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The Incredible Bulk Blames NFL Shortcomings on Addiction to Painkillers and Alcohol

Former NFL player Tony Mandarich admitted to abusing steroids, pain killers and alcohol while he played college football for Michigan State University. Mandarich acknowledged using the performance-enhancing drugs during an interview for Showtime’s Inside the NFL with Armen Keteyian in September 2008 after years of denying anabolic steroid use. The interviewed marked the first of Mandarich’s appearances on the interview circuit promoting his forthcoming book, “My Dirty Little Secrets - Steroids, Alcohol & God: The Tony Mandarich Story.” The official publication date of the book is March 23, 2009.

The fact that Tony Mandarich, or any college of professional football player for that matter, used anabolic steroids is not particularly earth-shattering. However, Mandarich’s insistence that he did not use anabolic steroids in the National Football League (NFL) seems dubious. Sports writers have embraced the story of redemption from the evils of anabolic steroid and prescription drug abuse; they have largely accepted Mandarich’s version of his performance-enhancing drug use without reservation.

"The way I cheated on the drug test in college would not have worked in the NFL," according to Mandarich. "That's why I stopped." His stated reason for discontinuing the use of steroids when he entered the NFL was the impossibility of avoiding detection by the NFL’s anti-doping testing procedures. The NFL number two overall draft pick in 1989 passed three collegiate drug tests for steroids: one in January 1988 before the Rose Bowl, one in January 1989 before the Gator Bowl, and one at the NFL-sponsored National Scouting Combines in February 1989.

Matt Chaney, the author of “Spiral of Denial: Muscle Doping in American Football”, does not believe Tony Mandarich is being completely honest about his steroid use in the NFL. “That’s illogical. Testing was and remains a joke in college football, but it’s just as useless in pro football or any other sport, as Mandarich surely knows,” according to the author of the definitive history of anabolic steroid use in American-style football. “Given his NCAA football experience, Mandarich assuredly didn’t fear NFL urinalysis, as he feigns today during interviews for the book. Moreover, he regained massive weight following an illness, including muscle, to come back at 311 pounds for Indianapolis in 1996.”

The former NFL draft bust for the Green Bay Packers made a successful comeback in 1996 and played for three seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. Mandarich gained 60 pounds of muscle in the year prior to returning to the NFL as big and strong as ever. He squatted 680 lbs.; the 1996 squat far exceeded his previous personal best squat of 550 lbs during his steroid-fuel college years. H recently joked that the gains were the result of “creatine.”

Tony Mandarich admits anabolic steroids contributed to his success in college but denies using steroids in the NFL even during his successful comeback in 1996 that was accompanied by massive weight and strength gains. Even though most people attribute Mandarich’s poor performance in Green Bay during the 1989-1991 seasons to the discontinuation of anabolic steroids, Mandarich is quick to redirect blame to his addiction to alcohol and Stadol. “There are other factors that were involved that nobody knows about that were way more of an effect on why I had the huge downfall in Green Bay than steroids (such as) drug and alcohol abuse,” explained Mandarich. He views his catastrophic bust in Green Bay as a reminder of "what alcohol can do to you."

Tony Mandarich’s denial of steroid use as an NFL football player remains one of the most puzzling admissions in his new autobiography. After making a steroid confessional following twenty years of denial, why would Mandarich selectively tell the truth about his history of performance enhancing drug use? “He doesn’t cross a certain line by alleging pervasive muscle doping in The League,” according to Matt Chaney. “He acknowledges problems both personal and institutional, like abuse of pain-killing drugs, yet he suggests anabolic steroids and HGH don’t impact competition.” And of course, a redemption story doesn’t work if the protagonist fails to repudiate ALL drug use, especially anabolic steroids.

