Australian judge convinced that 1kg of testosterone proprionate powder was for personal dieting use ?

A MAN who tried to lose weight by buying almost a kilogram of testosterone over the internet to make his own steroids has escaped a prison sentence.

Carlton Alloysius Hayes, 34, was given a two-month fully suspended jail sentence after pleading guilty in the NT Supreme Court to possessing 997.16g of testosterone propionate.

Hayes imported the drug from overseas after purchasing it over the internet before November 20, 2010.

He also tried to buy benzyl benzoate, a chemical used to dilute the steroid into an injectable liquid, from an interstate company. But Territory police were notified of the latter order and asked Hayes why he wanted to purchase the chemical.

He said he wanted to get it for a friend - whose name he couldn't remember.

Justice Stephen Southwood said during sentencing that Hayes contacted police the next day and asked them to come back to his house.

He then voluntarily handed over two bags of white powder and told them he wanted the chemical to mix with the testosterone to make injectable steroids.

Hayes - who weighed 156kg at the time of the offence - told the court he wasn't losing any weight exercising at the gym.

The former NT rugby union player said he used to be in good shape.

Justice Southwood said he accepted that Hayes was planning on using the testosterone for personal use and not for commercial gain.

"He had a reputation as a genuine, honest and dependable person," he said.

"He has led a hard working life."

Justice Southwood said it was necessary to impose a prison sentence because Hayes had imported the drug from overseas.

But he added he wouldn't send him to Berrimah jail, suspending the sentence for six months.