Roger Clemens’ defense at the Show 60 Minutes was not perceptive

Mike Wallace, a celebrated investigative journalist, who was one of the original correspondents of CBS’ 60 Minutes died, when he was 93 years old. This journalist made capturing interviews with world prominent persons. The latest stories were about the former professional baseball player Roger Clemens and accusations related to usage of anabolic steroids and HGH by this sportsperson. Mike Wallace’s last appearance on TV was connected with this case.
The interview with Roger Clemens about steroids was broadcast in January, 2008. Rusty Hardin, the defense attorney for Roger Clemens, arranged the appearing of this baseball star in the program 60 Minutes. Roger Clemens had to defense himself against accusations of his former personal coach Brian McNamee. This trainer accused Roger Clemens in intake of anabolic steroids and HGH. He cooperated with investigators of Mitchell Report, when they tried to find out the widespread of steroid use in the Major League Baseball.
Wallace didn’t enforce Clemens to tell that he used steroids. He just encouraged him to prove to others that he had applied neither steroids, nor HGH. Clemens claimed that he would be able to pull a tractor with his teeth, if he had taken steroids.
The interview of Clemens was an unfortunate public relations maneuver for his defense attorney. It was not a perceptive interview. But it renewed the interest after Wallace’s death.
Actually, Wallace hosted much more significant interviews during his career. The steroid interview with Roger Clemens was not the most significant. Why did it draw each person’s attention?
Other interviews of Wallace are quite significant. Wallace made an interview with the lawyer of the president Richard Nixon and the assistant to the president for Domestic Affairs John Ehrlichman during the Watergate scandal. Wallace called the Watergate scandal “perjury”. He enumerated such methods of Richard Nixon, as thefts, spying, obstruction of justice, etc. The scandal led to resignation of the president Richard Nixon.
The Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini was also interviewed by Wallace. The reporter called him a “lunatic”. But he was quoting the president Anwar el-Sadat of Egypt.
Another person who was interviewed by Wallace was the Vice President of Research and Development at a tobacco company. Jeffrey Wigand admitted that executives of the company cheated before the Congress about their knowledge related to nature of nicotine.
Although these interviews were significant, a lot of people directed their attention to insignificant interview with the former baseball player Roger Clemens. It may be because while lying of Roger Clemens before the Congress can result in federal struggle against steroids, the war on nicotine will never exist.

Both anabolic steroids and PCP were uncovered in Chad Bothers’ system

Chad Brothers was a bodybuilder with induced muscle size. He had 240 pounds. His unusual behavior, cardiopulmonary arrest and sudden death in October, 2011 have been widely discussed in many articles in magazines, newspapers and internet. It was said that this bodybuilder had come to the Gold’s Gym in Latham, Albany. Chad Brothers was very aggressive and began to attack other people who were training in the gym. When police arrived, there were some attempts to subdue him. Since the aggressive bodybuilder refused to subdue, a police officer had to use a Taser, an electroshock weapon, for this need. The bodybuilder suffered of a cardiac arrest and died.
It was identified by the post-mortem toxicology that anabolic steroids had been presented in the system of Chad Brothers. No one can doubt that this information led to appearance of different articles which told readers that anabolic steroids had caused his death. But an important aspect was not noted. Numerous authors of articles connected with Brothers’ death did it intentionally; others did it unknowingly. Phencyclidine (PCP) that is known as “angel dust” was also presented.
Cecilia Logue, spokesperson for David Soares of the Albany County District Attorney’s Office and articles of the Times-Union blamed anabolic steroids for death of this person. Only such readers who had looked for additional information could find out that not only anabolic steroids were presented in Chad Brothers’ system.
The police official Steven Heider was interviewed by FOX 23 News. This official claimed that both steroids and PCP were found by the post-mortem toxicology.
While anabolic steroids are a Schedule III Controlled Substances, PCP is a Schedule II Controlled Substance. “Angel dust” possesses anesthetic, dissociative and hallucinogenic characteristics. However anabolic steroids are damned for unusual manner and sudden death of Chad Brothers, Phencyclidine might have played a significant role in his abnormal manner and death.

