Disqus - Latest Comments for millardbaker

Re: Muscular Physique as a Marketing Tool for Cenegenics

millardbaker — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:44:53 -0000

I don't think doctor-prescribed testosterone was prohibited by the Body for Life Challenge in 1998.

Re: Twitter Updates on Steroids for 2009-10-17

millardbaker — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:11:37 -0000

I will continue to write about Dr. Jesse Haggard's case and post updates on http://www.mesomorphosis.com/blog/ as they become available.

Re: Twitter Updates on Steroids for 2009-10-17

millardbaker — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:09:31 -0000

His attorney (public defender Clarence Counts) told me on Friday that he was no longer representing Dr. Haggard because he was in Alabama. But this was not true. Jesse called his father Saturday morning to report he remained in Orlando.

Re: Dr. Jesse Haggard Fights Steroid Charges in Florida Court

millardbaker — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 22:33:05 -0000

The Magistrate Judge detained Dr. Haggard pending trial:

http://www.mesomorphosis.com/blog/2009/10/07/go...

Re: United Kingdom Expands Anabolic Steroid Laws for 2012 London Olympics

millardbaker — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:59:53 -0000

The problem is that drug testing is not particularly effective.

It is dishonest and fraudulent for anti-doping agencies to claim otherwise.

Re: Oregon High School Mock Trial Competition Demonizes Anabolic Steroids

millardbaker — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 15:21:42 -0000

Point well-taken. It just seems odd that the veracity of statements within this context are not subject to debate as well.

I hope my point about the perpetuation of steroid hysteria and misinformation is not lost.

Re: Oregon High School Mock Trial Competition Demonizes Anabolic Steroids

millardbaker — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 14:46:06 -0000

The mock trial competitions are awesome for students. The criticism is not of the competition and the skills and tactics imparted to participants. It is aimed at disappointing lack of fact-checking of case materials by the organizers of the mock trials.

I would expect more from the prestigious legal firms sponsoring such competitions.

Re: Smear Campaign Against William Llewellyn Attempts to Discredit Underground Anabolics Book

millardbaker — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 15:21:08 -0000

Thanks for your careful eye. It's not material to the story but I've made the correction nonetheless.

The listed "start dates" on such forums are not always accurate and are subject to modification.

The bodybuildingarea.com domain wasn't registered until August 16, 2008 (which is obviously after July 2008).

It also appears data from another older forum was imported to the new forum on this domain.

The first post in the forum occurred in or before June 2008 (which is obviously before the listed start date of July 2008) (so it occurred before the forum started?)

The site wasn't registered until August 16, 2008 (so the first post occurred before the forum was started which was before the site was registered?)

http://whois.domaintools.com/bodybuildingarea.com

There are a lot of inconsistencies..

Thank you for your feedback and your assistance.

Re: New York Times and the (Illegal) Steroid Witch-Hunt in Baseball

millardbaker — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 14:29:15 -0000

E&P @joestrupp writes about MLBPA accusation NYT @michaelsschmidt broke the law but doesn't address his interview that incriminated Schmidt.

"Players Union Accuses 'NYT' Of Criminal Action in Steroid Reporting" -

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/ar...

Joe Strupp's interview with NYT's MIchael Schmidt appeared the day before where Schmidt admits to "plan" to actively seeking out sources:

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/ar...

Re: Ruh Roh: David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez Allegedly On Famed 2003 Positive PED List

millardbaker — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:46:14 -0000

"Moving on" isn't dependent upon the release of the MLB list of 100+ positive steroid tests. We could have "moved on" after Canseco's book, or after BALCO or Bonds, after the 1st Congressional hearing, or the second one.

The steroid witch-hunt could have been stopped a long time ago.

The list isn't sustaining it.

Many other factors, not the least of which is the grandstanding politicians interesting in "saving the children" with their moral handwringing...

And especially the anti-doping agencies such as WADA and USADA who will not stop until every sporting league and sovereign government worldwide conforms their doping rules and steroid/PED laws to conform to their Code.

Re: Gatorade a Gateway to Anabolic Steroid Use in High School Athletes?

millardbaker — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 14:06:15 -0000

You're right. I don't know context in which Coach Connolly prohibited use of all supplements including Gatorade for his high school students.

The local newspaper article clearly attributed the rationale behind Connolly's decision to prohibit Gatorade as based on "fear that using most common and casual substances will encourage his players to use more volatile and potentially harmful drugs."

If this is not the appropriate context under which Gatorade was not allowed, please clarify.

I completely understand how the best intentions by individuals can be taken out of context by journalists with a story to write.

Re: FDA Warns About Supplements With Steroids - San Antonio Sports News Story - KSAT San Antonio

millardbaker — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 01:03:57 -0000

Shao of CRN got part of it right: not issue of supplements but issue of crime BUT wrong when said it was isolated incident -far from isolated

Re: FDA Warns About Supplements With Steroids - San Antonio Sports News Story - KSAT San Antonio

millardbaker — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 01:02:05 -0000

Why does USADA's Tygart attack DSHEA when it is the lack of enforcement by the FDA that is the real problem?

Re: Tren Xtreme Steroid Investigation Leads to Raids of American Cellular Labs and Max Muscle

millardbaker — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 18:32:06 -0000

I guess I'm kinda conservative when it comes to steroids ;-) I've tried very few of prohormone/prosteroid/androgen products legally marketed under DSHEA.

