When Bodybuilders Turn Pro…

Recently, MuscleSport Mag had the pleasure of doing a one-on-one interview with Gregg Valentino, who is a top staff writer in ‘Muscular Development’ magazine. His ‘Ramblin’ Freak’ column is just one of his contributions each month to the famous publication and is known throughout the industry as the type of writer that pulls no punches and tells it like it is – if it pisses off some people or not. (Part Two of this interview also appears in the October issue of New York Sportscene magazine.)

Being around professional and amateur bodybuilders his entire adult life, Gregg Valentino has noticed one consistency during the progression of their careers. “A guy will win an amateur contest and then turn pro,” he said. “A year later, he’s a totally different bodybuilder.”

The difference, Valentino says, is usually 20 pounds bigger and ripped. “I think it takes a lot of money to be a pro bodybuilder with all the drugs.” While that may sound shocking to some, the obvious is blatant and to have a frank conversation about the subject, denying that there is steroid use in the sport of bodybuilding is detrimental. It is there and has been for a long time.

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An Unlikely Target Votes in Mandatory Provisional Suspensions

First, golf was talking about getting tough on steroids, which seemed ludicrous enough. But now another sport you wouldn’t think of when talking banned substances has taken steps towards punishing players who look for that extra edge. The International Tennis Federation voted in an anti-doping code that was necessary for compliance for inclusion in the Olympics.

Effective on January 1, 2009, the rules will be more flexible for suspensions, and what was described by the ITF as “increased flexibility of sanctions.” This another prime example of trying to get the ‘one up’ and show the public that an organization - in this case all of tennis’ governing bodies - is not going to have the necessity of its own Mitchell Report. The specter of steroids even lurks over the tennis court, albeit it for real or just for show.

Steroid Paraphernalia May Be the ‘Smoking Gun’ That the Mitchell Report Wasn’t

If there ever was a perfect topic for the next ridiculous reality television show, it would be the impending defamation and emotional distress lawsuit filed by Roger Clemens against his former personal trainer Brian McNamee. This one has all the characters - the ridiculed ex-jock; his jilted ex; his defiant and defending spouse and his pious best friend who can’t lie for him. Sounds like a winner, or at least one season worth of entertainment

But the only place on TV that you’ll see this soap opera is during the sports report - or maybe of it gets kicked down - in Judge Judy’s chambers. Brian McNamee’s attorney filed a brief in court in an attempt to either get the entire case dismissed or moved from Texas to New York. Even if this case was transferred to Baghdad Supreme Court, a jury full of Al Qaida insurgents would be able to see through Clemens’ lies without a chance of them being “misheard.” Continue Reading »

Mitchell Report Sampling Can Go Either Way

Perusing the telephone book commonly known as ‘The Mitchell Report,’ it is hard to say if the baseball players that allegedly used performance-enhancing drugs benefited or not. Going by the raw numbers, some did and some didn’t.

Now keep in mind that the report included only the time frame that there was some type of allegation and/or documentation when these players began using. They could have been on the juice long before that, as well. Take Jason Giambi, for instance. He is one of the BALCO boys and has already publicly apologized (still not exactly sure what he was trying to say that day, but at least he appeared as if his conscious was bothering him). His section in the report has 2001 as when he was first reportedly taking the stuff, a year in which he hit .342 for the Oakland A’s, with 38 home runs and 120 RBI. But if you are believing that this was Giambi’s first dabble into steroids, the prior year should have been lighter, huh? Well…not exactly. In 2000, he went .333/43/137. Continue Reading »

Homeopath-et-ic Growth Hormone May Be Legal, But Don’t Expect Much

You get what you pay for. That’s the old saying, right? So, when it comes to the supplement/performance enhancing-drug debate, you can figure that anything without a high price tag is not going to give you the results that you want. Especially when it comes to HGH.

If you don’t have to inject it, the product may have the best intentions, but it is pretty obvious that a nasal spray of this kind will have much less of a ‘kick.’ The biggest difference is that the real stuff (commonly Somatropin) is the hormone, and the others are geared towards upping your natural growth hormone production.

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Steroids Dealer Meets on the Q-T with Football Security Officials

Football fans may be staring downfield at a ‘Mitchell Report’ of their own after a convicted Texas steroids dealer met with NFL security officials recently.

David Jacobs of Plano reportedly gave the delegation names of individuals that he sold anabolic steroids and human growth hormone to. In separate meetings that took place since May 1, Jacobs provided documentation to substantiate his claims.

One of the players named was New Orleans Saints offensive lineman Matt Lehr, who was playing in Atlanta at the time of the alleged purchases. Lehr’s attorney did not comment, even after Jacobs, 35, publicly accused his client. Continue Reading »

More Reasons To Show Clemens Used PEDs and Lied About It

Sergeant Joe Friday would implore “All we want are the facts, ma’am,” in what seemed to be nearly every episode of “Dragnet.” That is precisely what we all want in the Roger Clemens steroids scandal. While there may never be that proverbial ‘smoking gun’ type of evidence, it is quite clear that The Rocket is not being totally forthcoming when his staunch denials of using performance-enhancing drugs are questioned.

From his soapbox statements on “60 Minutes,” to his press conference in Houston and the Congressional Hearings from the Committee on Oversight and Reform, Clemens has made it a point to at least be consistent in attempting to distance himself from any PEDs.

The man who clearly stated that he doesn’t “give a rat’s a**” about being elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame could not seem more like a liar, with that statement and his endless others.

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