IFBB professional bodybuilder Toney Freeman released a statement this weekend describing his recent experience as a victim of “muscle profiling” by police in Sweden.
“Muscle profiling” as suggestive of anabolic steroid use is an accepted law enforcement practice in Sweden that has been used to detain numerous bodybuilders in recent years. The muscle profiling policy has been kept under the radar for the most part up until recently.
Sundvall Police Chief Henrik Blusi garnered publicity for his “war on bodybuilders” with a plan to make a very embarrassing and humiliating example of a pro bodybuilder(s) attending the 2010 Fitness Festival in Göteborg.
While the subject of Blusi’s publicity stunt could have been any of the bodybuilders attending the 2010 Fitness Festival in Goteborg, Toney Freeman had the misfortune of being the first pro bodybuilder to fly into Sweden for the Expo.
The Sundvall Police Chief orchestrated media coverage by notifying local television station and other media outlets prior to the raid of a supplement store where Toney Freeman was signing autographs.
Freeman was detained on suspicion of anabolic steroid use solely based on his “extraordinary muscularity” and status as a professional bodybuilder after approximately 10 police officers escorted him from the supplement store.
According to “The X-Man”, Swedish police forced him to submit a urine sample while preventing him from contacting an attorney, the U.S. Embassy, or a family member.
Toney Freeman’s official statement on the incident is very critical of his treatment by Sundvall police in Sweden:
To all my fans out there, all around the world,
As we close out 2010, I wanted to take a little time to talk to you from my heart. There is so much out there that is misunderstood and misquoted. So here’ s the truth.
Two weeks ago, I was invited to Sweden, along with other major bodybuilders to a fitness expo in Gothenburg, Sweden. I had just completed a successful four-day tour in Denmark, so I got there early, to meet the fans and Sundsvall was one of my stops.
You can imagine how shocked I was. Right in the middle of an in store signing, about 10 police officers walked in and asked me to come with them to the station. There was no warning, and I could not think why the police would want me. I thought it was a practical joke. But right there in front of my confused fans, I was escorted to a police van. Some paparazzi were there, as well as a TV crew.
When I got to the police station I was told I was suspected of abusing drugs. I could not understand why. I had hardly been in Sweden a few hours and had no history as a drug user. I could not maintain my status as a competitive athlete and professional if I was addicted to narcotics.
The police said that because I was extraordinarily muscular it was likely I had used steroids. They did not allow me to call a lawyer, the US embassy or call my family. Instead they interrogated me and forced me to provide a urine sample and told me the urine tests would be back in 3 weeks.
They asked me to tell them if I had used certain anabolic steroids. I advised them that I take my health seriously and that if they had any official queries, I would authorise my doctor to provide them with a medical report. They did not ask for this. A few hours later, the police let me go without charge. I was not remanded into custody or asked to report to the police station.
I was shocked to find the story on the news. Henrik Blusi, the local police inspector was giving a biased account. Although most civil matters are private unless a crime is proven, Mr Blusi could not wait to go on camera. He was using the media to push his agenda. He apparently told the media that it is immoral for bodybuilders to be used in advertising in Sweden. He also said “Bodybuilders are not welcome in Sundsvall“. As a result, many US professional bodybuilders scheduled to appear in Gothenburg cancelled. This could also affect Sweden’s relations with the fitness community as no one wants to be treated like I was.
Disgusted by the police harassment and shocked at the way the matter was handled, I returned to Stockholm and decided to cancel my tour and return to the United States.
Friends, I respect the Swedish people, and their government. I can understand the need to educate people and deal with th eharm that all drug abuse is doing to our communities. However, my experience shows that the focus for some Swedish law enforcement right now is to humiliate not to rehabilitate. Does Sweden condone victimisation of any group of people? Is it ethical for an officer of the law to go on public record making allegations before any evidence has been found? I believe it is waste of the Swedish taxpayer’s money to finance this witch-hunt.
Right now, in Sweden, any one who looks muscular, who wears dreadlocks, tattoos and piercings can be forced to go to the police station, provide a urine or blood sample and be interrogated without an attorney. You might even have the police using you as an example and humiliate you on TV. Attached separately are links to cases showing how the Swedish police’s “war on bodybuilders” has played out. You decide for yourselves.
Folks, I am angry and disappointed, but I am not broken. 3011 will wsee many great things from me to you, so I invite you to keep an open mind and stay in touch with me. I will see you on the road and thank all of you who sent me those encouraging tweets and Facebook messages. I also want to thank all my sponsors, supporters, friends and my wife and family for a great year and for your hard work for me. I wish you all happy holidays and an X-tra special 2011. Live your dreams and stay healthy and focusd.
Peace,
Toney the X-Man Freeman
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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.
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