You've Got Mail... and Steroids: Internet Drug Ring Investigated

The internet has always had a reputation of spreading ideas, thoughts, beliefs and apparently, now drugs to people on a daily basis. Many professional and collegiate athletes have been said to have gotten steroids, anti-aging treatments and other performance enhancers through the internet and prompted a pharmaceutical raid on Tuesday, March 27, 2007, in Orlando. The pharmacy has been identified as Signature Pharmacy and collected nearly $36 million in income by ignoring federal and state prescription laws.

The consumer list of this online scandal is pretty hefty and includes many notable names in the sport industry. As reported by EPSN.com, Los Angeles Angels outfielder Gary Matthews Jr., major league pitcher Jason Grimsley, former baseball star Jose Canseco and heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield are among the websites clientele.

Gary Matthews Jr. commented by saying "Until we get more information, I can't comment on it. I ask that you respect my position. I don't want to be a distraction to the team. At the appropriate time I will comment on it."

Canseco had admitted to using drugs for baseball but his agent stated that he got his steroids from a teammate, gym or a doctor-- and probably not from the internet. He then went on to say that he is taking testosterone now because a side effect of taking them is that it lowers your testosterone levels.

A pittsburgh Steelers physician, Richard Rydze, is also under investigation. He has spent $150,000 on testosterone and human growth hormones and obtained these through the internet drug ring. He, however, claims that he bought these medications for elderly patients and that none of them are on the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to SI.com.

Federal and state agents raided two Signature Pharmacies on Tuesday. Four company officials were indicted for an array of actions-- including: enterprise corruption, criminal sale of a controlled substance, criminal diversion of prescription medications and insurance fraud. Prosecutors want them to be brought to New York for a hearing on Thursday. During the raid, officials seized anabolic steroids and human growth hormone.

"I can't tell you what percentage of their business was legal and how much
involved stacking steroids, but there was a mix," Carl Metzger narcotics
commander for the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation in Orlando said.

According to David Soares, a District Attorney for Albany, NY, he remains hopeful that this will limit a vast majority of the distribution of these drugs.

So... what exactly does this mean for the sporting community?

Well, if these allegations turn out to be true, you can be sure that drastic measures will be taken. Since it is apparent that drug testing is still an ongoing problem among team members, a stricter drug testing policy will probably be enforced. Team members that are said to have used steroids no longer serve as role models to society because team members are making fans question their credibility to their successes and skills. This case might crack down on drug use and eventually all the names of these athletes will be exposed. Along with the BALCO steroid scandal, this incident helps illustrate that highly paid sports officials are cheating. This also doesn't look too good for league managers and commissioners. They constantly have to reassure U.S. lawmakers that they can maintiain control of team players. Athletes also take these drugs acknowledging the short-term effects but fail to realize the effects in the long run.

NFL Drug Policy Still Not Enough

After the San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman’s appointment to the Pro Bowl, the NFL finally did the right thing. . . well at least they are headed that way. The NFL Players Association has agreed to ban any player who tests positive for performance enhancing drugs from participating in the Pro Bowl in that same season. This rule however will not go into effect until next year, so Merriman will still get to play in this year’s Pro Bowl. Merriman was suspended this year for 4 games after testing positive for performance enhancing drugs, but still managed to make a big enough impact in his 12 games to make the Pro Bowl roster.

It is good to see that the NFL made sure that players using performance enhancing drugs will not make the Pro Bowl, in addition to the 4-game suspension that is already in place, but even then the NFL’s punishment for a positive test is a joke. Miami Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor had it right when he said, “You really shouldn't be able to fail a test like that and play in this league, to begin with.”

Indianapolis Colts’ Dwight Freeney basically said that there is no way to tell how many plays a player made because of this unfair advantage. I would agree with this and even take a step further by saying that there is no way to tell how much extra money a player made because of this unfair advantage. A player could use performance enhancers for years without getting caught and continue to reap the rewards from doing so (both physically and financially) for years after the player is caught. A lot of players may take this chance if the only punishment is a 4-game suspension and no Pro Bowl appointment.

The NFL is on the right track, but they should do more to deter players from using performance enhancing drugs.