On February 27th four people were arrested in Orlando, FL for distributing steroids and other performance enhancers that are illegally sold online and they are now facing charges of criminal diversion of prescription medications and prescriptions, criminal sale of a controlled substance and insurance fraud. The pharmacy customers for these products were Major League Baseball players, National Football League players, college athletes, coaches and doctors. Licensed as well as unlicensed doctors were writing out and filling in prescriptions for patients that they didn't even encounter yet, which is illegal.
One of the customers was Gary Matthews Jr., a center fielder for the Anaheim Angels. Matthews had a rough career in his past six years in the majors. He was said to be unimpressive and not many teams wanted him. This factor can be a reason why he purchased performance enhancers from this pharmacy. One year his numbers went up, all of a sudden after six years, and he became more wanted and signed with the Angels for a $50 million dollar contract. Another customer was Dr. Richard A. Rydze who is a physician who tends to members of the Pittsburgh Steelers as well as private patients. Rydze claimed that the drugs he orderd, growth hormone drugs, were for his private patients only and NOT for member's of the Steelers.
The owner of American Pharmaceutical Group, Daniel McGlone, and Ana Maria Santi, a former doctor were stripped of her license to practice medicine. They were charged in an 80-count accusation. Victor Mariani, a licensed physician with a practice in New York City, was charged separately and has agreed to plead guilty.
It's such a shame that steroids are used in the world of sports. Athletes can often have a bad influence on the fans who look up to them. But what's worst is that the state and federal laws against illegal prescriptions are rarely enforced because they are more focused on heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine. They should take more precaution when it comes to these kinds of drugs instead of only focusing on certain ones.
http://http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/28/nyregion/28drugs.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1
One of the customers was Gary Matthews Jr., a center fielder for the Anaheim Angels. Matthews had a rough career in his past six years in the majors. He was said to be unimpressive and not many teams wanted him. This factor can be a reason why he purchased performance enhancers from this pharmacy. One year his numbers went up, all of a sudden after six years, and he became more wanted and signed with the Angels for a $50 million dollar contract. Another customer was Dr. Richard A. Rydze who is a physician who tends to members of the Pittsburgh Steelers as well as private patients. Rydze claimed that the drugs he orderd, growth hormone drugs, were for his private patients only and NOT for member's of the Steelers.
The owner of American Pharmaceutical Group, Daniel McGlone, and Ana Maria Santi, a former doctor were stripped of her license to practice medicine. They were charged in an 80-count accusation. Victor Mariani, a licensed physician with a practice in New York City, was charged separately and has agreed to plead guilty.
It's such a shame that steroids are used in the world of sports. Athletes can often have a bad influence on the fans who look up to them. But what's worst is that the state and federal laws against illegal prescriptions are rarely enforced because they are more focused on heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine. They should take more precaution when it comes to these kinds of drugs instead of only focusing on certain ones.
http://http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/28/nyregion/28drugs.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1
