Ordering anabolic steroids over the internet should be made illegal, the Government's drugs advisory body has said.
The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) said further restrictions to make it necessary for an individual to have personal custody of the substances on importation should be imposed, "thereby making online ordering of the substances illegal".
The British Crime Survey found that 50,000 people aged 16-59 used anabolic steroids in 2009/10 and needle and syringe programmes also indicated a rise in steroid injectors, the ACMD said.
It also recommended the Government increase its efforts to ensure better availability of credible information and advice for users of anabolic steroids and put a greater focus on users who visit needle exchange schemes to help stop the spread of blood-borne viruses.
Professor Les Iversen, ACMD chairman, said: "The misuse and rising prevalence of anabolic steroids is a worrying development.
"While the health-related harms associated with these substances are not as severe as with some other drugs, misuse carries significant risks, particularly for young people whose bodies are still developing.
"More needs to be done to tackle the supply of anabolic steroids and to educate people of the potential dangers."
But the ACMD said "criminal prosecution should continue to be limited to illicit steroid dealers, suppliers, manufacturers and traffickers who profit from this trade as a Class C substance". It also recommended improved intervention and education messages aimed at users.
The ACMD report - Consideration Of The Anabolic Steroids - raised concerns over the "ease of availability through transnational internet sites trading in these products". It added that substandard and counterfeit steroids within the marketplace posed a health risk and also found there was "no recognised drug treatment provision for anabolic steroid users in the UK".
The advisory body also found that use of the drugs by adolescents was "potentially disrupting the normal pattern of growth and behavioural maturation and leading to virilisation". It added that the majority of users injected anabolic steroids and were potentially at risk of a number of serious harms including blood-borne viruses such as hepatitis B and C as a result of sharing used injecting equipment.
Showing posts with label epo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label epo. Show all posts
Small steroids bust in Alicante, Spain.
Three people have been arrested in connection with the sale of “bodybuilding” stimulants at a local gym. National Police Agents arrested the three Spanish defendants, aged 24, 29 and 39 years, at a gym in Elche, after it was reported that they were selling anabolic steroids, which had been purchased via the internet, to fellow members.
During a raid on the establishment concerned, Police confiscated 24 boxes and 39 packets of the illegal drugs in a sports holdall, belonging to one of the accused, who was arrested immediately.
The arrest led to the detention of his two accomplices later that day, one of which was his brother and the other a member of the gym who had been responsible for purchasing the drugs.
A further raid on the culprits properties led to the recovery of 815 pills and 74 packets of steroids, alongside of 1.171 euros, tools used to manipulate the substances and the names and telephone numbers of supposed “regular” customers.
During a raid on the establishment concerned, Police confiscated 24 boxes and 39 packets of the illegal drugs in a sports holdall, belonging to one of the accused, who was arrested immediately.
The arrest led to the detention of his two accomplices later that day, one of which was his brother and the other a member of the gym who had been responsible for purchasing the drugs.
A further raid on the culprits properties led to the recovery of 815 pills and 74 packets of steroids, alongside of 1.171 euros, tools used to manipulate the substances and the names and telephone numbers of supposed “regular” customers.
USADA suspends cyclist for two years for EPO possession, more US bans expected soon.
In the first case of a professional domestic cyclist suspended for ties to former racer turned drug distributor Joe Papp, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency announced Friday that Jelly Belly rider Jonathan Chodroff has accepted a two-year period of ineligibility for an anti-doping rule violation based on his use and possession of synthetic erythropoietin (EPO)in 2007.
As VeloNews reported earlier this week, a wave of domestic cyclists are believed to receive sanctions in the coming days and weeks for purchasing performance-enhancing drugs through a Web site Papp ran from September 2006 through September 2007.
According to the Justice Department, Papp imported the drugs from the Chinese manufacturer, Shandong Kexing Bioproducts Company and sold the drugs to approximately 187 customers, including cyclists and other athletes, throughout the United States and internationally.
In February Papp, 35, pleaded guilty in a Pennsylvania federal court to conspiracy to distribute human growth hormone and recombinant erythropoietin. He has not yet been sentenced for his violation of federal narcotic laws. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $500,000, or both.
Because he is awaiting sentencing, Papp declined to comment about any USADA or criminal investigations with which he may be cooperating.
However, Papp posted this message on his Twitter account on Friday morning: “Respect to Jonathan Chodroff for doing the “honorable” thing and admitting HIS involvement. Many others haven’t/won’t, it seems.”
Reached by VeloNews Friday morning, Chodroff had no comment. However in another news outlet he admitted to purchasing doping products in 2007. When USADA confronted him with electronic evidence linking him with Papp’s online store, Chodroff said he immediately phoned USADA and confessed.
Jelly Belly rider Kiel Reijnen confirmed that Chodroff notified him of the suspension yesterday with a phone call.
