skills without taking any drugs. The coaches told them that they can be better athletes by using proper training techniques. Raider’s strength and conditioning Coach Brad Roll and linebacker Sam Williams were present during the vent.

The training seminar is the second time for the team. This outreach activity is in connection with the program initiated by Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder and other NFL teams. The ATLAS (Adolescents Training and Learning to Avoid Steroids) and ATHENA (Athletes Targeting Healthy Exercise and Nutrition Alternatives) have been well received by school officials and other anti-steroid crusaders. These programs are focused on proper training and nutrition instead of depending on performance enhancing substances.

Since most young athletes idolizes these players in the professional leagues, their anti-steroid stance would help students avoid taking anabolic steroids and human growth hormone which is also becoming popular in pro sports.

Meanwhile, another program that is initiated by the students of University of Southern Nevada is getting positive feedback from the community. The Operation Medicine Cabinet had already collected more than 380,000 prescription pills. The objective of the program is to prevent the adolescents from taking unused prescription drugs from family members. Associate Prof. Paul Oesterman of the university told the media that they want to remove the temptation from these young teens.

According to reports, adolescents aging from 12 to 17 are more prone to taking prescription medicines and abusing these drugs. A 2009 study of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that 1 in 5 high schools students said they had taken prescription drugs without a prescription. For 12 graders the rate is much higher said in the study. Authorities are alarmed because prescription drugs are freely available at home. They can just take it from the medicine cabinet.

With this program, health experts and police officers are hoping that the abuse of prescription medicines will decline in the area.

The Commonwealth Games in India on October is marred by so many controversies. Some critics say that the country is not yet ready to hold the event because of security issues. There are also some facilities and venues which are still under renovation, repair or construction. This is a great challenge to the host country but sports authorities are optimistic that these will be solved before the start of the games first week of October. “I am as confident and as cool as ever about our organizing. These are all minor hiccups,” Urban Development Minister S. Jaipal Reddy told the media.

Some of the participating countries in the Commonwealth Games are Australia, New Zealand, England, Canada, Scotland, Wales, Pakistan, Jamaica and India. It is also reported that many professional athletes declined to participate in some events because of the reasons mentioned above. World discuss champion Dani Samuels of Australia, world triple jump champion Phillips Idowu of England, and triple Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt of Jamaica have all withdrawn from the event. Although there are problems in the upcoming Commonwealth Games, participating countries promised that they will be sending contingents to the games.

Another highlight in the games is the involvement of other athletes in controversies such as the use of steroids. In Pakistan, a participant in the Commonwealth Games was suspended because of steroids. Former Olympic runner Sumaira Zahoor, who competed in the 2004 Athens Olympics in 1500 meters category, was suspended for two years. Pakistan will not be able to field in any participant in the track and field event.

Pakistan’s cricket players Shahid Afridi, Muhammad Yousuf, Shoaib Akhtar and Umar Akmal were also subjected to steroid tests last week. 10 athletes who participated in the National Championship and during a camp for the Commonwealth Games in Delhi were slapped with 2 year bans for positive steroid tests. Khalid Mehmood, the secretary of Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP) told the media that the incident is embarrassing for the country.

The athletes who represented Pakistan in different international events took the risk of taking steroids to cope up in the competition. Mehmood said that some of these athletes were already on their 30’s so some of these athletes were hoping that steroid will help them regain their strength and speed. “It hasn’t harmed the federation since these athletes were never capable of winning a gold, silver or bronze in the 2010 Commonwealth Games or Asian Games for that matter. The athletes took these substances because they knew they were getting old,” Mehmood told The Express Tribune. The age factor is the main reason why these athletes take steroids and other performance enhancing drugs.

In New Delhi, netball player Megha Chaudhary was also appealing her doping case before the NADA disciplinary panel. Chaudhary’s B sample also tested for a banned steroid so she might also be given suspension by the NADA. The anti-doping agency will also hear the cases of 11 athletes who failed steroid tests.

A year long investigation on police officers in Gold Coast, Queensland revealed that several officers were using steroids for non-medical reasons. This is aside from the misconduct of some officers in the area where bribery and corruption is a major problem. The investigation named Operation Tesco has required many police officers and department heads to testify in the inquiry headed by the Crime and Misconduct Commission (CMC).

Australian news agencies reported that there were at least 6 police officers who will be disciplined because of their involvement in illegal use of anabolic steroids. Most of them told the CMC that they took steroids to fight fatigue and to become stronger and bigger. For them, steroids could help them become more effective in providing services in an area where crimes are prevalent. A statement from the Queensland Police Union (QPU) also pointed out the current situation of the officers in Gold Coast.

