The problem of steroid use by student athletes in some Canadian Universities puts the country in a bad limelight. Most sports officials still treat this as an isolated case. However, the news about the high number of steroid users in the University of Waterloo had incited the interest of international media. Of course, who would not cover news about the first HGH positive in North America? This is now a national concern that must be addressed not only by the university but also by the national sporting bodies tasked to oversee the implementation of anti-doping policies.

The CCES and CIS knows that there is really a problem in curtailing the use of performance enhancing drugs in Canadian universities. Student athletes who want to be drafted in the pro are tempted to take the shortcut through the help of anabolic steroids. Steroids are known for its muscle enhancing effects and could give them extra strength and stamina. These are the qualities needed by a professional athlete especially in football.

The announcement of the CCES of the complete names of football players who failed the mandatory drug testing conducted at the University of Waterloo football team shocked some of its alumni. The impact of the steroid controversy haunting the university is now affecting even its former student athletes. In the article published by the Toronto Sun, Laurier Rams’ coach John Kublinskas expressed his disgust on the result of the steroid tests. “I’m a Waterloo grad, so it hits home. It’s definitely a shame. I’m shocked by the whole situation and I’m shocked by who is involved. I know the time, work and energy a lot of people put into that program,” said Coach Kublinskas.

The coach agrees that athletes dreaming to be part of the CFL might try steroids to increase their chances. “I can see where the temptation may be for those guys in their fourth or fifth years who think they have a chance at the CFL and see the league doesn’t test. But then they get cut, come back (to the university program) and get caught,” the coach said. The problem should not be blamed on the students alone but authorities should also look into the sports program of the university. There could be a problem somewhere. “But this was all the way through the (Waterloo) program. The numbers were crazy. Some guys were starters, some weren’t,” said Kublinskas.

Coach Kublinskas was also surprised about the involvement of Spencer Zimmerman-Cryer in the steroid controversy. Zimmerman-Cryer was a star player in the Rams offensive lineup but the coach admitted that the football player is a little bit undersized for college football. “I don’t know if that was the temptation for him, but the thing was it was always about technique for him. That was his advantage in high school,” he said. Former coach of Zimmerman-Cryer in the London Falcons also told the media that there was no indication that the player already used steroids during his high school years. Falcons president and varsity head coach Mike Esposito said that it might have been something he got into after leaving their school. Zimmerman-Cryer admitted to taking the steroid Oral Turinabol.

Those athletes involve in the controversy will always be tagged as a cheater and steroid user. “This is hiring stuff now. He’ll always be attached to this,” said Kublinskas who also said that they were still affected by this fiasco even if they were not connected with the university anymore.

A raid on a home based steroid laboratory proves that buying anabolic steroids from unregistered, illegal and fly by night businesses is a very dangerous thing to do. Canadian police found the chemicals used to manufacture steroids in a room which they said were not sanitized and the ingredients used may have been contaminated. The labels and packaging of the steroids were also similar to the branded ones so customers will not suspect that the products are counterfeit according to the authorities.

A break-in report led the authorities to the discovery of the illegal steroid operation. Large quantities of anabolic steroids, ingredients, labels, containers, and packaging equipment were recovered. Laval police described how the illegal steroid operation in the said place is being conducted. Police officer Nathalie Lorrain told the Montreal Gazette that they found labeled and unlabeled large bags of powders and jugs of liquids purportedly used in the operation.

Lorrain was alarmed on the way these steroids were manufactured. “The worst thing was that the liquid we found, which could be injected, was made in very dirty conditions. All the pots and bottles we found were very dirty,” Lorrain said. “Also, there were so many powders and chemicals that we can’t identify them. We have to wait for Health Canada to analyze them. We think there could be a lot of chemicals that are bad for your health,” she added.

