It was in December 2 last year when Josh Barnett went to the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) hoping that the commission will grant him a new license after his steroid suspension. But it turned out that the process is not easy. The commission decided to postpone the hearing since it would be better if Barnett will be accompanied by a legal counsel.

The former heavyweight champion was suspended by CSAC in July 2009 for testing positive for an anabolic steroid. He was suspended for one year and his license was revoked by the commission. Though Barnett already served the suspension, his relicensing will still depend on many factors. During his appearance in the December hearing, California Assistant Attorney General Alfredo Terrazas was present to question him about steroid use. CSAC requires him to present documents about his rehabilitation. Barnett must prove he is already clean of any performance enhancing drug by submitting to the commission negative results of steroid tests.

Barnett Fighting in StrikeForce

Barnett has one big problem. He is included in the main event of Strikeforce Tourney. The 3-round tournament which will begin on February 12 features 8 heavyweight fighters. This will be a clash of the best heavyweight MMA fighters which include Fedor Emelianenko, Antonio Silva, Fabricio Werdum, Brett Rogers, Andrei Arlovski, Sergei Kharitonov, and Alistair Overeem. “It took us three months to put all this together,” Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker told Sherdog.com.

The first round will be held at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J. with Arlovski-Kharitonov and Emelianenko-Silva. The quarter final bout between Overeem-Werdum and Barnett-Rogers is scheduled in April. Coker added that they are still in the process of negotiating with a couple of venues and the specific dates of the succeeding bouts. “We’re just not ready to announce them just yet,” Coker said.

Barnett is in CSAC’s Agenda

The hearing of Barnett’s relicensing was already postponed several times. However, CSAC executive director George Dodd told Sherdog.com that Barnett’s case will be tackled in the February meeting of the commissioners. “He’s on the agenda for Feb. 4. If he doesn’t contact me by Jan. 10, he won’t be going in front of the commission. If everybody could just get together, we could get this taken care of,” said Dodd.

Barnett should be able to furnish the commission all the requirements before he can be allowed to fight again. “Josh will not be licensed in California until he appears before the commission and answers questions about past steroid usage, and also [addresses] the question of rehabilitation to have his license renewed,” Dodd told Sherdog.

Other state athletic commissions contacted by Coker have indicated that they can issue a license to Barnett provided he complies with the requirements similar to CSAC. “Let him go appeal to any state that has a commission. Josh has some work to do in California. But he’s paid his dues. Let him make a living and go to work. But I don’t think he’s going to be fighting in California,” said Coker.

Steroid is not the only problem of Major League Baseball. There have been previous reports that trainers and agents were manipulating the documents to get more bonuses from players acquired by the league. But it was only last Tuesday that authorities finally charged one of these trainers. Victor Baez, a controversial trainer working with players from the Dominican Republic, was arrested and charged by Dominican Police for fraud and falsifying documents.

Dominican authorities told the media that the arrest is an example of their crackdown on scouts who uses fraudulent documents, visas and passports just to get commissions from players’ contracts. The names of the players whose identities were allegedly falsified were not made public.

The MLB sources most of its players from the Dominican Republic because of the many talented young baseball players in the country. However, issues such as the use of anabolic steroids and fake identities of the players are becoming a main concern of the league. According to the report of the NY Daily News, the arrest of Baez was due to the information provided by the MLB to Dominican authorities about his alleged fraudulent activities. MLB spokesman Patrick Courtney said that a Dominican player approached them and discussed Baez’ attempt to provide him with fake age and identity. “We turned over what we had to the authorities, and they took it from there. This is the way it is supposed to work. It’s a sign they are involved and interested in the issue,” said Courtney.

Victor Baez is one of the prominent baseball trainers in the Dominican Republic. In an interview last year, Baez boasted that he was able to provide the MLB and other leagues with at least 53 players. “I have signed 53 ballplayers. None of them (took) steroids, not one of them a fake ID. I’m 0-for-53. That is a very good average,” he said. But in June last year, four of his players tested positive for steroids. He initially blamed a supplement for the failed test. Baez told the media that it was probably caused by a contaminated protein powder.