Sources

“Twitter: @Tony_Mandarich,” March 16, 2009

“Media’s Dopey Redemption Theme Ridiculous for Baseball,” March 14, 2009

“Tony Mandarich explains why he stopped taking steroids in NFL,” March 10, 2009

“Tony Mandarich Is Very, Very Sorry,” March 9, 2009

“Showtime Inside the NFL with Armen Keteyian,” October 4, 2008

“Tony Mandarich eyeing NFL comeback,” April 25, 1996

“The Big Enchilada,” April 24, 1989

“Spiral of Denial: Muscle Doping in American Football” by Matt Chaney

“My Dirty Little Secrets - Steroids, Alcohol & God” by Tony Mandarich

By Millard Baker

http://www.millardbaker.com

www.SteroidsRx.com

Genetic Profile Determines Who Can Use Steroids Without Getting Caught

Athletes with East Asian ethnic backgrounds can use significant amounts of the anabolic steroid testosterone while avoiding detection by current doping protocols according to a study recently published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine (BJSM). The testosterone: epitestosterone ratio (T:E ratio) test is the standard doping procedure used to screen athletes for testosterone use by several sporting bodies including the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). WADA has established a threshold of 4.0 for T:E ratio as indicative of testosterone administration. Athletes who trigger the threshold are subjected to additional testing (carbon isotope ratio test) to determine if the elevated testosterone ratio can be attributed to synthetic testosterone.

A certain type of genetic variation called the UGT2B17 homozygous deletion/deletion genotype gives steroid tested athletes of Asian ethnicity a huge advantage over athletes lacking the genetic variation. Studies have shown that as many as 40% of athletes with UGT2B17 homozygous deletion/deletion genotype can take at least 500 mg of testosterone enanthate and still maintain a 4:1 T:E ratio. Athletes of Asian ethnic backgrounds are most likely to possess the “doping friendly” genotype.

The T:E ratio has long been known to be flawed and largely ineffective by individuals who worked with steroid tested athletes. Underground steroid guru Dan Duchaine first alerted athletes decades ago that some of them could get away with taking small amounts of testosterone even when tested. BALCO mastermind Victor Conte concurred more recently about the ease of beating the steroid testing system. Anti-doping experts such as Charles Yesalis and Don Catlin have also reluctantly acknowledged that this is true.

The T:E ratio test results in a lot of false negatives (athletes use testosterone but don’t get caught) as well as false positives (innocent athletes test positive for steroid use). "I could figure out how to take a fair amount of testosterone and you’d never catch me, and if I can say that, a lot of others can too," says Don Catlin.

The BJSM study was entitled “Steroid profiles of professional soccer players: an international comparative study”. It compared the steroid profile of 57 Africans, 32 Asians, 50 Caucasians and 32 Hispanics and found significant genetic variations among all ethnic groups when it came to the UGT2B17 gene. The study found that Asian athletes were more likely than other ethnic groups to possess the UGT2B17 deletion gene followed by Hispanics, Africans and Caucasians. Previous studies have suggested other ethnic groups may be even more likely to possess the doping advantageous genotype. The doping-friendly genetic variation was present in 78% of ethnic group identified as “Mulatto (Brazilian).”

The Swiss researchers concluded that the unique and non-specific T:E ratio of 4.0 was not a suitable anti-doping protocol. But rather than reject the flawed T:E ratio test, the researchers proposed a solution that would discriminate between different ethnic groups. They proposed ethnic specific thresholds for athletes such that ethnic groups with highest probability of the UGT2B17 deletion gene would face the most stringent threshold i.e. African:5.6; Asian:3.8; Caucasian:5.7; Hispanic:5.8.

The ethnic-specific thresholds are an inadequate solution for several reasons including, but not limited to, the increasingly multicultural composition of most societies. Furthermore, there is considerable intra-ethnic variability in the doping-friendly genotype. Eastern Asian ethnic groups are much significantly more likely to possess the UGT2B17 genotype than Asian Pacific groups. Koreans (78%) are more likely to possess the genotype than Japanese/Southern Asian/Southern Chinese (30.4%). So, ethnic-specific thresholds based on broad categories like Asians or Africans are too broad and consequently offer little advantage to the non-specific threshold of 4.0.

Testosterone was the very first anabolic-androgenic steroid to be isolated, synthesized, and administered in humans. It was the first steroid to be used by athletes for performance-enhancing purposes. Athletes have used it in sports competition for over 50 years. The use of the T:E ratio anti-doping test has not deterred much less eliminated the use of testosterone in sports. The testosterone loophole is indicative of the abysmal failure of anti-doping agencies at addressing doping in sports. If athletes can still get away with using the most basic, primary anabolic steroids, then they certainly are not fearful that anti-doping technology will ever catch up. A level playing field doesn’t exist even at the genotypic level even when it comes to the ability escape doping detection. Furthermore, could there be a rogue chemist who creates a pharmaceutical drug that can block the UGT2B17 enzyme or a scientist who can use gene therapy to alter the UGT2B17 gene?