The report said that 200 vials of finished steroids for sale were seized. Winstrol was one of identified anabolic steroids found on the home laboratory. A vial of growth hormone and several unidentified pills were also confiscated by the authorities. This can be considered as a big time steroid operation because police officers seized more than 9,000 empty vials plus a sealing machine and a pill press. A fictitious pharmaceutical company was also used in the labels. Officers also believed that it is possible that there could be more anabolic steroids stocked in the home but may have already been stolen by the robbers to be sold on the black market.

The Gazette reported that the owner, who is a competitive bodybuilder, is out of the country when the incident happened. Police are still gathering more information on the illegal steroid operation and is expected to invite the owner when he returns to the country.

Authorities warn the public especially those who purchased steroids with Sun Labs label to immediately consult a doctor. Since these anabolic steroids were manufactured illegally under hazardous environment it may pose serious health problems. “We want to warn the public that if anyone bought, either in a gym or on the street, a product identified with the label Sun labs (believed to be the name of a fictitious steroid manufacturer), they should consult a doctor or a health professional,” said Lorrain. The dosages and the ingredients used were not known if it is safe to consume. “We really don’t know what is in there. And if you have the products, please dispose of them quickly.”

Since most users of anabolic steroids are bodybuilders and professional athletes, they are prone to these risks. As a precaution, always buy from a reputable company and always ask guidance from a health care professional.

Sports authorities in Canada are now sure that the use of performance enhancing drugs in university sports is a major problem that needs to be addressed immediately. The recent announcement of Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sports (CCES) that a football player from the University of Waterloo tested positive not only for steroids but also for human growth hormone is alarming. “We have suspected that hGH has been abused by certain athletes in an effort to cheat. We now have the proof,” said Paul Melia, head of the CCES. “However, it is alarming and of great concern that its presence has been detected with our young athletes,” he added.

The remaining names of the 9 football players who failed the tests, admitted to taking steroids or refused to take the mandatory test were made public. University of Waterloo Warriors center Spencer Zimmerman-Cryer admitted to taking anabolic steroids. He was given 1 year suspension because of his early admission of the violation. The steroid that he took was Oral-Turinabol.

Receiver Aubrey Jesseau returned a positive test for steroid and was given a 2-year suspension. The adverse analytical finding showed that Jesseau used Stanozolol, another substance banned in the WADA Prohibited List. The football player waived his right to a hearing and acknowledged the violation.

Linebacker Brandon Krukowski, who was already named in the steroid investigation by the police, was given a 4-year suspension because of his refusal to be tested. Online reports showed that Krukowski admitted to the doping violation and was also using steroids. He was also charged by the authorities, together with Nathan Zettler, with possession of steroids for the purpose of trafficking. This was one of the reasons why he was given a much longer punishment.

The last player who also failed the test was running back Matt Socholotiuk. His test result showed a high level of testosterone. Socholotiuk requested for a hearing but did not submit himself to the panel. The CCES imposed a 3-year suspension on Socholotiuk. But the most interesting part on the test result of the football player was the adverse analytical finding for HGH or human growth hormone. He was the first player in North America caught using hGH.

Though hGH is very useful in treating some medical conditions, it is abused by some amateur and professional players to gain competitive advantage. Some of its side effects include diabetes, early onset of osteoarthritis, heart diseases, and muscle, bone and joint pain.

CCES urged all sports leagues to help them curtail the problem of steroid and hgh use by amateur and professional athletes. “The recent decision by the Canadian Football League to test for hGH is a step in the right direction, but they are not the only ones who influence young Canadian athletes,” said Melia. “I invite all of the professional leagues and their players’ unions in North America, such as the NFL, MLB, and the NHL, to accept their social responsibility and the powerful role they can play in the fight against doping in sport,” said the CCES chief.

Melia believes that the professional leagues can become role models for the young athletes if they impose stricter anti-doping policies which should include hgh testing. The continuing resistance of the players union in including hgh tests can send a wrong signal to aspiring young athletes. Melia stressed that there is a proof that the test is now reliable. “They need to stop sending a mixed message to our children and youth that it is okay to cheat and risk your health to set records and pursue winning at any cost.”

