Clamor About McGwire Never Materializes

The jury remains out on how Mark McGwire will fare as the Cardinals' hitting coach. In something of an upset, though, one aspect of McGwire's tenure has already been established: the feared circus-like atmosphere simply has not materialized...More?

source: mlb.com

Mark McGwire gets big ovation in Cardinals' home opener

Actor From 'The Wrestler' Sentenced To Prison For Steroids, Fleeing Police

LoHud.com is reporting that Scott Siegel, an actor in the movie "The Wrestler" starring Mickey Rourke, was sentenced to five years in prison for possession of steroids and leading cops on a high speed pursuit. Siegel, who is 35, actually played a steroids dealer in "The Wrestler" with Rourke...More?

Former Prosecutor Denies Alerting McMahon to Steroid Probe

Linda McMahon Tipped Off Steroid Doc

Republican Senate candidate Linda McMahon tipped off doctor George T. Zahorian that the U.S. Department of Justice might be about to launch an investigation.

In a 1989 memo from McMahon to a World Wrestling Federation executive. "Although you and I discussed before about continuing to have Zahorian at our events as the doctor on call, I think that is now not a good idea," McMahon wrote. "Vince agreed, and would like for you to call Zahorian and to tell him not to come to any more of our events and to also clue him in on any action that the Justice Department is thinking of taking."...More?

source: politico.com

Lance Storm Commentary: "TNA: I'm Done"

Well folks I’m done. I’m not going to rant, I’m not going to tell you all the things I hated about Impact this week, because none of it matters, I’m just done; I’m done watching Impact for good. I’ve stopped watching before just for my own sanity and peace of mind, but each of those times I intended it to be a temporary break. This time I’m not planning on coming back and checking to see if things have gotten better after a while, I’m washing my hands of the whole thing; I’m done.

The straw that broke the camels back for me was the unprotected chair shot to the head of Rob Terry by Homicide. Yes they have done chair shots to the head before, and they bothered me then too, but this one was different; this unprotected chair shot to the head came just 2 days after Chris Kanyon’s suicide death and I just couldn’t stomach it. I know there will be defenders out there that will want to argue that Chris Kanyon’s depression that led to his suicide has not been determined to as a result of concussions he suffered due to chair shots to the head, but that is just a cop out, in my opinion...More?

source: stormwrestling.com

Congress Not Planning on Holding Future Hearings into WWE's Wellness Policy

Illinois Congressman Bobby Rush, chairman of the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection, does not intend to follow up on Vince McMahon not attending a 2008 hearing regarding the usage of steroids in professional sports organizations.

Rush's communications director stated, “Briefly stated, other than continued review by subcommittee staff of the monitoring and enforcement practices of WWE and other professional sports leagues, there are no plans, at this time, for further hearings or congressional actions on this subject.”...More?

source: prowrestling.net

TNA Looking to Expand Drug-Testing Policy

TNA president Dixie Carter says TNA is currently formulating a new drug-testing program, apparently to expand the first policy that was started in 2007.

Carter was interviewed by syndicated columnist Alex Marvez, who reports that Carter "understands that greater TNA visibility will bring more public and media scrutiny, especially regarding the company's lax drug-testing policy."

According to documents disclosed by the U.S. Congress's Committee on Government Oversight & Reform in January 2009, there were a significant number of wrestlers who tested positive for steroids when TNA first began testing.

Congressman Henry Waxman's letter on the Commitee's findings revealed that 15 out of 60 wrestlers tested positive for steroid use and an additional 11 wrestlers tested positive for other drugs.

source: pwtorch.com

No 10-point letter for Dixie Carter? I guess Rob Simmons concern for the wrestling community doesn't extend to TNA.

WWE Steroid Investigation: A Controversy McMahon 'Doesn't Need'

The White House and Congress dropped the ball in 2009 on an effort to investigate the use of steroids in professional wrestling -- a lapse that represents a break for Republican U.S. Senate candidate Linda McMahon, the former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment who is campaigning on her success as a businesswoman...More?

source: newstimes.com

McGwire Admits to Steroid Use

Mark McGwire finally came clean Monday, admitting he used steroids when he broke Baseball's Home run record in 1998.

McGwire says in a statement sent to The Associated Press on Monday that he used steroids on and off for nearly a decade and he apologizes for his actions.

He says: "I wish I had never touched steroids. It was foolish and it was a mistake. I truly apologize. Looking back, I wish I had never played during the steroid era."

WWE: We're Doing All We Can

WWE has defended itself against accusations it is to blame for the staggering amount of wrestlers dying before the age of 50. The company has come under fierce criticism in recent years over the deaths — many of which were caused by painkiller, steroid and drug addiction.

Former WWE stars Andrew 'Test' Martin, 33, and Eddie 'Umaga' Fatu, 36, died in 2009 — adding to a long list that also includes Eddie Guerrero, 'Mr Perfect' Curt Hennig, Crash Holly and British hero Davey Boy Smith.

However, in an interview with the website Human Resources, WWE spokesman Robert Zimmerman highlighted the company's Talent Wellness Program and Former Talent Rehabilitation Assistance Program in its defence. Introduced in 2006 and 2007 the twin systems aim to stop drug use among current WWE wrestlers and help any ex-stars by paying for their rehab.

