After fours years of legal battle, the controversial steroid case of a pharmacy in Florida is revived for the second time. This case became a headline years ago because the prosecutors and law enforcement authorities reported that it was the biggest steroid distribution ring in the country.

It also involved several medical practitioners who connived with the pharmacy by dispensing steroids without proper consultation. Several respondents in the case already pleaded guilty particularly the doctors involved in the operation.

Counter Charges of Pharmacy Owners

However, the owners of the compounding pharmacy in Orlando, Florida tried all legal remedies to be absolved in the case. They filed counter suits and have won two times. But a recent decision of an appellate court puts the owners on the defensive side again. The Appellate Division of state Supreme Court in NY reversed the decision of a US district court removing Albany Prosecutor David Soares in the steroid case. Soares is the lead investigator in the said case.

Owners of the compounding pharmacy filed a lawsuit in Orlando claiming that the prosecutor and other law enforcement officers violated their civil rights with malicious prosecution and false arrest. They also asked for damages. This lawsuit resulted to the ejection of Prosecutor Soares in the case. According to Judge Stephen W. Herrick, Soares must be replaced in the case because of conflict of interest. The prosecutor appealed and got a favorable decision.

Prosecutor Reinstated in the Steroid Case

The appeals court said the district judge exceeded his authority in removing Soares, a public elected prosecutor. They added that giving merit to the counter suit by the defendants can become a bad precedent. The Appeals Court also reinstated the felony charges against the pharmacy owners. The Albany prosecutors filed 33 count felony indictments against the owners of Signature Compounding Pharmacy in Orlando.

17 People Convicted in the Case

Based on the Times Union report, there were 17 people convicted in the controversial steroid case. Most of them prescribed steroids to customers they did not meet. Others admitted that they do not know if these people medically need the steroids.

The Signature Pharmacy was also accused of illegal importation of human growth hormones. The pharmacy has in its long list of clients, professional athletes particularly in baseball, football, and wrestling. Some celebrities and police officers were also named as clients of the now closed compounding pharmacy. The steroids and human growth hormone purchased from the pharmacy were primarily used for bodybuilding and anti-aging purposes.

Now, the legal fight between Albany prosecutors and the Signature Pharmacy is back to square one. Lawyers for both parties declined to comment when asked by the media.

When sprinter Usain Bolt broke the world record, many speculate that he is taking something that boosts his performance in the field. This is also true with other Jamaican athletes who excel in athletics. But nobody knows what drives these athletes to run so fast without losing much of their energies.

Usually athletes with this kind of athletic abilities are sometimes pumped up with steroids. There were already many cases where world champion athletes were caught using performance enhancing drugs.

A recent study revealed that Jamaican athletes do not depend on synthetic steroids but are taking foods providing steroid-like effects. According to Professor Errol Morrison of the University of Technology in Jamaica, Jamaican track and field athletes runs so fast because of their dedication, discipline, hard work and talent. Added to these characteristics are the types of food that they eat. Professor Morrison found out in his studies that Jamaican athletes eat yams and green bananas as their staple food. These foods provide steroid-like properties.

What Makes Yam and Green Banana Acts Like a Steroid?

Many would ask, what makes yam and green bananas great for track and field athletes? The professor and president of UTech told the Jamaica Observer that yam produces a substance called Hypo Steroids which acts as a stimulus. The green banana, on the other hand, is rich in phytate which replenishes the body’s energy supply. The concentration of phytate in green bananas is 4 times than the yellow yams. “Phytates replenish the energy supply in muscle called creatine phosphate,” he said.

However, the professor clarified that their findings were not absolute. “This is a hypothesis. This is not gospel and fixed in stone. It is a hypothesis based on a lot of biochemical research and anatomical research and I will put it down as succinctly as this: Genetics, dietetics and athletics,” he said.

