Anti-doping officials are alarmed on the recent result of doping tests conducted on young rugby players in South Africa. The recently concluded Craven Week, where talent scouts search for prospects, was marred by the high number of players tested positive for performance enhancing substances.

More than 8 percent of rugby players subjected to random test returned higher than normal levels of steroids in their system. The tests were only conducted on 47% of participants during the schools rugby tournament but experts said the number of doping rugby players could be higher if they tested more.

According to the Institute for Drug Free Sports, there were 4 positives who may receive one to two-year ban. The final decision will still depend on the anti-doping tribunal hearing the case of these student athletes. There were also two cases of abnormal level of testosterone. Their samples were sent to Germany for further analysis. “Only if the tests confirm that indeed the source of testosterone is from outside of the athlete’s body, will a doping case be opened,” CEO Khalid Galant of the Institute told the TimesLive.

Majority of Players are Clean But…

Galant stressed that even though majority of players participated in the Craven Week were considered clean, this does not mean that only a few were taking banned substances. “Some of them may have stopped taking steroids weeks before the competition in order to pass the drug tests during the tournament,” he said.

He cited as an example the case of one player with low level of nandrolone detected in his body. The anti-doping agency can’t impose sanction because it is below the cut off level under the doping rules and regulations. A bigger sample size could also result to a much higher number of doping violations.

Beware of Testosterone Boosters and Growth Hormone Accelerators

The parents should be vigilant on the type of supplements that are being ingested by their ward. Most of these contain ingredients that are banned by sports organizations. According to Galant, taking these substances pose great danger to the athlete’s health. “Just because you can easily buy a sports supplement at any grocery store or pharmacy does not mean that the supplement does not contain any banned steroids,” he said.

He also warned people who purchase supplement products marketed as boosters and accelerators. “Parents have to be more circumspect about the ingredients of these supplements and especially when words such as “testosterone booster” or “growth hormone accelerator” are used on the packaging of products,” he said.

The Institute for Drug-Free Sport had already established programs aimed to curtail the use of steroids among the young athletes. However, parents still have a critical role in preventing these kids from taking shortcuts in improving skills. The “I Play Fair — Say NO! to Doping” campaign was launched recently to stop the abuse of steroids and other performance enhancing drugs. It is focused on educating the young athletes about sports ethics, fair play and the dangers of steroids.

Sources of Steroid Supplements

Based on the investigation of the institute, most of the student athletes purchase these supplements from local gyms and the nightclub bouncer industry. The institute also partnered with the Medicine control Council and other law enforcement agencies to go after steroids syndicates in the country.

After averaging less than a point in her last 14 games, the Tulsa Shock decided to replace former Olympian Marion Jones. Her performance is in contrast with her first season with the Shock where she averages more than 3 points per game and played at least 9 minutes per game. Jones was replaced by former Oklahoma center Abi Olajuwon, the daughter of former NBA star Hakeem Olajuwon.

Jones Grateful to Tulsa Shock

In a press release, Jones was thankful for the Tulsa Shock for giving her another chance. “I want to thank the Tulsa Shock, Coach (Nolan) Richardson, the WNBA and my tremendous teammates for providing me the opportunity to fulfill a dream, and a platform to demonstrate to people, especially our youth, that if you have faith, life is full of second chances,” Jones said. Jones is still hoping that she will be given another opportunity to play in women’s professional basketball.

Former Olympian Involved in Steroids

Marion Jones was a gold medalist sprinter in the Sydney Olympics in 2000. However, she forfeited her medals and served jail time after she admitted lying to federal investigators about taking steroids. Jones claimed that she did not cheat but a victim of some people close to her. Steroids are banned in the Olympics.

After serving her term in jail, Jones joined the Tulsa Shock. The former Olympian played as a point guard during her college days. She even led the University of North Carolina to a national championship in 1994. She left basketball for a track and field career. But her involvement in a steroid scandal ruined her fruitful career in athletics.

Jones is now active conducting seminars focused on youth athletes. Her “Take A Break” campaign is aimed at encouraging people to think and avoiding hasty decisions. She also wrote an autobiography entitled “On the Right Track.”