“(Chodroff’s EPO possession) was from a long time ago and isn’t really relevant to what we’re doing now,” said Reijnen, adding that Chodroff had already decided to retire earlier this season, after the Tour of Qinghai Lake showed him his limitations.
Chodroff’s two-year period of ineligibility began on September 10, 2010, the day he accepted the sanction. Additionally, Chodroff is disqualified from all competitive results achieved on and subsequent to March 26, 2007, the date he first committed the anti-doping rule violations based on evidence currently in USADA’s possession, including forfeiture of any medals, points and prizes.
As VeloNews reported earlier this week, a wave of domestic cyclists are believed to receive sanctions in the coming days and weeks for purchasing performance-enhancing drugs through a Web site Papp ran from September 2006 through September 2007.
According to the Justice Department, Papp imported the drugs from the Chinese manufacturer, Shandong Kexing Bioproducts Company and sold the drugs to approximately 187 customers, including cyclists and other athletes, throughout the United States and internationally.
In February Papp, 35, pleaded guilty in a Pennsylvania federal court to conspiracy to distribute human growth hormone and recombinant erythropoietin. He has not yet been sentenced for his violation of federal narcotic laws. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $500,000, or both.
Because he is awaiting sentencing, Papp declined to comment about any USADA or criminal investigations with which he may be cooperating.
However, Papp posted this message on his Twitter account on Friday morning: “Respect to Jonathan Chodroff for doing the “honorable” thing and admitting HIS involvement. Many others haven’t/won’t, it seems.”
Reached by VeloNews Friday morning, Chodroff had no comment. However in another news outlet he admitted to purchasing doping products in 2007. When USADA confronted him with electronic evidence linking him with Papp’s online store, Chodroff said he immediately phoned USADA and confessed.
Jelly Belly rider Kiel Reijnen confirmed that Chodroff notified him of the suspension yesterday with a phone call.
“(Chodroff’s EPO possession) was from a long time ago and isn’t really relevant to what we’re doing now,” said Reijnen, adding that Chodroff had already decided to retire earlier this season, after the Tour of Qinghai Lake showed him his limitations.
Chodroff’s two-year period of ineligibility began on September 10, 2010, the day he accepted the sanction. Additionally, Chodroff is disqualified from all competitive results achieved on and subsequent to March 26, 2007, the date he first committed the anti-doping rule violations based on evidence currently in USADA’s possession, including forfeiture of any medals, points and prizes.
Conte Weighs In ( on the current use of PEDs in boxing )
"In my opinion, blood testing for the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight is more important for detecting possible blood doping or use of EPO than it is for human growth hormone. Measuring hematocrit levels (percentage of red blood cells to total whole blood volume) is very important. For example, even without a positive urine test for EPO, cyclists are temporarily suspended for two weeks if their hematocrit is greater than 50%. An elevated hematocrit can provide a significant advantage to a fighter by enhancing oxygen uptake and utilization. This would benefit a fighter in training and especially during the later rounds of a fight."
Spanish cycling doping ring uncovered.
Last Tuesday the Spanish Civil Guard (police) raided several locations across Spain that led to the arrest of 11 people, including 3 cyclists. The police raids took place in Barcelona, Valencia, Murcia and Grenada. The arrested include two pharmacists who were already suspected of distributing banned substances, and several doctors. The ring is reported by the Spanish police to have distributed EPO, CERA and human growth hormone.
The investigation, named Operacion Grial by the authorities, is reminiscent of the infamous Operacion Puerto, the doping scandal of 2006 that uncovered the doping ring run by Dr Fuentes, a former collaborator of Walter Viru and also once a doctor with the Kelme squad.
"Investigations were initiated in early August 2009 when the Civil Guard became aware of the existence of a group of people, mostly residents in Valencia, which were dedicated to supplying doping products to people of different sports and categories," read the statement.
It continued: "During the investigations it was discovered that among the network of members was a physician with sports and dietary consultation in Valencia, whose role would be to prepare training plans, nutrition and supplementation aimed at improving the performance of athletes, including substances in these plans prohibited in sport."
The investigation, named Operacion Grial by the authorities, is reminiscent of the infamous Operacion Puerto, the doping scandal of 2006 that uncovered the doping ring run by Dr Fuentes, a former collaborator of Walter Viru and also once a doctor with the Kelme squad.
"Investigations were initiated in early August 2009 when the Civil Guard became aware of the existence of a group of people, mostly residents in Valencia, which were dedicated to supplying doping products to people of different sports and categories," read the statement.
It continued: "During the investigations it was discovered that among the network of members was a physician with sports and dietary consultation in Valencia, whose role would be to prepare training plans, nutrition and supplementation aimed at improving the performance of athletes, including substances in these plans prohibited in sport."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)