What's the Beef?

Brawny juicers keep pumping steroids, so why aren't more serving time.

A A A Comments (1) By Eric Dexheimer Thursday, May 26 2005

...continued from page 5

The enactment of the new law could unleash a wave of steroid-related arrests and convictions. After all, the last major steroids sweep -- a nearly three-year blowout called Operation Equine that eventually extended across the country -- occurred soon after the 1990 law was passed. Based on recent history, it seems more likely that police will continue to write up only those cases they stumble on, and little else.

Collins says he advises those seeking his counsel to not break the law -- although he's also happy to suggest ways to not get caught. Even so, that doesn't mean he thinks outlawing steroids was a good idea, and he never misses an opportunity to point out the laws' weaknesses.

Attorney Rick Collins is happy to point out problems with steroid laws.

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"If the intent of the law was to eradicate steroids from sports, protect the public health and diminish the black market, how well is it working?" he wonders. "In the last fourteen years, would you say that steroid use in competitive sports has gone down?"

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brandon norman 02/07/2008 4:05:00 AM

Great article. I am 22 years old and have been an athlete all of my life. I started lifting weights at the age of 12 and played 2 years of division 2 football. I am on my third year at a businness university and am working toward my bachelors. I feel that steroids are given a bad rap. I myself have never taken steroids yet would like to try them to improve my physique. There is so much that you could say to appose the act of making steroids illegal. Back when steroids were made illegal it was thought that only professional athletes took steroids to gain an unfair advantage. In today's America that is not true anymore. Countless studies show that the average steroid user is an educated man in his 30's who is using steroids to better his physique. America is suppost to be a government for the people by the people. Well news flash the average man may be taking steroids now. Some officials may say that they are illegal to discourage children from experimenting with these powerful drugs, which I have no problem with. Steroids should be treated just as alchohol is, with an age requirement. However, if influence on children is our main concern, than that is one of the most hipocritical things I have ever heard of. Teen drinking is on the rise yet we are not making alchohol illegal. Cigarrettes are probably one of the easiest things for a minor to get ahold yet they are not illegal. You can turn on the T.V. at any point in the day and you can see a pill or drug for sleep disorders, erectile disfunction, depression, anxiety, etc. Have you ever read some of the side effects for some of these drugs, they are just as bad as the original symptoms that you suffered from. So after all of this ranting and raving I conclude with this. I think steroids should not be illegal yet controlled with caution as to not reach minors. But my question is this, what can I do in my local area to help in clearing the fog on steroids?