BaseballAmerica.com named two of his players who failed the steroid test, Padres outfielder Edwin Moreno and Orioles third baseman Hector Veloz. Both baseball players tested positive for steroid stanozolol. A more popular brand of this kind of steroid is Winstrol. Baez was also the man behind the signing of lefthanders Edgar Ferreira and Kilby Pena. These players were able to pass background checks on their age and identities but other players became victims of Baez’ illegal activities.

According to other agents, people would sometimes engage into this kind of activity because of the money they can get whenever a player signs with a team in the league. For example, Moreno and Veloz have received $500,000 and $300,000 respectively. If Baez could sign in more players with these kind of contracts, it would mean more money on his pocket.

Another reason why scouts would try to fake the identities of their players is the norm in the league that younger baseball players are more worthy to acquire than the older ones. “What people believe is that if you are a young pitcher, a 16-year-old pitcher who throws 90 miles per hour, you’ll be even better when you are 20 or 25,” said MLB’s head of Latin American oversight Jorge Perez-Diaz.

The arrest of Baez was welcomed by other talent scouts for the MLB. “Unless there’s penalties for it, people are going to keep doing it. This is an eye-awakening thing. This is good. If they’re putting people in jail, that’s a big deterrent,” one Latin American scouting director said.

The guilty plea of a former military police officer was again considered a victory for law enforcement authorities especially the different agencies participated in the Operation Raw Deal. This is an inter-agency task force that initiated nationwide crackdown on illegal distributors of anabolic steroids. It was started in 2007 and they have already arrested and charged around 120 people who were involved in the illegal trade of steroids or engaged in manufacturing of these substances.

The latest guilty plea by a Southern California man showed that the federal government will not tolerate illegal business operation that may harm consumers. Based on the information obtained by the AP, Warren Abramson from Compton will file a guilty plea deal on Monday January 10. Under the agreement, Abramson will admit to 5 charges including possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance and possession of weapons and ammunitions.

The maximum sentence for these offenses is up to 55 years jail term and fines that could reach up to $1.25 million. However, the plea agreement will reduce the sentence to just a few years and a minimal fine.

Abramson was one of the big fish caught by Operation Raw Deal. Court documents showed that aside from his online business where he sells steroids to clients, Abramson was also manufacturing his own products. He rented a building in Compton to illegally manufacture anabolic steroids and other controlled substances.

According to the authorities, a raid on Abramson’s premises yielded 6,400 grams of anabolic steroids. These are already bound to be distributed to his clients. Anabolic steroids are usually sold to bodybuilders and professional athletes. The main function of steroid is to build muscles and improve strength and stamina.

If the illegal operation of Abramson was not curtailed, the steroids could be converted to 255,000 dosage units. The health of thousands of users could be at risk since the product came from an underground laboratory. The quality, proper dosage, and the kind of ingredients used to manufacture the drugs are always the main concern of the authorities. Steroids coming from these sources usually result to severe side effects such a liver and heart problems.

Authorities also seized from Abramson thousands of ammunition and firearms. Prosecutors said that Abramson was in possession of 4 firearms, 3 silencers, and more than 4,500 rounds of ammunitions.

The Operation Raw Deal was able to seize at least 11 million doses of steroids and human growth hormone. They have dismantled 56 illegal laboratories around the country and have charged more than a hundred individuals involved in the trafficking and distribution of steroids in the country. There are also several countries that participated in this crackdown including China, Thailand and Mexico. These countries are the common sources of raw materials used by illegal manufacturers of anabolic steroids. Other countries that cooperated in the investigation include Canada, Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden and Germany.

As a combat sports, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is not exempted from steroid controversies. In fact, there are already a handful of UFC fighters who were suspended because of their use of anabolic steroids. The sports organization is not bothered by these numbers and confident that it is not yet considered rampant as compared to other leagues like baseball and football. But for people watching these fighters brawl in the cage, they could see that most of these fighters are on something.