A substance abuse counselor helped a prisoner to sell anabolic steroids

Ismael Melendez was sentenced to 9-year imprisonment for weapons’ charge in 2005. He was an inmate there. Recently Melendez was accused in selling anabolic steroids. He promoted sales of banned substances inside and even outside the prison in New York. This person faces charges of prison contraband, illegal possession of forbidden medicines and criminal possession of syringes.
It was found out that Richard Finley, Melendez’ substance abuse counselor, had taken part in the illegal activity of Melendez. This person served about 10 years for the Cape Vincent prison. The substance abuse canselor helped him to sell anabolic steroids outside the prison. He was arrested in November 2011. It happened when the substance abuse counselor had caught during distribution of anabolic steroids to a man in a certain parking lot.
Melendez sent Finley to deliver certainbanned preparations to a client. The purchase was made in a certain shopping centre.
Undoubtedly, a question appears: Why did the substance abuse counselor start to promote selling prohibited substances?
Finley said why he helped Melendez . Melendez promised to give him HGH and 1500 dollars. It would have been given as exchange for the help in smuggling alcohol, anabolic steroids and creatine inside the prison. But Finley was arrested by the police and accused in possession of banned medicines and a hypodermic instrument.
The substance abuse counselor made also another immense mistake. He brought his small child of 7 years old, when he was involved in the drug deal. That’s why Finley was also accused in endangering the welfare of a child.
This led to a suspension of Finley from his job without any pay. Thus, this person lost the well-paying job. It is known that Finley earned over 52, 000 dollars per year.
The inmate was transferred to another jail. This person continues to serve his sentence.

A sound of an ampoule which was broken caused some serious suspicions

According to Italian laws, intake of performance-enhancing drugs is illegal in this country.
Italy’s Anti-Narcotic Group is too strict and even aggressive in its activity to detect sportspersons that are suspected in administration of anabolic steroids or other prohibited preparations which have performance-enhancing effects. Recently the investigation was connected with the Danish cyclist Michael Rasmussen.
Hidden microphones were established in a certain pharmacy. The recordings don’t contain any information which could prove that Rasmussen had got anabolic steroids. But they contain a sound of an ampoule which is broken and thrown into a metal can. The investigators base their suspicions on this sound. They try to prove with the help of this sound that this famous sportsman doped. Michael Rasmussen notes that the investigators conclude that he was on the steroid therapy on that day. Don’t you find this affirmation strange?
The Danish cyclist mentioned that he had got different medications from the pharmacist Guido Nigreli for himself, his family and his pets. He said that he had purchased only legal preparations for clinical needs. The Danish cyclist noted that he hadn’t bought and used any banned medications for athletic purposes.
As it is known, Rasmussen’s sport history is controversial. However this cyclist is a high level athlete and he is quite well-known, he wasn’t honest in any situation. This Danish sportsperson was removed from the 2007 Tour the France for lying. He was wearing the yellow jersey in the days before the race. He violated the rule of Tour the France and received a two-year suspension.

Fletcher, an athlete that never tested positive for steroids, was suspended from competitions for steroid business

Carl Fletcher, a shot-putter from Britain, can’t take part in competitions 4 years. The ban was pronounced by the United Kingdom Anti-Doping Agency (UKAD) because he was charged with trafficking anabolic steroids. Carl Fletcher sold more than 15 types of steroids. It was found out that HGH, testosterone and Trenbolone were among the medicines that had been sold by this famous sportsperson. The Liverpool Crown Court sentenced this sportsperson to 9 months in jail.
It is interesting to note that Carl Fletcher never tested positive for any steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs by the WADA. Don’t you think that it is strange? What could it mean? One may suppose that methods used by anti-doping agencies are not effective enough to catch consumers of steroids that take part in multinational sport competitions.
The WADA and the UKAD put significant efforts to make sports free of cheating and intake of steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs. These organizations also collaborate with law enforcement organizations in order to get the necessary effects.
The UKAD pointed out that anti-doping officials would be allowed to supply information about names of athletes who applied anabolic steroids.
This case displayed that the collaboration between the UKAD and law enforcement benefits a lot. It proved that law enforcement organizations may help greatly to catch the athletes that administrate anabolic steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs. It is not possible to overvalue the role of these organizations in detection of cheaters in sports. Andy Parkinson, the CEO of the UKAD, is sure that if law enforcement agencies work together with the UKAD, they will have success.
The Merseyside Police and the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) investigated a certain situation related to intake of steroids by officers at the St. Helens Basic Command Unit. It was found out that Fletcher had taken part in the illegal activity conducted by some of his relatives. This resulted in Fletcher’s suspension from competitions till November 8, 2015.