Talking about the wrestlers who have died young, Zimmerman pointed out that most of them were not actually employed by the WWE when they passed. He then said: "We don't know what they took as kids. We don't know what they've done after they've left. "So the only thing we can do is obviously do what we're trying to do, which is make them abide by the Talent Wellness Program when they are contracted by us and then offer any kind of rehab assistance after they've left."...More?

source: the sun

Changes Made to WWE Wellness Policy

Update on TNA Drug Testing

The Figure Four Weekly Newsletter has confirmed, and wrestlezone.com reported several weeks ago, that TNA recently conducted another round of drug testing. However, according to one source within TNA, he apparently took the test, failed it, was notified by TNA management that he failed, and nothing was done about it.

TNA Holds Surprise Drug Testing

According to The Wrestling Observer Newsletter, TNA held a surprise drug test at the last set of TV tapings in Orlando, FL. Reportedly they had around a 25% failure rate the last time they did drug testing in the company and since no one was told ahead of time this round of testing was taking place then the results could be quite high. No one was punished when testing positive the last time.

Disgraced Track Star Marion Jones is Training for a Comeback in the WNBA

'The Wrestler' Actor Pleads Guilty in Steroids Case

An actor who went from appearing in the Oscar-nominated film "The Wrestler" to leading police on a wild demolition-derby-style chase through Eastchester pleaded guilty Friday to steroid possession and assaulting federal agents.

Scott Siegel, 35, of Nautilus Place, New Rochelle, admitted guilt in U.S. District Court in White Plains to two counts of using a deadly weapon to assault officers - the truck he was driving on the night of Feb. 18 - and one count of possessing and distributing anabolic steroids.

The chase followed on the heels of Siegel's gaining a measure of celebrity from his performance in "The Wrestler". Siegel played a thickly muscled steroid dealer named Greg who supplies steroids to the lead character, played by Mickey Rourke, who was nominated for a best actor Academy Award...More?

source: lohud.com

Bodybuilding.com Raided in Criminal Steroid Investigation on Eve of IFBB Olympia Weekend

A nutrition company owned by the same company that owns the Atlanta Braves is selling steroids over the Internet, according to allegations in court papers unsealed Thursday. The nutrition company, BodyBuilding.com, is selling dietary supplements that contain steroids and designer steroids, including a substance found in the raid on the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative in 2003, the court papers said.

Federal authorities unsealed a search warrant on Thursday after agents raided the headquarters and a warehouse of BodyBuliding.com in the Boise, Idaho, area. In 2008, Liberty Media purchased a controlling stake in BodyBuilding.com for over $100 million. Liberty Media bought the Braves from Time Warner in 2007. Among the other businesses in which Liberty Media has interests are QVC, Ticketmaster and DirectTV.

The raid was part of an ongoing effort by the Food and Drug Administration to target companies that are selling steroids as dietary supplements...More?

source: nytimes.com

Tip to Fayettville Police Lead to Hardy Arrest

Jeff Hardy Arrested on Drug Charges

Jeff Hardy has been arrested for possession of anabolic steroids and a number of pills. The following is the official police statement:

Sheriff Lane Carter reports the arrest of an individual on charges of trafficking in controlled prescription pills, and possession of anabolic steroids. Sheriff Carter reported a joint investigation conducted by officers from the Moore County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit, Moore County Sheriff’s Office Select Enforcement Unit, and Fayetteville Police Department led to the arrest.

Officers executed a search warrant at a residence located at [----Adress Deleted--] near Cameron, North Carolina. During the search officers located and seized approximately 262 Vicodin prescription pills, 180 Soma prescription pills (Soma’s are non-controlled prescription pills), 555 milliliters of anabolic steroids, a residual amount of powder cocaine, and items of drug paraphernalia. Vicodin and anabolic steroids are included in Schedule III within the North Carolina Controlled Substances Act. The estimated street value of the drugs seized is $2,500.00.

Arrested was:

Jeffrey Nero Hardy - 32 years of age Cameron, North Carolina

Jeffrey Nero Hardy was arrested on September 11, 2009 and charged with felony trafficking in opium, two counts of felony possession with intent to sell or deliver a Schedule III controlled substance, felony maintaining a dwelling to keep controlled substance, felony possession of cocaine, and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

Jeffrey Nero Hardy received a $125,000.00 secured bond and was placed in the Moore County Detention Center.

Affliction's Atencio Confirms Trilogy PPV Cancelation

The Affliction: Trilogy pay-per-view event has been cancelled due to the steroid test failure of heavyweight Josh Barnett that left the company without a main event and opponent for Fedor. Affliction Vice President Tom Atencio made the following comments on the Trilogy situation:

"Finding an opponent for the No. 1 ranked MMA heavyweight champion in such a short period of time was a huge endeavor, and I'm thrilled at the amount of fighters willing to take on this challenge. But in the end, we just didn't have enough time to promote a new fight to our standards. Affliction is deeply disappointed that the undercard is also canceled through no fault of its own," the release stated. "Affliction stands behind the company's brands and delivers premium products to the most passionate and loyal customers. Affliction's first priority is to ensure that all future events live up to the company's high standards"

Josh Barnett Responds to Steroid Allegations

John Barnet responds to the allegations on his myspace blog:

"Many of you are wondering what's happening. What I can say is that when applying for my license, the CSAC asked for me to submit a urine sample for testing prior to granting my license as they do with everyone, I believe. It was not a random test. I had no reason to believe there would be any issues and went in to submit my sample at the earliest possible opportunity on June 25th. I never once thought there would be a problem."

"My representatives and I are working to gather as much info as possible and handle this situation as best as we can. I am embarrassed and want for nothing more than to resolve this issue and receive a license from the State of California as I have done many times already and for other states as well. I am very thankful for all the great family, friends and fans that still support me."