Don Catlin advertises anabolic steroids for sale on his website via the Google Adsense contextual ad service. When Catlin receives a check from Google, some of that money will likely be linked to sale of “anabolic steroids” generated directly from advertisements that appear on his website.
It represents the height of hypocrisy for the founder of Anti-Doping Research to attack Amazon.com for “trafficking steroids” and selling “Schedule III controlled substances” via merchants in the Amazon Seller program when he is guilty of doing something similar.
The criticism of Catlin’s hypocrisy is justified given Catlin’s recent criticism of Amazon.com.
The problem with inappropriate matches with the contextual advertising service offered by Google is well-documented. I have written about this for several years. Tech Crunch has written about it. Other anti-doping websites are aware of the problem with contextual ads. Anyone on top of the steroid issue should be aware of this.
Catlin identifies the problem at Amazon (“Amazon sellers trafficking steroids, some classified as Schedule III Controlled Substances,” January 19, 2011):
Today at Amazon.com you will find Competitive Edge Labs P-Plex. P-Plex was also included in the FDA action against Bodybuilding.com, yet it remains in stock and available through two Amazon Sellers as of Jan. 17. The marketing headline for P-Plex on Amazon.com reads, “P-Plex-Anabolic Muscle Building Formula 10mg, 90ct (Compare To Phera-Plex).” We purchased the product on Jan. 6 through Amazon.com in an order fulfilled by Amazon Seller MMMPower and have identified Madol in the product.
Isn’t there a similar problem at The Catlin Perspective:
Today at The Catlin Perspective blog, you will find an advertisement for Superdrol. Superdrol was an ingredient in products included in the FDA action against Bodybuilding.com, yet it remains in stock and available through two advertisers appearing on The Catlin Perspective as of February 1, 2011. The marketing headlines for two merchants advertising Superdrol on thecatlinperspective.wordpress.com read, “Buy Superdrol Now: Gain Bulk & Build Mass ASAP! Get Big at a Great Price” and “Strong SuperDrol: Strong Superdol Explosive gains hardcore Bodybuilding supplement”.
Catlin finds it objectionable when third-party merchants sell these products on Amazon via the Amazon Sellers program:
Competitive Edge Labs M-Drol was purchased through Amazon.com on Nov. 15 in an order fulfilled by Amazon Seller Surplus-Supplements. We analyzed it in our ISO 17025-accredited lab and compared it to a reference standard of methasterone, or Superdrol, and in fact M-Drol does still contain methasterone. The sale of methasterone or a drug like it would likely qualify as sale of an unapproved new drug, according to the FDA’s recent letter to industry from Dec. 15: “These products are illegal because they are unapproved new drugs under 21 U.S.C. §§ 321(p) and 355(a) and/or adulterated dietary supplements under 21 U.S.C. § 342.”
Isn’t is similarly objectionable when third-party merchants sell these products through links on The Catlin Perspective via the Google Adsense program?
Competitive Edge Labs M-Drol could be purchased through a link on thecatlinperspective.wordpress.com and be fulfilled by factorysupplements.co.uk. Maybe someone will buy it and analyze it in their ISO 17025-accredited lab and compare it to a reference standard of methasterone, or Superdrol, to see if, in fact, M-Drol does still contain methasterone. The sale of methasterone or a drug like it would likely qualify as sale of an unapproved new drug, according to the FDA’s recent letter to industry from Dec. 15: “These products are illegal because they are unapproved new drugs under 21 U.S.C. §§ 321(p) and 355(a) and/or adulterated dietary supplements under 21 U.S.C. § 342.”
The only problem is that if someone purchased Competitive Edge Labs M-Drol through that Google Adsense link appearing on The Catlin Perspective, that means that Don Catlin and/or Anti-Doping Research would profit as a result of a customer clicking the advertisement to buy this unapproved new drug. Certainly, that would be just a little hypocritical after Catlin attacked Amazon.com.
Catlin doesn’t think ignorance is an excuse when it comes to Amazon.
Knowingly or not, Amazon does appear to be providing a marketplace for selling steroids, some classified as controlled substances. Amazon was willing to withdraw the pedophile’s guide in three weeks, as we pointed out in our blog post Nov. 12. Hopefully, Amazon will hear the FDA on this matter and also voluntarily withdraw these steroid products from their website, sooner rather than later. We stand ready to help Amazon or other retailers in maintaining a safe marketplace for dietary supplements in the future.
Will Catlin be willing to accept full responsibility for his role in advertising anabolic steroids for sale on his website?
Knowingly or not, Don Catlin does appear to be providing a marketplace for selling unapproved new drugs, SARMs, testosterone and steroids. Hopefully, Don Catlin will hear the FDA on this matter and also voluntarily withdraw these steroid product advertisements from his website, sooner rather than later. I stand ready to help Don Catlin and other anti-steroid organizations in maintaining a safe marketplace for dietary supplements in the future by discontinuing the advertisement of steroids on their website(s).
Who knows? Maybe Catlin will even tear up those Google checks?
About the author
Millard writes about anabolic steroids and performance enhancing drugs and their use and impact in sport and society. He discusses the medical and non-medical uses of anabolic-androgenic steroids while advocating a harm reduction approach to steroid education.