It’s not an Eat and Run Concept

Prof Morrison explained that eating yams and green bananas will not immediately give an athlete amazing speed in the field. He said that these tuber crops are a staple food in Jamaica. “Our young people who are using these staple crops are being exposed to these ‘anabolic steroids‘ from very early and Jamaica is the only country with organised programmes from infancy.”

Combining the program with these foods will definitely produce tough athletes. “You are putting up a stress and demand on these muscle groups which is being further pushed by these ‘anabolic steroids‘ they are going to have an advantage and they are going to grow with that and by the time they are hitting the late teens you should be seeing some responsive muscle mass,” he explained.

Fast Energy Replenishment

Top track and field athletes may have similar speed but they fade at different levels during races. According to the professor, the fast replenishment of energy gives Jamaican athletes an edge. “By 60 metres they start to fade and it is because we have the advantage of the replenishing of the phosphate that is allowing us to keep that momentum to the end of the race,” said Prof Morrison.

The Genes

Professor Morrison said that genetics is also a major factor why Jamaicans runs fast. The built of Jamaican men and women gives them advantage over white or Asiatic athletes. It’s about the cock bottom and narrower chest wall.

“The shape of the backbone and the hip is angled this way with the pelvis, and the front muscles afford high knee lift as opposed to when the back is more straight. That contributes to the kind of power when you drive that leg down, those are some of the genetics,” he told the Observer.

The black race has a narrower chest wall that allows them to breathe a little faster. “When they do that it is allowing for the quicker exchange of oxygen, which is also part of the quicker recovery that you see. That is one aspect,” he explained.

Professor Morrison also disputes the theory on speed genes. After extensive study together with the University of Glasgow there is still no concrete proof that will prove this gene exists. They conducted genetic assessment of world-class athletes like Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell and made a comparison with the general world population.

The professor concluded that Jamaicans excel in track and field because of biochemistry, anatomy and overall training in the country. It’s not due to performance enhancing drugs.

A manufacturer of deer antler spray recently told CBS Sports that products containing IGF-1 should not be considered harmful like the androgenic anabolic steroids. They also reacted on the warning issued by the Major League Baseball (MLB) that deer antler spray can cause a positive test for steroids. The warning can send a wrong message to the users that deer antler extracts are unsafe to professional athletes and the consuming public in general.

The MLB told its players to avoid using deer antler spray because it could lead to a positive test for steroids. Though the MLB pinpointed a specific brand of deer antler spray, it can still affect other manufacturers who adhere to safety and manufacturing standards.

According to Ricardo Lentini, CEO of Nutronics Labs, it would be unfair to ban deer antler spray in general because it does not pose health risks to the users. “It would be a travesty to have this product and its wondrous and natural benefits to be banned or restricted in any way.” The company has been producing deer antler spray for 15 years and they claimed that the product is clean of any banned substances.

Manufacturer Claim their Deer Antler Spray Clean of Steroids

Nutronics Labs already sent a letter to the MLB explaining that their product does not contain any methyltestosterone. Lentini also told CBS Sports that their product has been verified by a leading drug-testing lab and certified to be free of methyltestosterone and steroids.

Lab tests of other deer antler sprays revealed that some of them contain other ingredients to boost the positive effects of the supplement. Since deer antler enhances the production of HGh in the body, other supplement companies added steroids to bolster its muscle enhancing effects.

IGF-1 Not to be Considered as Steroids

Deer antler sprays contain IGF-1 which is similar to the naturally occurring growth hormone in the body. One of the noted benefits of IGF-1 to the user is it allows muscle to use fat for energy. It also moderates the immune system, reduces fat and promotes muscle-building. Lentini said that IGF-1 provides all the benefits of having human growth hormone without actually taking the synthetic one.

He further explained that the deer antler has been in use in the ancient Chinese medicine. It only became popular when more evidences of its effectiveness were known to the public.

Lentini added that IGF-1 allows the body to achieve its full potential without the dangerous side effects of anabolic steroids. “The compound is composed of factors that allow for natural growth of your tissues and does not try to go beyond these natural parameters. Anabolic steroids, on the other hand, often try to do this and frequently results in disastrous consequences including ease of injury and possible damage to the heart and other organs,” he said.