Sources

“Steroid profiles of professional soccer players: an international comparative study,” March 12, 2009

“Ethnicity matters in detecting steroid use,” March 12, 2009

“Some Athletes’ Genes Help Outwit Doping Test,” April 30, 2008

“Common Doping Test for Athletes is Unfair (and Racist),” March 23, 2008

By Millard Baker

http://www.millardbaker.com

www.SteroidsRx.com

Biological Evidence Links Clemens to Anabolic Steroids

Former Major League Baseball strength and conditioning coach Brian McNamee claimed to have injected pitcher Roger Clemens with human growth hormone (HGH) and the anabolic steroids Winstrol, Deca Durabolin and Sustanon 250 in 1998, 2000 and 2001. The revelations were published in December 2007 as part of the Mitchell Report investigating steroid use in baseball. The federal prosecutors in San Francisco, who spearheaded the BALCO steroid investigation and steroid-related perjury charges against Barry Bonds, also compelled McNamee to provide testimony about his alleged participation in steroid use by Roger Clemens.

Roger Clemens adamantly denied the allegations by McNamee and mounted an aggressive public relations campaign to discredit Brian McNamee after the Mitchell Report was released. Clemens accused McNamee of lying in a January 6, 2008 interview with Mike Wallace on 60 Minutes. On January 7, 2008, Roger Clemens and his attorney Rusty Hardin held a press conference where they played a 17-minute audio transcript of a secretly recorded telephone conversation Clemens had with McNamee; Hardin attempted, somewhat incompetently, to convince the public that the ambiguous phone conversation bolstered his client’s credibility. Clemens’ legal team also filed a lawsuit against McNamee for defamation of character on the same day.

McNamee’s attorney Richard D. Emery responded harshly to the press conference arranged by Clemens stating, “It’s war now!” In response to the public relations tactics by Clemens and his legal team, McNamee provided federal prosecutors with steroid paraphernalia containing biological evidence supporting his contention that he injected Clemens with steroids. The so-called evidence included a used needles/syringes, ampoules, and blood-soaked gauze pads; McNamee saved the evidence in an empty Miller Lite beer can which was packaged in a FedEx box for storage in his basement for over seven years!

Brian McNamee recently recounted the story behind the specific steroid paraphernalia given to the government. The specific steroid injection in question occurred in Roger Clemen’s Manhattan high-rise apartment in July/August 2001:

Roger Clemens denied the use of anabolic steroid and performance enhancing drugs under oath during testimony in front of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on February 13, 2008. Chairman Henry Waxman and ranking Republican Tom Davis identified seven inconsistencies in the testimony of Clemens and referred the case to the Justice Department. In January 2009, the Justice Department convened a grand jury to formally consider charges of perjury against Clemens.

On February 2, 2009, the Washington Post reported that federal authorities had linked the steroid syringes/needles with Roger Clemens’ DNA. The link between steroids and Roger Clemens was further bolstered when banned anabolic steroids were also discovered in the syringe according to a report by Michael Schmidt of the New York Times on March 9, 2009.

Rusty Hardin, Clemens’ lead defense attorney, has dismissed the steroid paraphernalia manufactured evidence that represents another fabrication by Brian McNamee.

Hardin continued his attacks on the credibility of McNamee while claiming that Roger Clemens never used anabolic steroids or HGH. “Duh,” said Hardin. “Do you really think McNamee was going to fabricate this stuff and not make sure there were substances on there? The fact is Roger never used steroids or H.G.H.”

However, legal experts believe the evidence will be admissible in court should a grand jury indict Roger Clemens on perjury-related charges. UCLA law professor Jennifer Mnookin believes a judge will allow a jury to assess credibility of the evidence.

“The presence of Clemens’s DNA alone makes these materials an important part of the case and makes it likely that the judge would let them in and let the jury weigh whether to believe that they are authentic,” she said.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia will ask the grand jury to indict Roger Clemens on steroid-related perjury charges based on what they consider “overwhelming” evidence that he lied to federal authorities.