Ian Leavers, QPU President told the commission that misconducts and use of performance enhancing drugs by some officers could be prevented if they have enough number of police officers servicing the Gold Coast area. He said that at least 100 new officers are needed because they are under-resourced and understaffed. Another problem that he raised is the lack of senior officers who are guiding junior policemen. “That is unacceptable in an area as vibrant and as dangerous and as violent on the Gold Coast,” said Leavers.

The use of steroids by police officers is unacceptable because it can affect their judgment according to a health expert invited in the hearing. If it is not prescribed for any medical reason, it can lead to “hypermanic episodes“. “That is they will get anxious, have sleep difficulties, become agitated, irritable, angry, and they can overreact to situations and their judgment may not be as balanced as it might normally be,” said David Handelsman of the Sydney Medical School. There were previous reports that officers were too aggresive in performing arrests in the area.

Officers taking steroids are also prone to over dosages and sometimes mix the drug with black market steroids or other illicit drugs which is more dangerous. Queensland Police Service human resources manager Patricia Jones said during the inquiry that the use of steroids is a concern of their department. Jones told the investigators that they already placed posters in police stations warning officers about the use of anabolic steroids.

A comprehensive steroid testing is not yet implemented in the Queensland Police Service. They only conduct tests on drugs and alcohol on officers and recruits under suspicion. The cost of steroid testing is one of the major problems in implementing the program. Jones said that random drug testing will cost them around $500,000 a year. “For $500,000, I could possibly employ four to five more police officers (so) the question becomes, what’s the cost benefit?” she said.

The CMC chairman Martin Moynihan welcomed the cooperation of all agencies concerned. He believes that the implementation of some changes will prevent the return of widespread corruption and misconduct in the police force. “What this hearing shows is that we are all on the same page and will continue to work together to achieve a common goal of raising integrity,” Moynihan said.

The California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) handed down a 1-year suspension to UFC’s middleweight fighter Chael Sonnen. In the press release of the CSAC, the suspension was due to a very high testosterone-to-estrogen level in his urine sample. This is an indicator that Sonnen used anabolic steroids. A confirmatory test also showed the same result. Aside from the suspension, CSAC also imposed $2,500 fine on Sonnen.

Chael Sonnen lost against Anderson Silva last month. A rematch will not happen soon because of this suspension. Sonnen will likely miss 2 to 3 matches while his suspension is in effect. However, for some MMA fans the suspension is not enough. The UFC President is urged to impose their own sanctions on fighters caught using steroids. As long as there are fighters being caught using steroids, the anti-doping policy of the UFC is not effective. Critics say that a total ban of the player will be more effective in curtailing steroid use in the sport of mixed martial arts.

UFC President Dana White can do more in preventing fighters to engage in performance enhancing drugs. “Dana White can use his bully pulpit today and tell the MMA world that fighters caught with steroids in their system won’t have a place in the UFC. It certainly won’t stop everyone, but it may force enough to pause, think, and question if it’s really worth the risk,” Josh Gross of SI.com.

The current suspension and fines imposed on erring players are not enough. “The money’s too big and consequences aren’t big enough—that much is clear, because it keeps happening. The use of this stuff is also, clearly, cheating, which should hopefully still mean something. Bottom line, it doesn’t have any place in MMA, let alone the biggest promotion in the world,” Gross added.

But for White, the existing penalties being imposed by state athletic commissions are enough. During an interview, he reiterated that it is the government who makes the decisions and they are the one telling his fighters what will happen if they violate the rules.

White still want to make it clear that he is not leaving the issue to government regulatory agencies. He gave as an example the case of Josh Barnett. “People are all going to make mistakes. I judge you by how you react to the mistakes you make,” White told MMAFighting.

“There’s guys out there like Josh Barnett. Josh Barnett tested positive three times and this guy denies it every time. Everybody’s a liar but him. I just saw an interview he did where he said he could really give a [expletive] about anybody else but himself. And that’s why Josh Barnett isn’t and will never be in the UFC. This isn’t the kind of guy that I respect or want to do business with,” White added.

However, Josh Barnett reacted on his statement. “Just saw another one with Dana going on about me. Sorry you’ll never be a “real” tough guy. Its not for all of us… like Boxercise,” Barnett wrote on his twitter account. Barnett is now working for the StrikeForce. He tested positive for anabolic steroids in UFC 36 and before his fight with Fedor Emelianenko in Affliction.