Steelers' physician linked to new role Roids/HGH probe (1 Viewer)

[Wilbur Wood]

ORLANDO, Fla. -- A downtown pharmacy was raided by a law enforcement task force on Tuesday, the climax of a large New York state grand jury investigation into Internet drug sales that could expose widespread illicit steroid use by professional athletes and thousands of people across the nation.

The unprecedented inquiry, led by Albany County's district attorney, has taken New York Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement agents and an Orlando-based federal task force deep inside a maze of shadowy pharmacies and Web sites that have reaped millions of dollars in profit by allegedly exploiting federal and state prescription laws, according to court records.

More than two dozen doctors, pharmacists and business owners have been, or will be, arrested in the coming days in Alabama, Texas, Florida and New York on sealed indictments charging them with various felonies for unlawfully distributing steroids and other controlled substances, records show.

The Times Union has learned that investigators in the year-old case, which has been kept quiet until now, uncovered evidence that testosterone and other performance-enhancing drugs may have been fraudulently prescribed over the Internet to current and former Major League Baseball players, National Football League players, college athletes, high school coaches, and a former Mr. Olympia champion and another top contender in the bodybuilding competition.

The customers include Los Angeles Angels center fielder Gary Matthews Jr., according to sources with knowledge of the investigation.

Sources also said New York Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement investigators recently interviewed a top physician for the Pittsburgh Steelers about his alleged purchase last year of roughly $150,000 of testosterone and human growth hormone.

http://timesunion.com/AspStories/st...?storyID=566985

 

[428143]

Moral of the story: If you want to play with the big boys in any major sport, you probably need some help...and these guys will give it to you.

 

[Gr00vus]

Moral of the story: If you want to play with the big boys in any major sport, you probably need some help...and these guys will give it to you.

Can't wait to see all the belly aching about cheaters that will come from this. Welcome to reality.

 

[Gandalf]

There's the way it is and the way it ought to be...

 

[BigSteelThrill]

the way it ought to be...

...and that "way" is different for each and every person you ask.

 

[QuizGuy66]

 

[Snotbubbles]

I don't really see what the big problem is with steriods/HGH. If used correctly under a doctors supervision they can be beneficial to a person.

 

[LHUCKS]

Huge discussion on Colin Cowherd's show today.

 

[Banger]

wow, this is surprising. Steroids in football, who would have guessed it?

 

[ditka85]

Anyone who thinks players are getting this big WITHOUT "help" is seriously kidding themselves.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

wow, this is surprising. Steroids in football, who would have guessed it?

no kidding, most the league is taking something

 

[jetpack]

Steelers Issue (non) statement

WPXI

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

Probably too early to strip them of their most recent Lombardi trophy.

 

[Frenchy Fuqua]

UPMC to investigate Steelers' doctor who bought HGH

Wednesday, February 28, 2007

By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center will began an internal investigation into the purchase of human growth hormone by Dr. Richard Rydze, one of the center's physicians and a Steelers' internist.

"UPMC became aware of this investigation yesterday afternoon by reading the newspaper reports," said a statement released by Susan Manko of the UPMC news bureau.

"We have initiated our own internal investigation. At this time we have no further factual information or comments. We, of course, maintain the highest quality of integrity and ethical behavior of our physicians. So we are initiating our own internal review."

According to the Times-Union of Albany, N.Y., a New York investigator flew to Pittsburgh last month to interview Rydze about why he allegedly used a personal credit card to purchase roughly $150,000 in testosterone and human growth hormone in 2006.

Rydze told the investigator the drugs were for his private patients, the paper said, citing an unidentified person briefed on the interview. There are no allegations Rydze violated any laws.

Steelers spokesman Dave Lockett said today that the Steelers are gathering information and may have a statement later in the day on the situation.

Rydze told Sports Illustrated that, "The Rooneys are aware that I do this ... I mean, they have my trust that I would never do this with an athlete."

The doctor told the magazine that he made the purchases and uses the HGH to treat elderly patients who are "deficient in growth hormone," and require tendon repair. "[it's] not for athletes, never," says Rydze. "I don't give it to people who want to come in here and look pretty and look young and build up their muscles. I will not do that."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

 

[QuizGuy66]

Evidence of Growth Hormone

Seriously, that can't be natural.

(Edit to add the picture is in fact work safe)

-QG

 

[[icon]]

at all the football fans ragging on baseball for having a steroid problem

Football = The biggest drug problem in all of sports

That said I don't think the steelers were the only ones guilty of this so anyone railing on them (ie Cowherd) needs a reality check. Hopefully the fallout isn't too big.... I love the game and would hate to see it struggle as a result

 

[ImTheScientist]

I don't really see what the big problem is with steriods/HGH. If used correctly under a doctors supervision they can be beneficial to a person.

I agree 100%, they have a bad rap because people abuse them

 

[Jous]

Nothing has been made certain yet. The Steeler guy under allegations is only there on gamedays and has a number of elderly clients as wlel, who he says were the ones he was getting the steroids for. Steroids are very curative under certain conditions to the elderly, I know as my grandmother is on them right now actually, so that explaination can't be dismissed right away.

 

[Godsbrother]

There are no allegations Rydze violated any laws.

Much ado about nothing...

 

[Jous]

I wouldn't necessarily say it's much ado about nothing. No allegations have been made yet, but this is all very new.

Even as a Pittsburgh Steeler fan myself, if they can prove that the team was indeed receiving steroids, I would absolutely support any and all kind of punishment the league could dish out at them. Steroid use is disgraceful, absolutely disgraceful.

(For the record, I do agree that there's probably not much to this story, but if by chance it does turn out really bad, I just wanted to say what I'd think)

 

[NEUPJ]

I don't really see what the big problem is with steriods/HGH. If used correctly under a doctors supervision they can be beneficial to a person.

What percentage of people that take steroids for fitness/body building/athletic reasons would you say use them correctly? Couldn't this argument be used for nearly any controlled substance? (There are a few exceptions.)