Sources

“Clemens Case Sinking Fast,” March 11, 2009

“Banned Substances Found on Materials Linked to Clemens,” March 9, 2009

“Grand jury to consider Roger Clemens perjury evidence; Brian McNamee set for end-of-week interview,” January 13, 2009

“Clemens’ DNA is Linked to Syringes,” February 2, 2009

“Clemens’s Lawyer Plays Tape of McNamee Call,” January 8, 2008

By Millard Baker

http://www.millardbaker.com

www.steroidsrx.com

Steroid Suspension Likely Marks End of 15-Year Career

MMA fighter Ken Shamrock was suspended and fined by the California State Athletic Commission after testing positive for the anabolic steroids Deca Durabolin (nandrolone) and Winstrol (stanozolol). The presence of the nandrolone metabolites 19-norandrosterone (19-NA) and 19-noretiocholanolone (19-NE) along with unmetabolized stanozolol were detected in a post-fight urinalysis following Wargods event on February 13, 2009 according to CSAC Assistant Executive Officer Bill Douglas. Shamrock was suspended for one year and fined $2,500. Rob Donohoo, Shamrock’s attorney and manager, has denied allegations of steroid use and has attributed the positive steroid results to a legal over-the counter supplement. “Ken was taking legal over-the-counter products, and based upon our preliminary research, I’m investigating if those products were the result of these findings,” Donohoo told Sherdog.com.

Ken "The World's Most Dangerous Man" Shamrock defeated Ross “The Grizzly” Clifton by a first round submission (arm bar) at the "Wargods KSP: Valentine's Eve Massacre" event which took place at Selland Arena in Fresno. The submission victory over Ross Clifton was Shamrock’s first submission victory since 2001 and extremely good news for an MMA fighter with a four-fight losing streaking dating back to 2004. But news of the steroid suspension abruptly ended the celebration for Shamrock.

In an interview on MMAjunkie.com/TAGG Radio broadcasted only hours before the CSAC suspension was announced, Ken Shamrock discussed the difficulties on maintaining, much less increasing, body weight while enduring intense MMA training. Shamrock discussed the importance of proper nutrition and “getting the right supplements”:

Ken Shamrock was scheduled to headline the MMA portion the upcoming “March Badness” event produced by Roy Jones Jr. and his Square Ring Promotions company. The unique MMA/boxing hybrid show is scheduled to take place on March 21, 2009 at the Pensacola Civic Center in Florida. The steroid suspension by the CSAC makes it unlikely that Shamrock will fight as scheduled since the Florida State Boxing Commission is expected to uphold the CSAC suspension. The resolution of the appeals process will most likely not occur prior to the “March Badness” event.

The Ken Shamrock versus Bobby Lashley fight probably represented Shamrock’s last chance to end his career on a respectable note. Lashley was 3-time NCAA and 4-time All-America wrestler at Missouri Valley College. Lashley joined the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in 2007 and quickly became a superstar of massive proportions at 6’3” and 265 pounds. He gained popularity as the representative of Donald Trump at Wrestlemania 23 who helped shave the head of Vince McMahon. The WWE superstar defeated Joshua Franklin in his pro MMA debut at Mixed Fighting Alliance “Their Will be Blood” event at the American Airlines Arena in Miami on December 13, 2008.

Ken Shamrock had looked forward to fighting Lashley:

Shamrock is an MMA legend and a member of the UFC Hall of Fame who had dominated the UFC and Pancrase in the 1990s. But Shamrock has continued fighting well beyond his prime. He has lost eight out of his last eleven fights.

Shamrock has not been competitive with elite level MMA fighters for several years and the steroid suspension likely marks a disappointing end to the impressive career of an MMA pioneer. The suspension ends on February 1, 2010 only 10 days prior to Shamrock’s 46th birthday. Ken Shamrock’s attorney has expressed his client’s intentions to file an expedited appeal of the suspension.

