( or was the problem actually that the products in question were underground ? )
A BODYBUILDER caught with a stash of illegal anabolic steroids and testosterone was reprimanded at Swindon Magistrates’ Court.
Graham McAdams, of Grange Park, originally denied possessing class C drugs, because an official drugs education website says it is legal to possess or import steroids, providing they are in the form of a medical product for personal use.
However, the 31-year-old changed his plea to guilty on what was listed as his trial day yesterday after a ruling in another case damaged his potential defence.
Richard Thomas, prosecuting, said the matter came to light when police executed a warrant in Kennedy Drive, Eldene, on October 28, 2010.
Under McAdams’ bed, police found some tablets, which were seized as suspected controlled drugs and were later found to contain class C controlled drugs.
Police found 15 boxes containing what was described as Boldenone, but which was in fact a liquid containing the controlled drugs drostanolone, testosterone, nandrolone and boldenone.
They found 400 individual 100mg caplets of Stromba 10, which contains the controlled substance Stanozolol, an anabolic steroid.
They also found 104 tablets containing Stanozolol, as well as eight boxes of the controlled substance testosterone, three glass vials of Sustanol containing a quantity of testosterone, and one glass vial containing more testosterone.
Mr Thomas said: “All of these matters are controlled drugs under class C and they are all items which are used by individuals in body-building, athletes and the like to enhance performance and physique.
“Nevertheless, they are unlawful to possess.
“You no doubt will be aware of the problems that can be caused by the use of anabolic steroids and clearly they can have an effect on people very detrimental to their health and their behaviour.”
McAdams, an industrial plumber, of Marney Road, admitted seven counts of possessing class C drugs.
Amanda Thornton, defending, said McAdams is a contestant in body-building competitions and used the drugs as body-building enhancers.
She said he originally pleaded not guilty because the guidelines on the official drug education service website, Frank, suggested they were legal to possess in his case.
After that, she and McAdams contacted Avon and Somerset Police and the Avon and Somerset CPS, who both said possession of these drugs was not something they would prosecute for.
She said: “It’s extremely unclear for Mr McAdams what his position was on this.
“The guidelines by the Government stated it was legal for him to possess it if it was a medical product.”
However, Ms Thornton said as the case was progressing to trial, there was another case which established that anabolic steroids cannot be counted as medical products if used for bodybuilding purposes, until evidence can be produced to prove they are medical products.
She asked for magistrates to give him a lesser sentence on the basis that the information being given to the public through Frank was wrong and the legal situation was confusing.
McAdams was given a 12-month conditional discharge and told to pay £85 costs.
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