Certain persons confirm that Yannick Noah’s thoughts about steroid use in sports do not deserve public attention

Sportsmen from Spain criticized the former tennis player from France, Yannick Noah. This person wrote an amazing article “La Potion Magique” that was published in the French newspaper “Le Monde”. This former sportsman notices in his work that athletes from Spain have several priorities and win competitions because they administrate anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs. He claims that Spain has got more loyal attitude to steroid use than France; that’s why Spanish athletes have more increased muscles and are successful in competitions.
Rafael Nadal, a famous Spanish sportsperson, claims that Yannick Noah wrote completely stupid statements and comments in his work. He is surprised how Noah’s work was allowed to be published in the newspaper. Rafael Nadalthat won 10 Grand Slam titles confirms that Yannick Noah doesn’t write such things which are worthy to be published. According to the Spanish athlete, articles of the former tennis player from France don’t deserve being made public.
David Ferrer, a celebrated tennis player from Spain, points out that Yannick Noah is an ignorant man. Ferrer doesn’t understand how a man like Noah who was a professional tennis player and knows the way sport works is able to say such things.
Tennis is not the only area of sports in which Spain won competitions. Spanish basketball players won the 2011 FIBA European Championships. Alberto Contador, the Spanish cyclist, won the 2010 Tour de France and the 2011 Giro d’Italia.
Josep Guardiola, a Spanish football director, says that Yannick Noah must prove, if he claims that sportsmen from Spain administrate steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs. But if he is not able to prove it, he must not write about it.
French athletes support attitude of Spanish sportspersons towards Yannick Noah. They criticize him too. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, a well-known tennis player from France, David Douillet, the Sports minister of France, and Frederic Moncassin, the manager of the cycling Team Type 1 belong also to that persons that don’t agree with the idea of Noah’s article.

The main idea of the book “The story of the NHL’s unlikeliest tough guy” is not connected with steroid use

Georges Laraque described his difficult life of sports in a book “The story of the NHL’s unlikeliest tough guy”. He desired to tell about his life to others. Georges Laraque noted also about intake of anabolic steroids in the National Hockey League (NHL). These aspects about intake of steroids by the NHL’s players seemed to be very interesting. The Canadian press published just the quotes related to this eternal subject. The rest of the book was ignored.
Georges Laraque told in an interview that he had never used performance-enhancing drugs. Moreover, the author noted that he hadn’t mentioned any names of the athletes that had used steroids. The book is indeed an autobiography.
The author mentions about several ways to determine whether a hockey player uses steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs or not. Here are 2 ways mentioned by him:
1. A hockey player who gains more than 40 pounds in a short period of time must be utilizing performance-enhancing drugs.
2. A hockey player whose weight has been reduced significantly in short period of time to correspond to the rules of the Winter Olympics must be taking performance-enhancing drugs.
Of course, all athletes, including hockey players, know that they will be tested for steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs by the WADA. That’s why they stop taking the forbidden medicines certain time before the Olympics. It helps them to avoid probability of testing positive for these medicines.
But this is not the chief idea of the book. The author desired to show that a child has to put immense efforts to become a famous professional athlete enduring racial intolerance and bullying. But the press doesn’t pay attention on this subject. The press is always ready to publish stories related to administration of steroids in sports.
It was not the purpose of the author to to make public the names of the hockey players who used steroids.
Of course, the media tries to convince George Laraque to name steroid users of the NHL.

The HGH isoform ratio test applied by the WADA is not reliable

NFL players mistrust methods used by the WADA. Why did the mistrust appear? Let try to find out the reason.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) intends to test players of the National Football League for HGH. Althogh the NFL Players’ Association has agreed, several skeptic thoughts related to the grade of trustworthiness of blood test for HGH were expressed. This test is going to be just a part of the testing for anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing substances.
Some specialists who are not involved in the WADA activity directly are skeptic to the methods applied by this agency. They support the skepticism of the NFL players.
Matt Chaney, a chief chronicler of administration of steroids in American football, confirms that players of the NFL mistrust the WADA anti-doping tests not without any reason. Skepticism of the players is justified by Matt Chaney.
Don Catlin, the director of Anti-Doping Research, confirms that methods of the WADA for detection of HGH must be transparent. The WADA utilizes the HGH isoform ratio test introduced by Christian Strasburger.
It is important to notice that according to certain specialists, the method of this test is not proved scientifically. It is not trustworthy. The Director of Anti-Doping Research claims that this test is not good for detection of HGH at all.
There is another test that can be utilized by the WADA to catch sportsmen that use HGH. Sonksen introduced a certain HGH testing method which is based on physiological biomarkers. But the WADA doesn’t utilize this method to catch users of HGH.
According to Sonksen, workers of the WADA are not specialists in this area. That’s why they do not understand the priority of one method over the other. But as it was proved by scientists, the HGH biomarker test is more useful than HGH isoform test.
Although specialists confirm about difference between these two tests, the WADA doesn’t desire to to utilize the HGH biomarker test.