Sources

“Shamrock Suspended for Steroids,” March 12, 2009

“Ken Shamrock suspended one year for alleged anabolic-steroid use,” March 11, 2009

“Shamrock suspended for steroids,” March 11, 2009

“Petruzelli Out; Shamrock-Lashley to Headline 'March Badness',” March 5, 2009

“Shamrock, Abbott Grab Quick Wins at Wargods,” February 14, 2009

By Millard Baker

http://www.millardbaker.com

www.SteroidsRx.com

Will Baby Fedor’s Alleged Steroid Use Tarnish Other Russian MMA Fighters?

Mixed martial artist Kirill Sidelnikov tested positive for stanozolol, popularly known as Winstrol, resulting from a steroid urinalysis administered during a fight weigh-in on January 24, 2009. Kirill “Baby Fedor” Sidelnikov lost to Paul “The Headhunter” Buentello after a medical stoppage resulting from a third round technical knockout at at Affliction’s “Day of Reckoning” at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. The Russian Sambo specialist was suspended for one year and fined $2,500 by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC).

Bill Douglas, the CSAC assistant executive officer, explains that any detectable level of stanozolol represents a violation of the CSAC anti-doping protocols:

The prevalence of anabolic steroids in mixed martial arts (MMA) has been debated for several years. Several MMA athletes at the higher level of the sport have been caught using steroids. Anti-doping advocates have pressured sanctioning organizations to institute strict steroid testing protocols consistent with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code.

Most MMA fighters who use anabolic steroids are reported to use very reasonable amounts. The dose-dependent tendency of steroids to increase muscle mass may compromise performance in the ring by interfering with technique and conditioning of an MMA fighter. Consequently, the dosages used are extremely modest when compared to strength and power athletes in sports like bodybuilding and powerlifting.

Given the primary importance of strength and conditioning training and technique training over mere muscle size in MMA, most competitors generally do not seem overly concerned that some of the fighters they face in the ring may use performance-enhancing drugs.

Kirill Sidelnikov’s most recent opponent was asked about Sidelnikov’s suspension for steroid use. Paul Buentello, upon learning that his opponent at Affliction’s Day of Reckoning may have been using Winstrol, said his opinion of Sidelnikov was based on his performance in the ring, “No, I don't lose any respect. The respect starts and ends when you step into the ring. He stepped into that ring and he fought his heart out.” Buentello admittedly may have felt differently if he had lost the match.

Baby Fedor’s use of steroids, in and of itself, may not have a demonstrable affect on his reputation in MMA circles. Sidelnikov’s credibility will more likely be affected by M-1 Global’s official explanation of the positive steroid test. While accepting full responsibility for the positive steroid test, Sidelnikov’s mea culpa blamed the positive test to the inadvertent use of a stanozolol-based nasal spray administered by a physician not associated with M1 Global or Sidelnikov’s Red Devil team.

The use of a Winstrol type nose spray as a medical treatment for nose bleeds seems suspect. Paul Buentello was diplomatic when addressing the nose spray explanation, “You never know… So that could be the case or it could not be the case. I'm not the one that has to defend him.”

The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) rejected the explanation outright. “[Stanozolol] can be used in various forms, but is not something that would be found in a decongestant nose spray,” according to USADA communications and outreach director Erin Hannan.

M1 apparently anticipated that the explanation might be questioned. Consequently, they used Kirill’s physique as proof that he was not a regular steroid user. The fact that Sidelnikov does not look like a bodybuilder, while not necessarily proving anything, seems to have been more well received,

It is too early to assess the fallout from the latest MMA steroid positive. Sidelnikov has been called “Baby Fedor” because of his friendship and training partnership with Fedor Emelianenko. It remains to be seen if other Russian athletes and/or members of the Russian Red Devil team are tarnished through their association with Sidelnikov. Kirill Sidelnikov’suspension for the Winstrol-positive test runs through January 18, 2010.

Sources

“Sidelnikov Camp Blames Nose Spray for Steroid,” March 5, 2009

“M-1 Global issues statement regarding positive steroid test for Kirill ‘Baby Fedor’ Sidelnikov,” March 4, 2009

“MMA Fighter Paul Buentello Reacts to Opponent's Failed Steroid Test,” March 4, 2009

“Kirill "Baby Fedor" Sidelnikov suspended one year for failed drug test,” March 3, 2009

“Steroids in Mixed Martial Arts,” T-Nation

By Millard Baker

http://www.millardbaker.com

www.SteroidsRx.com