Tulsa Shock Wants to Improve Defensive Capability

Tulsa Shock coach said that the replacement of some players is aimed to improve the defensive capability of the team. Coach Teresa Edwards, a 4 time Olympic basketball gold medalist, said that the decision is focused on bringing in size, defense and rebounding for the team.

Lab Result Will Determine the Charges Against Walker

Meanwhile, the initial drug charges on former NBA star Samaki Walker was dismissed by the prosecution. However, Walker is not yet free from any liability. Arizona prosecutor Greg McPhillips told the Las Vegas Review Journal that charges will still be filed against the former NBA player. McPhillips said that he is waiting for the laboratory test results of the drugs confiscated from Walker. This will be used as the basis on what particular criminal charges will be filed.

Initial investigation showed that Walker have in his possession 10 grams of marijuana, several unidentified prescription pills and liquid steroids or human growth hormones. There were about 268 prescription pills and 8 vials which were purportedly to be steroids.

Walker will be represented by defense attorney Billy Sipe once final charges have been made against the former NBA player. Walker is playing basketball overseas and will be playing for Syria in October. The basketball player told the investigators that steroid use in Syria is legal and he is taking the drug to maintain his athletic abilities.

He retired from the NBA in 2006 after playing for 10 years.

The legal battle between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. continues. Both parties are using all legal remedies to win the steroid defamation case. Floyd Jr., in his effort to delay the proceedings, filed a motion to postpone his deposition. However, it was denied by the Nevada court and also lost his appeal.

The court contends that Floyd Jr. did not present any legal basis why he should not be forced to appear in court to testify. The lawyers of Floyd claim that their client is busy training for the Mayweather-Ortiz fight. This excuse was not accepted by the court.

Default Judgment to End the Steroid Defamation Case

After the long wait, Pacquiao’s lawyers now wants to end the case by asking the court to issue default judgment against Floyd Jr. Daniel Petrocelli, Pacquiao’s legal counsel in the US, asked the US District Court in Nevada yesterday to issue a default ruling on the steroid defamation suit filed against Floyd Jr., his father, and uncle Roger Mayweather.

Pacquiao’s lawyers believe that the continued refusal and disregard of a court order by Floyd Jr. is enough for the judge to issue the ruling. “Judges can and do issue defaults against parties who do not obey their orders and won’t participate in the discovery process according the rules. And you forfeit your opportunity to be a litigant when you defy the rules,” Petrocelli told USA Today

Floyd Jr. Seen Partying While Avoiding Deposition

Before a judgment can be obtained, the defendant will be allowed to answer the motion filed by Pacquiao’s camp. However, this would become more difficult for the lawyers of Floyd Jr. to defend their client. Based on the court filing, Pacquiao’s lawyer provided evidences that prove Floyd Jr. is not interested appearing in court. Floyd Jr. was given at least 24 dates to make his deposition but these were all rejected. He cited that the training and promotion of his fight hinders him to make any court appearances.

But there were documents proving that Floyd Jr. was busy partying in various parts of the country particularly in Nevada and Atlanta. Photos showed that he is not training during those 24 dates that he claims he is on training.

$10 Million Moral Damages

Pacquiao is asking more than $10 million for moral damages. Floyd Jr. and his camp accused Pacquiao of using anabolic steroids. This started when promoters arranged a mega fight between the two great boxers. Floyd Jr also asked Manny Pacquiao to undergo Olympic style blood testing to prove that he is not doping.

No More Hindrance in the Pacquiao-Mayweather Fight

Boxing promoter Bob Arum told BoxingScene recently that there are no more hindrances in the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight. He made the announcement even if the steroid defamation case has still to be settled. According to Arum, Pacquiao already agreed to the 50-50 share in the fight purse.

Drug testing is not an issue anymore according to the boxing promoter. Pacquiao already agreed to Olympic style blood testing. Arum clarified the news that he doesn’t like USADA to administer the blood testing on Pacquiao if ever the mega fight happens. “USADA can only handle drug testing in the United States. The USADA can’t go to the Philippines, and that’s where Manny will do the 1st part of his training camp,” said Arum. A WADA accredited laboratory in the Philippines will handle the preliminary tests instead.

