The arrests of Mr. New Zealand and IFBB pro bodybuilder Marc Rainbow and amateur bodybuilder Andrew Lent in unrelated steroid cases have prompted concern among anti-doping officials that bodybuilding is the “supply network” for anabolic steroids in mainstream sports. Graeme Steel of Drug Free Sport New Zealand (DFSNZ) blamed bodybuilders for the spread of steroids in sports. There has been no reported evidence to substantiate the assertion that recently seized steroids were intended for New Zealand athletes (“Bodybuilders face steroid-sales charges,” May 31).
Steel says he is frustrated and concerned at this, and is keen to start testing bodybuilders again. He is particularly concerned that bodybuilding is now a “supply network” that feeds steroids into more mainstream sports codes.
“We have no doubt that the source of drugs for other athletes is likely to come through people who are importing as part of their bodybuilding regimes.”
DFSNZ’s Graeme Steel publicly criticized the IFBB-affiliated New Zealand Federation of Bodybuilders (NZFBB) and NABBA New Zealand for their failure to drug test bodybuilders. Steel wants the NZFBB and NABBA to implement steroid testing presumably to disrupt to alleged “supply network” that feeds mainstream sports.
Drug Free Sport NZ points out that steroid use was common among competitive bodybuilders when the NZFBB last conducted steroid testing over three years ago. Steel is upset that DFSNZ lacks the authority to investigate or suspend bodybuilders who use steroids.
…Steel says, about 30 percent of all infractions (failed tests or refusals) came from bodybuilders, although they made up just 5 percent of all sportspeople tested.
Now, bodybuilders are free to use steroids to boost their performance without fear of being banned from competition – or investigated by DFSNZ.
Contrary to the popular opinion, the typical anabolic steroid user is not a pro and/or competitive athletes but rather an individual merely seeking to improve their muscle size and/or physical appearance.
The legal cases of Marc Rainbow and Andrew Lent are unrelated and being tried separately in the Auckland District Court and Waitakere District Court, respectively. The only relationship is the fact that they are both bodybuilders – Andrew Lent is an active amateur bodybuilder and Marc Rainbow is a retired professional bodybuilder planning a comeback to the competitive stage. Both bodybuilders are contesting the allegations levelled by the New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority (NZ MEDSAFE).
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.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.