Are these fighters clean? Maybe yes and maybe not. A hot issue circulating on the web right now is the alleged use of steroids or HGH of one of the UFC’s greatest fighter, Anderson Silva. Though some MMA writers are wondering why this issue is hitting the net when Chael Sonnen’s guilty plea on money laundering was reported. Is this a sort of a strategy trying to shift the focus of the MMA fans to Silva? This is just a speculation. It’s up to the readers to decide.

Silva on Steroids?

Here is the reason why Silva’s alleged use of steroid or growth hormone immediately stirred discussions on online forums. According to WatchKalibRun website the information from Sherdog.com showed that Anderson Silva might also be cheating because of several bottles of supplements caught on cam while he was being interviewed. Pictures of the alleged supplements and drug paraphernalia are common to athletes on steroids.

Pencaps syringes, with brand name Novofine 31 G, are used to inject the body with insulin or hormones. Though these syringes can be used by a diabetic, it is still possible that it is being used to inject performance enhancing substances. Bottles of supplements were also seen in the house of Silva but these are legal supplements. Taking vitamins, minerals and herbal supplements is common to professional athletes.

A diuretic is also captured on camera but according to online sources, this is a legal diuretic approved by the NFL and the Olympics. But fans will always ask questions. Athletes on steroids usually take diuretics to mask the effects of the drug or to clean their system faster. This is one way of beating the steroid tests.

Let’s wait if Anderson Silva will react on these insinuations. He has a very good fight record and rumors about steroids could ruin his reputation.

After Testosterone Suspension, Sonnen Admitted to Fraud Charges

Chael Sonnen’s career is in jeopardy. His scheduled fight against Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 128 could be slashed from the main event. The UFC is not giving any comments at the moment. Online sources said that the sentencing on March 28 will put Chael Sonnen on 2 years probation, payment of $10,000 fine and revocation of his realtor license.

According to the district attorney’s office, Sonnen was involved in a transaction that was “designed to conceal or disguise the ownership and control of the proceeds of wire fraud.” “This office will continue to aggressively prosecute real estate professionals who committed the mortgage fraud that contributed to this country’s economic downturn and wreaked havoc on our community’s housing market,” said U. S. Attorney Dwight Holton, District of Oregon. The maximum sentence for money laundering is 20 years and a fine of $500,000.

Sonnen’s suspension from the CSAC is still in effect after he was tested positive for testosterone. He was caught after his fight with Silva which he lost. He should be serving one year suspension but his appeal convinced the CSAC to reduce the sanction to 6 months. Sonnen argued that he was on hormone replacement therapy and the sports commission knows about his medical condition.

The debate whether the steroid testing programs in high school is a deterrent or a waste of money is still open. For some lawmakers, a reduction in the testing budget is justifiable because of the minimal number of positive tests. In fact, the result of steroid test in Texas returned zero positive. But for its proponents like anti-steroid crusader Don Hooton, the state must continue to fund this program to keep student athletes away from the dangers of steroids.

The Reality

Although it’s hard to accept, anti-steroid crusaders are watching how the steroid testing programs in several states loses support from the lawmakers. An example is the state of Texas. From the initial $3 million budget for its first year implementation, it was trimmed down to just $750,000 this school year. The University Interscholastic League (UIL) will only test 4,560 athletes this year. A number way below the 35,077 students tested in school year 2008-09.

Other states with steroid testing program are New Jersey, Illinois, and Florida. But these states are also having problems financing the program. The low turn-out of steroid positives is prompting other lawmakers and school officials to replace the program with other activities such as educating the student athletes.

For Don Hooton, people should not look at the number of students failing the test. “Those people who read the results as proof we never had a steroid problem in the first place, we just gave them all the ammunition in the world. We’re going to budget this down to defeating the purpose of the program,” he told the Dallas News.

Testing Program Not Fool Proof

Steroid experts are not convinced that the steroid testing program in high schools are totally effective in catching the cheaters. They revealed that the Drug Free Sports only look for 10 common steroids in the urine samples submitted to their laboratory. According to Don Catlin of the Olympic Analytical Laboratory, to be effective a program should at least test for 40 types of steroids. He also noted some weaknesses in the steroid testing particularly the total number of tests conducted each year. “The numbers are nowhere near what they should be for a bona fide program,” he said.