All 100 meter finalists of the Sydney Olympics took steroids

All 100 meter finalists of the 2000 Sydney Olympics were suspected in application of anabolic steroids. Can you imagine it? Although a lot of things were done to avoid intake of the banned drugs in sport, it is not free from these medicines.
Victor Conte, the founder of BALCO, noted in an interview about intake of steroids by the 100 meter finalists of the 2000 Olympics. Maurice Greene, Ato Boldon, Obadele Thompson, Darren Campbell, Dwain Chambers, Aziz Zakari, Jon Drummond and Kim Collins used the banned drugs.
Victor Conte tells that Dwain Chambers, the British sportsperson, administrated steroids. Conte supplied these medicines to Chambers in 2003. As it was found out, Chambers used tetrahydrogestrinone.
Maurice Green, the American sprinter, utilized steroids, testosterone cream, EPO and some stimulants. Angel Guillermo Heredia reported that he had provided these medications to Maurice Green. But it is important to note that this American sportsman began to buy these products from Heredia after he had awarded with 2 medals in Olympics.
However the founder of the BALCO doesn’t know about all nuances linked with possession and administration of steroids by these all sportspersons who participated in the Sydney Olympics, he assures that performance-enhancing drugs played their role at the women’s 100 meter final of the 2003 Championship in France. Conte sold steroids to five of the finalists.
Kelly White, the winner, purchased the banned drugs from Conte too. After she had tested positive for Modafinil, she forfeited her gold medals. Later Kelly White said that she had taken tetrahydrogestrinone and the blood booster EPO.
Conte wasn’t surprised about the progress of anti-doping companies related to steroids in sport.

Will Kathy Jager get a TUE?

Kathy Jager, a famous sportswoman, tested positive for anabolic steroids at the 2011 USA National Masters Outdoor Track And Field Championships in Berea. That’s why this athlete was excluded from participation in competitions. Kathy Jager must not compete till the age of 70. This decision was made by the United States Anti-Doping Agency.
This athlete used steroids because these drugs were recommended by the healthcare provider to improve her hormone balance. According to the rules of World Anti-Doping Agency, sportsmen may use steroids for medical purposes and take part in competitions, if they receive a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE). But as it is known, Kathy Jager did not receive a TUE which could give her the authorization to use these drugs without being forbidden from competitions.
It is important to mention that this famous person doesn’t treat intake of anabolic steroids seriously.
This athlete tested positive for methyltestosterone at the 1999 World Association of Veteran Athletes World Championships in Gateshead (Great Britain) after she had broken world records in running of 100 meters. That competition was between people of 55-59 years old. It was the first time she was banned for intake of prohibited medications. Now it was her second time.
As it was found out, Kathy Jager took EstraTest HS which contained esterified estrogens and methyltestosterone in a pill.
She said that she had administrated EstraTest for medical needs. But the World Masters Association didn’t believe and refused to allow her to compete.
The case related to Kathy Jager caused a lot of debates. Some people condemned her for administration of banned medicines, others justified her.
When this sportswoman was banned the first time, she used steroids in order to prevent menopausal problems. The medications were prescribed by her doctor. Then she discontinued taking recommended drugs and began to apply herbal preparations.
So, this sportswoman must not participate in competitions till the age of 70 years old. If she had received a TUE, she could compete. But nobody is sure whether the World Anti-Doping Agency will give her a TUE or not.

Some amendments to the steroid laws in the UK

The United Kingdom and USA have various laws. As for steroids use, it has been always legal in the United Kingdom.
Laws related to anabolic steroids are going to be altered in the UK. The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) offered certain recommendations to the government of the UK. According to these recommendations, possession and administration of these medications remain to be legal as earlier. But the amendments refer to importation of these medicines and orders per internet. This activity is going to be forbidden.
The government has agreed with almost all new amendments of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs. Here we observe the way of influences of the government on mentality of steroids consumers. The faculty chairman of the Royal General Practitioners finds that the recommendations connected with importation of anabolic steroids are effective ways in order to change attitudes of consumers to these drugs. He says that if the new law forbade anabolic steroids entirely, it could cause only opposition of users. According to his opinion, it is an excellent way to have proper influences on persons that administrate anabolic steroids and to give them important information about links between these preparations and their health. The new law may make them to care about their real needs to do something for eluding of negative consequences caused by application of these products.
The UK realizes that steroids may influence on persons’ health negatively that’s why it wants to adopt possible laws that may help users to see the reality.
But it is necessary to mention that the faculty chairman of the Royal General Practitioners, Dr. Lawson, had to realize the all nuances linked with the new law. There is a risk that the new law will not benefit. You may ask: “Where is the risk?” Let analyze the situation which was earlier. Athletes could get anabolic steroids via internet. Importation of anabolic steroids was not banned. So, consumers purchased steroids of good quality.
According to the new law, bodybuilders must not buy steroids per internet. How will they buy these medicines? There is an alternative way of getting these drugs. But this way is not safe. As you know, there are underground labs that manufacture these drugs. Unluckily, they produce fake anabolic steroids. As a result of the new law, consumers will administrate fake steroids that can harm very much. Will the new law benefit?