Congressman Henry Waxman learned today that anabolic steroid use in the WWE and professional wrestling is “pervasive.” Baseline steroid testing conducted by the WWE indicated that 40% of WWE wrestlers tested positive for anabolic steroids and other drugs. Waxman passed on this “new” information to John Walters at the Office of the National Drug Control Policy in a letter that highlighted some of Congressional committee’s key findings (”Chairman Waxman Releases Letter Regarding Illegal Steroid Use in Professional Wrestling,” January 2).
In the first year of the WWE’s testing program, which began in March 2006, 40% of wrestlers tested positive for steroids and other drugs even after being warned in advance that they were going to be tested.
Six months after the WWE announced its 2006 steroid testing policy, it relaxed the policy to allow wrestlers suspended for steroid abuse to participate in “selected televised events” and “pay-per-views.”
The WWE hired four of five wrestlers who tested positive for steroids in “pre-contract” testing conducted in2007 and 2008.
The WWE regularly approved “therapeutic use exemptions,” explicitly allowing the use of steroids as part of a “testosterone replacement acceptance ptogtam” for wrestlers who abused steroids in the past.
Test results from the WWE’s top competitor, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, reveal that a large proportion of TNA wrestlers have also tested
WWE wrestler Charlie Haas publicly discussed his use of anabolic steroids but maintains that he thought he was legally using the drugs since he had a doctor’s prescription. Sports Illustrated named Haas as one of 10 WWE wrestlers who obtained steroids from a compounding pharmacy (”Charlie Haas on His Past Steroid Use,” November 29).
Haas was allegedly prescribed anastrozole (used to ward off breast tissue following a steroid cycle), somatropin (Growth hormone), stanozolol (anabolic steroid), nandrolone (anabolic steroid), and chorionic gonadotropin (protein hormones) between August 2006 and January 2007. Haas claims he thought it was legal, and he was doing it for “maintenance” after he had both his knees reconstructed.
Charlie Haas now believes he made a mistake and steroid use is wrong and kids shouldn’t take steroids. … Read the rest of this entry »
Former WWE star Brock Lesnar was interviewed by ESPN E:60 about his highly anticipated UFC match with Randy Couture on November 15th. He was asked about his abuse of painkillers and his abuse of alcohol which he had no problem admitting. But when the subject started to turn toward the use of anabolic steroids, Lesnar quickly terminated the interview and walked out.
Brock Lesnar says he was not necessarily annoyed by the question but by its repetitiveness. He has repeatedly denied using anabolic steroids yet he is still asked the same question. … Read the rest of this entry »
Unfortunately, sports writers continue to promote steroid hysteria in sport by demonizing physicians who work with athletes/entertainers in professional sports where anabolic steroid use is prevalent. Mark Madden, sports correspondent with the Beaver County Times, characterized the news of Dr. Joseph Maroon’s role with the WWE as an adviser who may help cover up steroid use in the WWE. … Read the rest of this entry »
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