TORONTO, Oct 7, Reuter: Canadian police are investigating the illegal distribution of muscle building steroids the type of drug that cost sprinter Ben Johnson his Olympic Gold Medala police spokesman said on Friday.
Sergeant Reg Chad said Johnson was not involved in the probe but the drug stanozolol, which was found in his system, is one of 30 steroids offered in advertisements placed in bodybuilding magazines.
Johnson lost his Olympic 100 meter gold medal last month when he tested positive for anabolic steroids, which are banned in amateur competition.
“These drugs are all legal, but it’s how they are being distributed that’s illegal,” said Chad. Under Canadian drug regulations, steroids are only available with a Doctor’s prescription.
“Some of these steroids may also be counterfeit,” he said.
The advertisements list a post office box number and offer the drugs at prices ranging from nine to 210 US. Dollars,
Stanozolol, offered under the brand name Winstrol, is listed at 49 dollars for 100 pills of five milligrams each, Chad said.
The drug users questioned by the Royal Canadian mounted police are professional body builders. Not amateur runners like Johnson, Chad said. “But we’re not interested in the users. We’re interested in how this is being distributed,” he said
A first offence of distributing drugs without a prescription carries a fine of 500 Canadian dollars and or three months in jail, Chad said.
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