But people I know have reported good results in size and strength particularly w/ 4-estra products.

Re: DEA Identifies 22 Dietary Supplements Containing Anabolic Steroids

millardbaker — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 17:55:20 -0000

DEA ban has still not taken place but FDA Agent Jeff Novitzky considers them illegal anabolic steroids anyway:

http://www.mesomorphosis.com/blog/2009/07/25/tr...

Re: DEA Identifies 22 Dietary Supplements Containing Anabolic Steroids

millardbaker — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 17:52:04 -0000

No, LG Sciences had them voluntarily destroyed since legally trying to win them back would have resulted in un-sellable products approaching expiration in a best case scenario.

Re: Ramirez swats first pinch-hit grand slam

millardbaker — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:10:15 -0000

Manny Ramirez grandslam homerun hit into Mannywood on bobblehead night revealed the truth about fan apathy and hypocrisy regarding steroids in baseball.

Re: Company pulls supplements cited in federal steroids probe

millardbaker — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 19:30:00 -0000

High school steroid testing is stupid! They don't test for Tren Xtreme & steroid supplements teens most likely to use! Clueless legislators. They are grandstanding to protect the kids but succeed only in wasting taxpayer funds.

Re: Company pulls supplements cited in federal steroids probe

millardbaker — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 19:24:04 -0000

There should be more pressing concerns about teens using steroids than whether or not it will cause a positive anti-doping test result.

Of course they *could* cause a positive steroid test. They've been banned for years in sports. But high school anti-doping protocol don't test for Tren Xtreme and many steroidal products sold as dietary supplements.

Being banned in sports is completely different from being legally sold as a dietary supplement (or in this case, possibly illlegally sold as supplement).

Re: Company pulls supplements cited in federal steroids probe

millardbaker — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 11:58:10 -0000

Most supplement industry experts disagree with Jeff Novitzky’s assertion that “4-estra” or “DMT” can currently be legally classified as a controlled substance (anabolic steroid).

It is important to note that “DMT” and “4-estra ” are NOT legally defined as an “anabolic steroid” under the Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 1990 and 2004.

Novitzky has a history of asserting that misbranded and unapproved new drugs are “anabolic steroids” when that may not be legally accurate. Novitzky repeatedly referred to tetrahydrogestrinone (THG) as an “anabolic steroid” in interviews and testimony related to the BALCO case. The Controlled Substances Act was amended to included THG much later with the passage of the Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 2004.

Re: Your Grandkids Are Already Taking Steroids, Whether They Know It Or Not

millardbaker — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 04:48:59 -0000

Of course, your kids and grandkids know that there are steroid products sold as supplements in sports nutrition stores. They are a lot smarter than you give them credit. And apparently know a lot more about steroids and PEDs than their elders.

It's just the same people who were clueless about the use of steroids and PEDs in baseball and other sports until recently who are now discovering that steroid products have been legally available as dietary supplements for over a decade. It is amazing how blind people are to these issues in our society

Some steroidal products have been legally and openly sold during the past 10+ years on supplement store shelves. This has been legally permitted, under certain strict conditions, by the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994. (Keep in mind that the overwhelming majority steroidal products are NOT legally sold as dietary supplements.)

Most steroidal products sold as supplements during this time period were legally reclassified as "anabolic steroids" with the passage of the Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 2004.

But several steroidal products continued to be sold. Some legally. Some not.

While the supplement industry is highly regulated under the conditions of DSHEA, the FDA has been virtually absent in its enforcement of DSHEA.

So, many supplement companies have been violating the law by selling steroids that are misbranded and unapproved new drugs and NOT supplements.

Finally, it looks like the FDA is starting to enforce DSHEA.

Re: Alabama Club Owner, Manager Arrested in Steroid Bust

millardbaker — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:36:39 -0000

It seems like more and more commercial gyms are appearing in steroid investigations. What are the legal risks and liability for gyms and personal trainers when clients use steroids?

Re: Dynabody Fitness Steroid Bust by Calhoun-Cleburne County Drug Task Force

millardbaker — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:27:01 -0000

If true, he should have been arrested for domestic violence. Something wrong when easier to arrest for steroids than spousal abuse!

Re: Agents Bust Alleged Steroids Ring - San Antonio News Story - KSAT San Antonio

millardbaker — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:51:40 -0000

It seems from reading comments to news stories about steroid busts that readers are tired of wasting taxpayer money on this, but why is frequency of such busts increasing rather than decreasing?

Re: Baseball Player JC Romero Files Frivolous Lawsuit Against Patrick Arnold Supplement Companies

millardbaker — Fri, 08 May 2009 12:17:51 -0000

The lawsuit is frivolous in that Romero claims trace androstenedione contamination in 6-OXO "caused" his positive steroid test. This is ridiculous. Minute traces of androstenedione did not cause the positive. It was clearly 6-OXO itself that caused the positive and THAT was on the label.

Ergopharm did not pull 6-OXO as a result of the J.C. Romero lawsuit. They pulled it for a much more serious reason - the DEA raided their offices. There appears to be evidence that there is minute trace of androstenedione in 6-OXO. I don't think this is being disputed. Apparently, so tiny that they wouldn't even have any type of physiologic effect.

This is really a separate issue where law enforcement agencies are holding Ergopharm to a higher standard than they hold pharmaceutical companies who have products containing significant, unlisted steroids.