The Saturday fight of the world’s best pound for pound boxer is another testament of his prowess as a professional boxer. Manny Pacquiao was able to defend his welterweight title against a veteran, Sugar Shane Mosley. For boxing fans who have seen the battle of the two fighters, whether live or thru pay per view, they witnessed another boxing clinic by the 8 division world boxing champion. The judges unanimously declared Manny Pacquiao as the winner in the one-sided fight.

Many boxing analysts saw this match-up a mismatch even before the fight. Mosley is already on his twilight years in his boxing career. But as veteran fighter and holder of world championship belts, many are still hoping that he can give a good fight against Pacquiao. However, boxing fans saw another Joshua Clottey in Shane Mosley. The latter focused on his defensive strategy rather than fighting toe to toe with Pacquiao.

On the other hand, most boxing fans are expecting for a knock-out punch from Manny Pacquiao but it did not happened. Although Pacquiao dominated the fight and sent Mosley on the floor once, the power punch of the pound for pound king was not seen in the ring. Is this a sign the performance of Manny Pacquiao is waning? Is this the right time for Manny to retire from boxing so that a possible loss in his next fight is avoided?

Pacquiao’s win over Mosley can also answer another question that has been hurled against him for almost two years now. Pacquiao was accused using performance enhancing drugs particularly steroids. This allegation, which is vehemently denied by Pacquiao, has been hounding him after the Mayweather’s started the issue. Though the case is already in court, boxing fans still needs an answer if this allegation is really true or not. A Nevada court is now handling the defamation suit filed by Pacquiao against Floyd Mayweather Jr, Floyd Sr., his trainer, and the Golden Boy Promotions.

Is Manny Pacquiao on steroids? If we will base our answer on the result of the fight between Pacquiao vs. Mosley, we can say that the pound for pound king is not taking something to enhance his performance illegally. Professional athletes taking steroids can attest that the substance can dramatically increase strength and power. During the 12-round brawl against Mosley, that steroid power is missing. We only saw a fighter with superb skills inside the ring. Fighting a defensive boxer is a very difficult task but Pacquiao still inflicted Mosley with a hundred of punches.

How about Shane Mosley? Should we still doubt if he is clean of performance enhancing drugs? During his prime, Mosley was involved in the use of steroids. He was one of the professional athletes implicated in the BALCO scandal. An online research on Mosley’s use of PED’s will show his alleged use of EPO as well as the designer steroids “the cream” and “the clear.” A portion of his deposition which details his alleged steroid use can be found on YouTube. But his previous fights as well as his latest loss to Manny Pacquiao are indication that steroids are not in his system anymore.

After this fight, we just hope that these steroid issues will fade away. Anyway, Pacquiao’s closest rival in the best pound for pound slot was gone. The Ring Magazine already removed Floyd Mayweather Jr. from the second spot because he was inactive for more than a year already. There’s no reason for Floyd Jr. to make such allegations anymore especially that a case is being heard in court.

But steroid issues may still be used by his next opponent, whoever he may be.

Tiger Woods suffered an injury during a difficult shot in the Masters. His doctors advised him to take a rest and undergo cold-water therapy, and soft tissue treatment. Though the injury is not a serious one, Woods will not be able to play for at least 3 weeks missing the Wells Fargo tournament. It is not yet clear if the number one golfer can go back in the game just in time for the Players Championship on May 12.

Woods Prone to Injury

Based on online sources, Woods injured his left knee but was only classified as a Grade 1 mild medial collateral ligament sprain. He also suffered a mild strain to his left Achilles tendon. Woods’ left knee undergone four surgeries already and it is not surprising that another injury happened. These injuries had led him to a Canadian doctor who is now a subject of a federal investigation. After suffering an injury in the 2008 U.S. Open, Woods sought the services of Dr. Anthony Galea to hasten his recovery from the surgery.

Dr. Galea became famous for his platelet rich plasma therapy which helps speed up recovery time from injuries. This is the reason why many professional athletes like Tiger Woods, New York Yankees Alex Rodriguez, Mets shortstop Jose Reyes, Huston Street of Oakland Athletics, pitcher John Patterson of the Washington Nationals, sprinter Donovan Bailey and swimmer Dara Torres availed the services of Dr. Galea. According to authorities, Galea treated at least 26 professional athletes in the US from 2007 to 2009.