Deer Antler Extracts Safe to Use

Deer antler sprays comes from the deer antler velvet where IGF-1 is found. After the manufacturing process, the deer antler velvet is turned into liquid form and is used by spraying it under the tongue. Others use a dropper.

According to Lentini, the deer antler spray will not allow for gains beyond what a body is naturally capable of. This is the reason why the supplement is safe to use. Steroids are synthetic compounds designed to boost the strength and performance of individual above and beyond their body’s capabilities.

Using deer antler sprays will not trigger a false positive according to Lentini. “There are no significant similarities in the chemical composition of these compounds.”

The 4 month lock out was in a way good for the league and the players union. This resulted to better policies particularly in adopting programs that will create a more level playing field. The league and the players union agreed on two major breakthroughs in the history of the football league.

First is the inclusion of human growth hormone testing and the second is the adoption of game-day testing for performance enhancing drugs. This will make the league as the first professional sports organization in the country to adopt these anti-doping policies. Another good thing about these new programs is it will be in place for 10 years.

NFL’s senior vice president of law and labor policy Adolpho Birch commended the players union in concurring with these proposals during a press conference. “This was a critical step in the evolution of our policy, and I think both parties - particularly the union - should be commended for taking that step to ensure our game remains to the public and to our players as an area for clean competition, that it protects the health and safety of our players, and sends the right message to youth and young athletes,” Birch said.

Game-Day Testing will Focus on HGH and Steroids

According to Birch, the game-day testing will focus on HGH and steroids and will not include tests for recreational drugs. The aim is to deter players from using performance enhancing drugs. “This is primarily a competitive issue, so we do not contemplate utilizing it for the substances-of-abuse recreational drugs. But it is something that will involve any of the potential testing we do under the steroid policy,” said Birch. The game-day testing is just an addition to the regular drug testing of the league.

The league assured baseball fans and the players that the tests will not be disruptive. Birch, who is also overseeing the drug testing of the NFL, told the media that they were able to develop a new solution that will allow efficient administration of game-day testing.

HGh Testing and Game-Day Testing on Season Opening

The NFL is confident that the new anti-doping measures will be implemented when the new season starts. The only problem of the league is the specific rules and regulations on conducting the HGH tests. The league and the players union are still deliberating on testing procedures that will be acceptable to both parties.

Window Period for HGH is Short

NFL officials know that even if the league adopted HGH testing, it is still difficult to catch players using the said performance enhancing drug. The detection window for HGH is too short which is only within a day or two. However, they are still optimistic that the program will be effective. Birch said that the design of the program will sufficiently deter players and detect HGH use. “That is really part of the mechanism and framework of how we have chosen to do the testing,” he said.

Birch contends that reliability issue is not a problem anymore because of the improvement of technology. Players should not worry of any false positives for the human growth hormone drug.

Comprehensive Drug Testing

The league will test players at least 22 times during in-season and 6 times during the off-season. Birch said that the number of tests is not too much. They are more concerned on when and how these tests will be conducted to be more efficient. He cited, as an example, random testing as an effective deterrent for PED’s use.

Once these programs are in place, the league can now boast of a well crafted sports anti-doping program.

Despite budgetary constraints, Illinois will still continue testing student athletes for steroids. This is the decision of the IHSA Board of Directors after their meeting on Monday. The Illinois High Schools Association (IHSA) will join the two other states, New Jersey and Texas, in their crusade against steroid use in high schools.

IHSA executive director Marty Hickman commended the board for approving the continuance of the program even if it means additional financial burden for the association. “The IHSA funded the program during its first year and was prepared to do so again. Our board believes in this program and made it clear that they want it to continue. I commend them for that decision,” he told the media.

Budget Cuts for Steroid Testing

Although the aim of the steroid testing program is good, there are some people who oppose allocating large budget for the tests. This is not only the major concern of Illinois but the states of Texas and New Jersey as well. In Texas for example, the allocation for this year is way below the amount allocated during the initial implementation of the program.