Plans May Still Change

Even if Arum is optimistic that the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight will happen, other factors may still derail the negotiations. Floyd Mayweather Jr. is still fighting Victor Ortiz on September 17 while Manny Pacquiao is scheduled to fight Juan Manuel Marquez on November 12.

And lastly, if the steroid case will continue up to 2012, a bout between the two rivals may not materialize.

Professional leagues around the world are continuously improving their programs against doping athletes. The NFL for example is determined to include HGH testing in their anti-doping programs. Other sports organizations like the CFL and the AFL are already one step ahead on this campaign. These leagues were the first in their country to adopt a more comprehensive anti-doping program by including human growth hormones in the list of substances being tested.

Target Testing of High Profile Athletes

The Australian Football League (AFL) admitted a few months ago that they are implementing a new campaign by target testing high profile athletes. The test is focused on the detection of HGH and EPO, both substances are popular as performance enhancing drugs. EPO is an endurance booster while HGH helps athletes recover faster from injuries and it also improves stamina.

There Could Be Violations of Doping Policy

Although the AFL does not confirm that there is rampant use of steroids or other performance enhancing drugs in their league, other stakeholders believe otherwise. The new program implies that there is something wrong inside the league that must be addressed early on, the use of steroids and PED’s. There could be infringements of some drug protocols said sport agent Peter Jess when interviewed by the Herald Sun. It is substantiated by the large number of athletes being target tested by the AFL.

According to Jess, it would be naive to think that the AFL is free from the problems of PED’s use. “I think we’d be naive to think that if the AFL has come out and stated that they are profiling players that we don’t have a problem,” said Jess.

The pressure on professional players to excel in their chosen sports sometimes leads them to the use of steroids. This is the easiest way to improve athletic abilities.

AFL Leading the Battle Against HGH and EPO Use

The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) lauded the AFL for spearheading testing programs aimed to deter athletes from taking performance enhancing drugs. The AFL claimed that they were the first pro league in Australia to adopt comprehensive testing for HGH and EPO. “We are the first team sport that I am aware of in Australia to do testing for those substances,” said AFL’s operations manager Adrian Anderson.

Profiling of elite athletes does not mean they are already doping. The AFL uses specific guidelines in determining who among these athletes will be subject to target testing. These factors include the best-and-fairest finishes, marked improvement in performance and players returning from injury.

Anderson told the Herald Sun that ASADA considers their anti-doping program as the gold standard of testing in Australian sport. “We are keen to do whatever we can to stay ahead of the cutting edge,” he said. The league is also keeping in touch with the ASADA in formulating new drug policies.

Profiling Will Take Time

According to Jess, profiling of athletes will take some time to compile. “You take lots of tests over a long period of time and judge and test if there has been any change. Some of the substances that are being used mirror very closely what goes on in your body in a natural sense,” he said.

After easing out the conflicts between the players, the team and the league, the CBA is expected to be signed on Thursday. But another issue that must be tackled is the inclusion of human growth hormone testing. Insiders told the media that both the league and the players association are determined to implement the anti-doping measure once the season starts.

New HGH Testing Expected on September

Anti-doping officers will be extracting blood samples from the NFL players next month according to the source privy to the on-going negotiations. Commissioner Roger Goodell has been pushing for this measure and he was able to get an ally from the players association’s chief DeMaurice Smith. It is definite that HGH testing will be part of the anti-doping policy of the football league. Officials are discussing the specifics on how to implement the new anti-doping program.

Both Parties are Committed

According to chief legal counsel of the league, Jeff Pash, both sides showed commitment in having the best possible anti-doping program. “They recognize that having testing for growth hormone is part of having the best program,” Pash told the NY Times. On the other hand, the player’s union is still silent on the development of the proposal. The union spokesman George Atallah said this week that the players have not agreed to any comprehensive drug testing program.