Right now, the University of Waterloo football program is still suspended. The high number of players using steroids and other performance enhancing drugs is a deliberate attempt by athletes to dope, to cheat the system, to take a shortcut and to succeed at any cost according to Paul Melia. Anti-doping expert Christiane Ayotte said that the result is unprecedented. “It was a surprise to us that that level of sophistication would be found in university sports,” she said.

Melia also warned young athletes who would try to use banned substances. The advancement in technology increased their ability to detect prohibited substances like HGH.

After years of working together, the relationship of Roger Clemens and Brian McNamee became sour when the latter testified in Congress that he injected Clemens with steroids and human growth hormone several times. This is also the reason why Clemens was indicted on several charges including lying to Congress and giving false testimonies. The two filed defamation suit against each other to prove that one of them is not telling the truth.

However, Roger Clemens was not successful in his aim to make McNamee pay for his statement in Congress. The Court of appeals recently ruled in favor of his personal trainer. Clemens’ lawyers are not satisfied with the ruling and filed a petition that the case should be reviewed by a 5-man judge panel instead of three judges who handled their case.

On Wednesday, McNamee’s defamation suit against Clemens started. The case was handled by U.S. District Court Judge Sterling Johnson. As expected lawyers of both parties exchanged heated arguments. Clemens camp argued that the case should be dismissed because it lacks merit. On the other hand, McNamee’s legal counsel said that the previous statement of Clemens to the media was a planned effort to tarnish the name and reputation of their client.

The defamation suit includes other charges like malicious prosecution and intentional infliction of emotional distress. According to Richard Emery, the head legal counsel of McNamee, his client’s life was ruined by a rigorous, unrelenting campaign to destroy him. He was referring to the series of media interviews of Clemens after McNamee testified that he personally injected Clemens with steroids and human growth hormones. Clemens initiated a media campaign including an appearance in “60 minutes” attacking McNamee’s credibility. The Daily News described how Clemens tried to protect himself from the negative impact of his involvement in the steroid scandal in baseball. In 2007 to 2008, the media appearances of Clemens centered on destroying the character of McNamee describing him as liar, an extortionist, mentally unstable and willing to fabricate evidence.

In defending Clemens, Rusty Hardin told the court that there is no basis for the defamation case. “Brian McNamee is suing Roger Clemens because Clemens is denying that he, Brian McNamee, committed a crime,” Hardin said. Clemens was actually disputing the claims of McNamee that he injected Clemens with performance enhancing substances. This would mean that his client is actually saying that the trainer has not broken drug laws.

They also questioned the venue of the litigation because the New York Yankees where Clemens pitched for some years is owned by an Ohio based company with an office in Tampa, Florida. The case should be dismissed said Clemens’ lawyers.

The Daily News also quoted another argument of Clemen’s lawyer. Joe Roden said that even if McNamee had injected Clemens with steroid and HGH in New York as part of a contract between the two men, those actions would be illegal and therefore the contract would be illegal, negating the New York court’s jurisdiction to hear the defamation case. Clemens camp wants to freeze the litigation, if it proceeds, to settle criminal issues first.

The UFC President wants to have a different approach in handling steroid cases which involve UFC fighters. UFC President Dana White told the media that he prefer to take a neutral stand first before taking any action against his employee, heavyweight fighter Shane Carwin. White said that he needs more information on the steroid allegation rather than giving immediate sanctions to Carwin.

Last month Shane Carwin was named by a prosecutor as one of the customers of Applied Pharmacy services. The company was involved in the illegal distribution and prescription of anabolic steroids in the country. He was one of the 22 professional athletes and bodybuilders who purchased steroids through the help of doctors conspiring with the pharmacy owners. WWE wrestler Kurt Angle was also included in the list.

Shane Carwin tried to be silent on the issue. His lawyers prevented him to discuss his alleged involvement in the Applied Pharmacy case because of legal issues. Though he posted on his twitter account that they are confronting the issue but declined to make public statements.