Proponents are just lucky that they still got the support of the lawmakers. Others believe that the budget should be allocated to more important programs of the state.

Insignificant Results

The small number of athletes caught using banned substances is the main reason why support for steroid testing in high schools is waning. In the school year 2010-11, the IHSA only got 4 positives but the other two were cleared for doping. The percentage is too small as compared to surveys conducted by government agencies that the use of performance enhancing drugs in high schools is rampant.

During the three-year implementation of the steroid testing program in Illinois, only two high school athletes were sanctioned for using steroids. They already tested 1,758 student athletes. In New Jersey, at least 2,000 student-athletes were tested but they only got 1 steroid user. Texas, which is the biggest spender in finding cheating athletes, had at least 30 doping violators. But this is the result of more than 50,000 tests since 2008.

Support Mechanisms for Steroid Testing

The budget cuts resulted to revisions of their strategies in fighting steroid abuse in high schools. These states now include steroid education programs to support the steroid testing. Coaches are also given tougher responsibilities by teaching athletes on how to improve naturally and avoid the use of performance enhancing drugs.

Others decided to focus on specific field of sports where athletes are prone to the use of steroids. Athletes usually resort to PED’s in sports like football, baseball and track and field.

Steroid Testing is a Good Deterrent

The IHSA chief defended the small number of steroid positives in their schools. “Some people will look at the number of positive test results and conclude that the testing is not working,” he said. The aim of the testing program is not to test the entire population just to catch doping athletes. “But it is important to maintain perspective. The scope of our testing was never going to be large enough to catch every student who may be using performance-enhancing drugs.”

“The program was put into place to be a deterrent to help prevent students from using these harmful drugs, and we believe it is successfully serving that purpose,” Hickman added.

The Major League Baseball issued warning to its players both in the minor and major league to stop using deer antler spray. The league’s concern is the possible contamination of this kind of supplement. Deer antler spray became a popular alternative to steroids not just in the MLB but also in NFL and bodybuilding. In fact, there are some pro athletes who endorse deer antler spray.

What the Deer Antler Spray Can Do?

This supplement claims that it can improve performance particularly in developing muscles, strength and endurance. Chemical analysis of deer antler sprays revealed that it contains insulin-like growth factors or the IGF-1. It facilitates the production of human growth hormone in the body. Aside from its muscle enhancing capabilities, deer antler extracts also reduces fats in the body. Most companies market this product as an alternative to anabolic steroids.

MLB Concerned on Potential Contamination

The IGF-1 in the deer antler supplement can’t be detected in the current steroid testing of the MLB. Since it has properties similar to HGH, it can only be detected using blood tests. The use of growth hormones and other similar supplements are prohibited in the league but the current urine testing has its limitations.

According to the SI report, the MLB is concerned on one specific brand of deer antler spray which includes in its product other ingredients which may lead to a positive test. The league is not banning the deer antler spray but they are discouraging baseball players from buying one because of possible contamination.

Cases of Deer Antler Spray Positive

There are already many cases of positive tests as a result of taking deer antler sprays. St. Louis Rams linebacker David Vobora was sanctioned by the NFL for violating the anti-doping policies of the league. However, Vobora contends that he did not take any steroid and only took deer antler spray as an alternative.

Vobora filed a case against the company and recently won the lawsuit. He was awarded with $5.4 million in damages. The NFL already discouraged other football players from endorsing the product.

According to industry reports, some deer antler sprays can result to a positive test for methyl testosterone. This type of steroid is used to treat testosterone deficiency in men and used in the treatment of breast cancer and menopause-related symptoms for women.

Weighing the Benefits and Risks

While the product is becoming popular in professional sports, its safety and efficiency is still being questioned. Deer antler sprays are marketed as nutritional supplements so anybody can easily purchase one. If baseball players will not heed to the league’s request then they will be facing a great risk in taking this particular supplement.