The players are not so excited about the inclusion of HGH testing to the current steroid testing program of the football league. One of their apprehensions is the reliability of the test. This contention has already been debunked by anti-doping experts from the World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) saying the testing methods have already improved. HGH can’t be detected in the urine sample of athletes that is why blood testing is recommended.

NFL Players May Ask Conditions Before Accepting the Proposal

According to the NY times, there are so many possible issues that the players would challenge before accepting HGH testing. Players may ask the league to let third parties handle their appeal if they failed the growth hormone test. Under the current policy, the complaints of players are being heard and decided by the commissioner’s office.

The players union could also ask the league to allow them take a bigger role in administering the anti-doping program. The frequency of the test has yet to be determined by both parties. The league and the player’s union will still agree on the number of players to be tested every season. How many of these players will be tested out of competition and during the season. Both parties will surely agree on random testing of players and not for a comprehensive coverage of the entire roster in each team.

They could also suggest that the player’s hotline must be managed by the union to avoid problems similar to the Starcaps case. The league failed to inform players that the dietary supplement Starcaps contains a diuretic, a banned substance.

If there will be no more hindrances on this HGH testing, the NFL will be the first pro league in North America to adopt human growth hormone testing.

A French bodybuilder, who was held in custody last year when he visited Miami, admits that he illegally distributed steroids in the country. He pleaded guilty to the charges yesterday and waived a grand jury indictment.

French Moroccan Karim Mourahib, 30, was charged for illegally importing and distributing anabolic steroids. Mourahib is one of the 5 people being investigated by the Food and Drug Administration and other law enforcement agencies for running a steroid ring. The French national was responsible in the sourcing of steroids and finding suppliers using the internet.

Selling Steroids Online

According to the report of the Pittsburgh Gazette, Mourahib used the internet in selling these steroids and used several email addresses in communicating with prospect clients. He was also in charge of purchasing anabolic steroids in China as evidenced by several wire transfers to a man named Tingwin Wang of Shanghai.

The successful probe on Mourahib’s illegal activities was made by a former Pittsburgh police officer and currently working as an agent for the FDA. Agent Sean Grillo first contacted Mourahib through email in April 2010. Subsequent communication with the defendant leads to the successful purchase of steroids by Agent Grillo. A search of Mourahib’s email account led the authorities to thousands of messages discussing the distribution of anabolic steroids and human growth hormone to Pittsburgh customers and other areas.

French Bodybuilder Working with US Citizens

The French bodybuilder is not working alone in distributing these controlled substances in the country. In fact, Mourahib only acted as the salesman of the steroid ring. According to investigators, Mourahib ships the steroid packages to Chattanooga, Tennessee after purchasing it from a Chinese supplier. From Tennessee, the steroids are then shipped to Pittsburgh clients.

The Pittsburgh Gazette reported that a certain Jordan Robbs is being investigated for his participation in the illegal activity. Authorities identify at least 4 people who might be involved in the network but charges have yet to be made as investigation is still on-going.

Government agencies involved in this investigation are the Food and Drug Administration, the Criminal Investigation Division of the IRS and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Mourahib is still being held in federal custody while waiting for his sentencing on November.

Bodybuilder Cop Dismissed

Meanwhile, a police bodybuilder from Northumbria Police, UK was terminated from the service after his involvement in the purchase and possession of anabolic steroids. Sergeant Darren Towers was apprehended last year for allegedly conspiring with other defendants to supply steroids in the area. However, the court dismissed the case after Towers admitted that he only used the steroids for personal use. He claimed that he is active in bodybuilding competitions and needed the drugs to maintain his physique.

Towers has been in the bodybuilding since 1990’s. He told the court that he stopped taking the drug when he joined the police service but resumed taking steroids in 2006 when he started competing in bodybuilding competitions. He contends it is not illegal to use steroids for personal use after checking it on the internet.

However, the internal investigation of the Northumbria Police resulted to his dismissal from the force for gross misconduct. “Northumbria Police expects that officers and staff adhere to the highest possible standards of professional conduct,” said a spokeswoman from the police department. Towers disputes the decision and will file an appeal to overturn the decision of the Northumbria Police. He contends that the punishment is excessive.