White defended their steroid policy saying that the UFC is regulated by the government. His fighters are drug tested so the news that Carwin is involved in steroid use should be investigated carefully. “What everybody doesn’t understand is, boxing and mixed martial arts are regulated by the government,” he told the Fight Fix. “We’re the only sports that are regulated by the government. Meaning that when the drug testing is done, the government drug tests them. The government oversees all the medicals and everything else,” White said.

He also defended Carwin saying that the alleged purchase and prescriptions happened years ago. Carwin’s career in the UFC was clean of any performance enhancing drug as evidenced by his negative test results in every fight. “First of all, he’s never tested positive for anything after being tested by the government. He popped up on a Balco-type list. He popped up on a list with all these guys that supposedly were getting [steroids] from these doctors years ago,” said White. The UFC president wants to get more facts on the issue before making any decision. “I have to find out what all the facts are first, see what happens and then we’ll decide what we’re gonna do.”

Mixed martial arts is a sport that needs power, strength and bigger muscles. So the issue of using steroids is not surprising. However, sports officials should do something on this steroid issue to prove that their sport is really clean of performance enhancing substances. This should not only focus on Shane Carwin but also on other fighters in UFC. There were already a few fighters who failed steroid tests like Ken Shamrock but the real numbers could be higher.

More than 3 years ago, a pharmacy in Florida that was allegedly involved in the illegal distribution and prescription of anabolic steroids across the country was raided by authorities with full media coverage. The pharmacy owners, pharmacist, and other employees were arrested signifying that the law will not spare people doing illegal business activities. The Signature Pharmacy which was the center of a nationwide investigation on the illegal distribution of anabolic steroids closed its operation because of the incident.

According to the prosecutors handling the case, the pharmacy was able to sell at least $10 million of controlled substances to customers in New York alone. The respondents were charged but after a few years, the situation changed. The accuser in this steroid case becomes the defendant because of a recent ruling of a federal judge in Florida.

The pharmacy owners were able to get a favorable decision from federal judge Gregory A. Presnell allowing them to pursue a lawsuit against the prosecutor who led the investigation against their company 3 years ago. The judge ruled that there were so many flaws in the case against the Signature Pharmacy owners which could include illegal arrests and mishandling of the steroid investigation. Albany District Attorney David Soares is now on hot seat because of this case.

In the NY Times report, Judge Presnell said that he failed to comprehend how the prosecutor pursued with the investigation where in fact there was no legal basis. He noted that the pharmacy had no offices in New York and those people charged had never set foot in the state. “New York simply appears to have been just one of the many states to which Signature shipped or filled prescriptions. In short, there is nothing in the record to suggest that Signature had any unique or particular nexus to the State of New York or Albany County. That the Albany D.A.’s office would participate in an investigation — and later attempt to prosecute a case — of this magnitude is baffling,” said the judge in his ruling.

Another major issue in the Signature Pharmacy case is the legality of the arrest warrants. The judge said that it was based on an original indictment and not on a second superseding indictment. District Prosecutor Soarez might also acted beyond his jurisdiction because the investigation was conducted in Florida. The arrest warrants were also questioned because it was issued in New York not in Florida. The judge also commented on the way the prosecutor and his top deputy aid used the media in ensuring that the arrest and raids conducted were fully covered.

A private lawyer of Soares told the media that they already made an appeal about the decision of Judge Presnell. On the other hand, Amy Tingley who represents the company owners, said that the decision strengthened their case against Prosecutor Soares. “We feel very satisfied that the federal judge recognized the improprieties of these prosecutors’ conduct and the damage it caused,” she said. As a result of this scandal, the business suffered too much loss and was forced to shut down in 2008.

The pharmacy connived with doctors who helped customers obtain prescriptions even without physical examinations or actual diagnosis. The internet was also used by the company to sell steroids to various clients including professional athletes from baseball and football. Most of the prescriptions were issued to clients who want to improve performance in sports.