NPR: DEA Busts Steroid Rings with Links to China

DEA Busts Steroid Rings with Links to China

One sports columnist is calling it "Armageddon for athletes."

The International Herald Tribune reports that federal officials from the Drug Enforcement Administration have made 124 arrests and seized millions of dollars' worth of illegal drugs as part of a bust that exposed "a sprawling underground distribution network for steroids, human growth hormone and other illicit bodybuilding drugs supplied by 37 companies in China." The DEA revealed the scope of the 18-month operation Monday, which also included raids and arrests in Mexico, Canada, Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Sweden and Thailand.

The authorities seized $6.5 million cash, 25 vehicles, 3 boats, 27 pill presses and 71 weapons while executing 143 search warrants at 56 makeshift steroid labs and other locations, the drug enforcement agency said.

The DEA estimates that 99 percent of the steroids were made with materials imported from China. A spokesman said if the agency comes across the names of athletes who received the illegal drugs during their investigation, they will leave it up to the Justice Department to decide if the players' leagues should be notified.

The Washington Post reports that the arrests "could have unusual and unnerving repercussions for the clientele of the labs" because the DEA is creating a database of people who received the drugs.

3:53 PM ET | 09-25-2007 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

This is Armageddon indeed. But it would be improper if any names were made public since the veracity of any "list" they found could be challenged. The DEA would have to provide more material evidence to tie specific athletes to the bust. (After all, anyone can order steroids online claiming to be Michael Jordan).

Also some sports may only have rules to punish athletes who test positive, not those who are simply accused. In any case most famous athletes probably don't use their real names when getting into this business. So maybe not quite Armageddon yet.

Sent by Nat A | 4:26 PM ET | 09-25-2007

I wish the DEA could take some time and take down some of the crack houses and drug dealers that infect so many neighborhoods across this country instead of focusing on drugs that don't foster a cycle of violent crime and the destruction of communities.

Sent by What's Really Going On | 11:59 PM ET | 09-25-2007

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