Numerous Charges Filed

However, Dr Galea was charged last year for allegedly prescribing steroids and human growth hormones to his patients particularly athletes. He was also intercepted in the border carrying HGH and Actovegin. The specific charges filed against the Canadian doctor were smuggling, lying to federal officials, unlawful distribution of human growth hormone, introduction of an unapproved drug Actovegin into interstate commerce and conspiracy to defraud the United States.

If Dr Galea is not facing these charges, there is a possibility that Woods will again get his services. But this won’t happen now. When Dr. Galea was arrested by the authorities last year, Woods denied that he was treated with steroids and hgh. He insists that the doctor never administered HGH or any PED’s during the treatment.

Tiger Woods countered the speculation that he is also a doping athlete. “I’ve never taken that (PED’s) my entire life. I’ve never taken any illegal drug, ever, for that matter,” said Woods in the Masters last year. The blood spinning technique used by Dr. Galea is not a prohibited method by the WADA and other sports organizations.

Plea Deal Looms

Meanwhile, the case of the controversial doctor is not moving since October last year. Legal experts believe that the defense is unto something and a plea agreement is likely to happen. A discussion between the federal prosecutors and the defense team could be in progress.

A plea deal will reduce the sentence but it may require the doctor to change his previous statements. The federal prosecutors are interested in Galea’s admission that he really treated prominent athletes with steroids and HGH.

If this happens, it will be a big problem for Tiger Woods and other players in the MLB and NFL. Who among these players received steroids or HGH injection from the doctor?

In 2005, authorities raided a Deerfield Beach pharmaceutical company for illegal prescriptions of controlled substances particularly anabolic steroids. Important records were seized from the PowerMedica pharmacy which led to the charges filed on several people running the pharmacy. The CEO of the pharmacy was sentenced to 48 months in prison while its president was given an 18-month sentence.

Doctors who were involved in the illegal prescriptions were also sentenced for their involvement in the operation. Dr. Manuel Sanguily and Dr. James D’Amico both pleaded guilty to conspiring to illegally distribute steroids and human growth hormone. Sanguily was sentenced to 30 months in prison while D’Amico received 51 months jail term.

The owners of PowerMedica admitted that they were filling prescriptions for illegal purposes. Most of the prescriptions filled by the pharmacy were used in bodybuilding, athletics, and anti-aging. They also signed orders without meeting, talking to or making reviews of the medical records of the customer. The pharmacy was also manned by untrained or unlicensed staffs who were dealing with the customers.

Several Deputies Purchased Steroids from PowerMedica

Though the case of PowerMedica is considered closed, authorities are now looking into the customers of the famous Deerfield Beach pharmacy in Florida. In 2008, an investigation was initiated because of the possible involvement of several Broward Deputies who allegedly purchased steroids from the pharmacy. The names of at least 26 officers were identified as customers of the now defunct pharmacy.

Based on the initial investigation, these deputies obtained the steroids or human growth hormones through fraudulent means. That means they were able to purchase steroids even without valid prescriptions. Instead of using these drugs for medical conditions, they used it for bodybuilding purposes.

What Happened to the Findings?

BSO Sgt. Lisa McElhaney conducted the investigation in 2008 but after submitting her findings, there were no actions taken against BSO deputies who were involved in illegal purchases of steroids. The state attorney’s office is now questioning the Broward Sheriff Office’ failure to act on the case. A former state prosecutor told the South Florida Times that BSO attorneys told him they could not proceed with the case because the time had already lapsed. “We were also concerned about possible criminal violations by law enforcement. To ignore this is the same as sanctioning it, by being aware and not doing anything,” said John Hanlon.

“This is outrageous and I am very upset,” Broward County Public Defender Howard Finkelstein also told the online newspaper. “They had this information and sat on it all these years. It’s dishonest, it’s corrupt, and it will not be tolerated.”

According to Finkelstein, the 26 deputies who purchased steroids from PowerMedica and other pharmacies in the area were witnesses in at least 182 closed cases and on 55 cases his agency is defending right now. If information about the deputies were turned over to them under the Brady rule, it could have been a great help in their cases. He is seeking for the dismissal of the current cases and would ask for re-opening of the closed cases. This issue could lead to the intervention of the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate possible civil rights violations. A special prosecutor could also be assigned to look into the case of these deputies.

