Sly's Steroids Scandal?, By: Julie Keller

Mon, 19 Feb 2007

It's been a rocky visit to the land Down Under for Sylvester Stallone.

Since arriving in Sydney to promote the Australian opening of Rocky Balboa, the actor has been tussling with local authorities over what is reported to be banned bodybuilding substances.

On Monday, officials searched his hotel room and private jet for illegal substances, just three days after seizing banned substances from he and his entourage, according to Australian media reports.

The trouble began Friday night, when Stallone and his traveling companions were stopped by customs officials after a routine X-ray detected something amiss. The group was detained for several hours, causing them to miss the premiere, for packing what was believed to be a type of human growth hormone.

Richard Janeczko, the national investigations manager for the Australian Customs Service, told Sydney's Daily Telegraph that some contraband items were taken, though he wouldn't reveal any details.

Stallone initially told the newspaper the incident was a "misunderstanding" and that reports of his transporting steroids were "totally hot air." Instead, he joked about sneaking in a "giant cheetah" and made cracks about officials finding his wife in his luggage.

"I do know [why I was stopped] but I can't tell you,'' he quoted in the Sunday edition of the Telegraph. "To [customs officials] it's major, but it's really minor stuff. I just made a mistake...I misunderstood a few things and we are going through the process.''

But Stallone has clammed up in the wake of Monday's raid. There was no comment from his U.S.-based reps.

As officials stopped by the Park Hyatt hotel to issue the actor a summons to answer charges on the prohibited substances, Stallone and his cohorts were allegedly seen tossing something out of the windows of their hotel room. A search of the room allegedly resulted in additional evidence, per the Telegraph.

A full sweep of his private plane ensued, though the actor was cleared to leave the country later in the day as the investigation proceeds.

"There is a range of options we can pursue in these circumstances,'' a spokesperson for the Customs Service told the Telegraph. "The investigation is ongoing and we are aware of Mr Stallone's travel movements. The material has to be identified and we have to look at all the options and the evidence before deciding what action to take.''

It remains to be seen what will happen to the 60-year-old tough guy. The Aussies have a no tolerance policy for illegal drugs, including steroids and performance-enhancing substances. It's also illegal to import such substances for sporting use. Penalties for possession of such items can range from fines up to $110,000 or up to five years in jail.

Rocky Balboa, in which the aged, yet still chiseled palooka puts on the gloves once again, represents a solid comeback for actor after a several lean years. The film has grossed nearly $130 million worldwide so far. He's set to begin shooting another sequel, Rambo IV: Pearl of the Cobra, next year.