Dr. Catlin also added that the privacy given to athletes during the testing could still lead to cheating. “A poorly operated program leads people who are tested to get the impression the program doesn’t work,” Catlin said. The steroids included in the list are also common and these are not the steroids being used by student athletes. “They’re looking for the common garden variants. The smart kids are far away from that.”

The head of the USADA, Travis Tygart, is also in favor of testing for more than 10 steroid variants. “I understand there are budget considerations. You need to be broader.” Partial testing for anabolic steroids may not effectively deter student athletes from taking the drugs.

With so many kinds of designer steroids out there, these athletes can use the steroids which are not in the list. “Trust me: These high school kids know as much, if not more, than some elite levels [of athletes] how to be the best they can be and win to get financial aid to go to college. They’re hungry. They’re desperate. And it’s not too hard to find the information” for beating the test,” Tygart told the Dallas News. Hooton also added that new steroids coming from China are still undetectable in US lab tests.

UIL Defends Steroid Testing Program

Dr. Mark Cousins of the UIL defended their program. He said the implementation and the type of testing being conducted is based on what the law says and based on the available budget. “We ultimately take what the Legislature gives us in direction, what money is available, work with the contractor to put together the program. The decision of what to test for, we leave up to the company,” said Cousins. “They know what substances are out there. We feel comfortable they’re testing for the steroids that have been found in the population that we’re trying to be involved with,” he added.

People should not be surprised why hundreds (or even thousands) of New Jersey police are taking anabolic steroids or human growth hormones. The state and local institutions may have failed in monitoring their own people and the current policies may have allowed them to take performance enhancing substances.

If the Star Ledger did not make this thing public, police officers in New Jersey will continue to use the taxpayer’s money to enhance their physique. According to an insider, law enforcement officers are forced to take steroids because of the culture in the police service. They believe that being stronger and bigger would make them more effective in delivering the job assigned to them. To protect the people and at the same time to protect themselves from the enemy.

A clear example why police officers resort to steroids and growth hormones is the intensive marketing of suppliers of these products. The Star Ledger noticed that anti-aging clinics and health stores already infiltrated the police department by using their publication to market these steroids. Indeed, New Jersey police will not find it hard to look for PED’s since these are already circulating inside their organization.

The December issue of New Jersey COPS, a publication for law enforcement in New Jersey, showed a full page ad for a hormone replacement therapy clinic. Based on the Star Ledger report, the ad can convince a lot of officers to try these products. “We’ve found the fountain of youth! Would you like to be able to lose fat, gain muscle, recover faster from physical activity, and possess the sex drive you had in your twenties?” said in the advertisement. To entice more customers, the ad included a special discount for law enforcement.

The Star Ledger was able to interview one of the owners of the clinic who placed an ad in the publication. According Tom Boorujy, a licensed chiropractor and owner of the Signature Health and Wellness Center, placing an ad in a magazine for cops is a viable strategy. “From what we heard, there were a lot of cops doing it, so we thought, ‘Let’s market it to that demographic,’” he said.

Boorujy said that the other clinic affiliated with them already stop providing hormone therapy when an article from the Star Ledger came out. “We are closed because of the fact the article came out. There’s scrutiny,” Boorujy said.

However, Boorujy claim that they are not doing something illegal. He said that his clinic has a medical specialist doing the diagnosis on patients. He said that he didn’t prescribe steroids or growth hormones. Dr. Alfred Helwig III, the medical supervisor, said that the clinic has an “above-board” facility and also said he doesn’t prescribe drugs without physical exams and bloodwork.

Dr. Helwig told the newspaper that he is not recommending human growth hormone or other potent bodybuilding steroids such as stanozolol (winstrol) or nandrolone (Deca-Durabolin) but rather choose testosterone creams for hormone deficiency. Testosterone is commonly prescribed to men over 50. It is a type of anabolic steroid that can help improve sex drive and build muscles. “This is cosmetic. This is elective. This is like joining a gym,” added Helwig.