Sheriff’s office Still Mum on the Issue

Up to this time, BSO officials are not disclosing relevant information about their investigation on the involved deputies. They are not commenting on the issue why the cases of these officers were put into shelves. The pharmacy owners and doctors who might have provided them access to steroids have already pleaded guilty to felonies related to steroid distribution and prescription.

If you want to buy bodybuilding supplements, local gyms can easily recommend one. This is now the trend in most local gyms in the country and as well as in other Asian countries. Fitness enthusiasts need not go to health and nutrition stores to find a supplement needed in enhancing their physique. Most fitness centers provide clients with supplement products as an added service. This practice entices more bodybuilders to purchase these products because they can get rid of the inconvenience of going personally to supplement stores. However, this entails great health risks.

Buying Supplements from Local Gyms

The major concern of health officials and bodybuilding organizations is on how to curtail this practice. Last month, health authorities in Abu Dhabi raided several fitness centers in the area because of this practice. Most of the confiscated steroids, growth hormones and other supplements should only be sold by a licensed health and nutrition store. It is not clear if the products meet government standards and regulation.

The general secretary of South Asian Body Building Federation, Sohail Anwar, expressed his concern on this issue. “It’s a matter of serious concern because this trend is rising among gym owners, which are not checked by any government agency,” he told the Dawn newspaper.

Gym Owners Acts as Bodybuilding Experts

Anwar is also worried on the current trend in Pakistan where local gym owners act as bodybuilding experts. Most of them make recommendations and advises to bodybuilders in the gym even without proper know-how on the use of supplements. “In fact, gyms are mostly run by uneducated people and they feel free to train boys the way they want. As a result, steroids and food supplements are being excessively used,” said Anwar.

Popular bodybuilding supplements like anabolic steroids and growth hormones should be used with proper supervision because it can lead to side effects and complications. These substances, aside from protein shakes, are the usual supplements recommended for bodybuilders who want to fast track muscle development and to those people who want to increase strength and stamina during trainings.

The intake of supplements should be based on the type of training and health condition of the bodybuilder. There are certain substances that should not be given to people with a particular medical condition. Bodybuilders taking anabolic steroids should adopt a regular steroid cycle to allow the body flush out toxins. There are also some potent steroids that could lead to serious complications when combined with other types. So, for people who rely too much on gym owners and personnel, they are putting themselves to greater health risks.

Check and Balance Needed

To counter these problems, Anwar suggested that fitness enthusiasts should consult medical experts before taking any supplement. This will help avoid the negative side effects caused by improper use of supplements.

Stricter laws must be passed by legislators to curb this practice. Anwar, who is also overseeing the bodybuilding sports in Pakistan, suggest that their sports organization should be given a role in regulating local fitness gyms in the country. “I raised this issue before the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on sports after we returned from South Asian Games. Our federation should have authority to issue NoCs to people for opening gyms so that this sport is organized in a better way,” Anwar said.

Safety of Bodybuilders

The most important thing that must be considered by bodybuilders before taking any supplement is the authenticity of the products. They have to make sure that the product is coming from a legitimate manufacturer and not from underground laboratories. It is a fact that a lot of bodybuilding supplements, steroids, or growth hormones found in local gyms don’t have the necessary certifications. Anwar said only food supplements certified by laboratories are allowed in gyms.

Law enforcement officials have to accept the fact that most police officers rely on anabolic steroids to make them bigger, stronger and expect that it will help them become quicker in performing their risky jobs. In most cases, officers using this substance are those assigned in the field to maintain peace and order. They believe that bulking up will give then not just the physical edge but at the same time psychological advantage over their enemies, the criminals.

However, in the point of view of the general public, cops using performance enhancing drugs can become a threat to the safety of the people who are supposed to be protected by these officers. Others are worried on the possible changes in their behavior that is attributed to steroid use. While building muscles can be a good thing to do, the side effects caused by steroids can affect how these law enforcement officers perform their duties.

Changes in Behavior

There were already reported cases where cops used too much force in arresting offenders. Long term use of anabolic steroids can result to changes in their personality. Some of these are aggression and depression. Critics believe that this drug can affect their rational thinking which can lead to poor judgment, failure to control emotions and abrupt changes of temper. Added to this are the physical side effects that they can get from using steroids such as baldness, shrinking testicles, and kidney and liver damage.

Police Department’s Lax Steroid Policy

If the number of cops using steroids is still increasing, it can be blamed on the existing policies of law enforcement agencies across the country. It is a fact that most of our police departments don’t have a comprehensive steroid testing program. Though there are a few that implements steroids testing, most department only test for recreational drugs such as marijuana and cocaine. Police officers are only tested for steroids if they are being suspected as a steroid user. Lt. Ray Evers of Philadelphia police force told the Philly News that it is up to the supervisors to determine if an officer is juicing or not.

If they suspect a police officer is taking steroids, they will be referred to the Internal Affairs for steroid testing. “We don’t routinely test for steroids because of the costs of the tests, compared to how [comparatively few] people are on steroids,” he said. The cost of the steroid tests is also one of the problems of many police departments in the country. “I heard the costs are very, very extensive,” added Evers. In Pennsylvania for example, the state police conduct steroid testing on new recruits and in other states, steroid tests are conducted on a random basis.

But police officials are still confident that the illegal use of steroids in their ranks is not yet considered epidemic. According to John McNesby, president of a local Fraternal Order, there were only a handful of officers sanctioned due to steroids in the past 4 years. “They do pop up here and there. It’s not frequent, though,” he added.

Distributors and Users

The recent arrest of Philadelphia officers, who runs a steroid ring, also adds up to the problem of law enforcement officials. It would be very difficult for them to stop the use of anabolic steroids if there are some officers who are also involved in the importation, manufacture and sale of these controlled substances.

A Philadelphia detective and two others were charged for operating a steroid distribution network in the area. Though they denied using the drugs, their physique proves otherwise.

Professional athletes using creatine will surely react on this assumption. Creatine is a legal supplement popular in professional sports because it boosts strength and helps develop lean muscle mass. Another reason why most athletes use creatine is it is not included in the banned list of professional leagues in the country. Anabolic steroids, on the other hand, are prohibited and can lead to suspension if a player is caught using the substance.

Creatine Supplements for Athletes

Creatine supplements abound in the market today. This product can be purchased in different forms and in different dosages. The typical dosage for creatine supplementation whether in powder or pill form is 5 grams. There is no recommended daily intake for this substance yet but users usually take it 2 to 3 times a day. Many believe that taking more creatine will provide them the necessary energy needed during a strenuous workout or sports competition.

It is also safer compared to anabolic steroids but side effects can also develop if too much is taken. The common side effects of creatine are stomach cramps, nausea, diarrhea, weight gain, loss of appetite and muscle cramps. It may also damage the kidney, liver and the heart. Another reported side effect of creatine use is triggering the symptoms of asthma. There are some medical conditions that react with creatine intake.

Players Injuries in Baseball

According to the NY Daily News, the number of injuries in baseball is dramatically increasing. In the current season, many players were on the injured list and most of them suffered the same kind of injury. More than a dozen players already suffered from oblique injury like Alex Rodriguez, Curtis Granderson, Angel Pagan, J.A. Happ, and Jason Bay. Oblique muscles are those broad and flat muscles that attach the rib cage and the pelvis. If these are strained it can cause too much pain to an individual. “It’s never a career-ending injury but it can be really debilitating,” former professional baseball player Dan Rootenberg told the newspaper. “You can’t sneeze, cough, laugh or move without extreme pain,” he said. Rootenberg is the president of New York-based SPEAR Physical Therapy.

The Probable Reason

A health expert interviewed by the Daily News presumed that injuries like this can be the result of two things. The major league’s policy against the use of steroids is working and players may be taking supplements the wrong way. Dr. Lewis Maharam of the American College of Sports Medicine opined that the increasing number of oblique injuries could be a byproduct of the drug testing program of the MLB.

“My theory is that drug testing in Major League Baseball is working and people are getting away from using illegal steroids,” said Maharam. Before the implementation of the anti-doping policy of the league, many baseball players turn to anabolic steroids to improve their performance and use the drug to recover faster from injuries. “They are moving to legal products such as creatine, but they don’t know how to use it in conjunction with their workouts,” said the sports doctor.

Aside from the energy creatine gives to the user, it also stimulates muscle growth. An overabundance of creatine phosphate stored in the muscle causes it to hold more water in its cells. This makes the muscles “volumized” or “super-hydrated.” Dr. Maharam said that this condition causes the muscle fibers to separate.