Archive for September, 2009

Bodybuilding.com Raided in Criminal Steroid Investigation on Eve of IFBB Olympia Weekend
by Millard Baker

The federal government continued their steroid witch-hunt targeting the dietary supplement industry with a raid of Bodybuilding.com on Thursday, September 24, 2009. The criminal investigation accuses Bodybuilding.com and its corporate officers of illegal marketing and distributing several anabolic steroids, unapproved new and misbranded drugs labeled fraudulently as dietary supplements, specifically “Madol”, “Tren”, “Superdrol”, “Androstenedione”, and “Turinabol”.
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Dennis Wolf’s Hernia Injury May Be a Reason for Olympia DNP
by Joe Pietaro

As the first two call-outs were read at the Orleans Arena during the pre-judging, Dennis Wolf was getting noticeably antsy. By being passed up, he must have known that this year’s Mr. Olympia contest was not going to be a successful for him. After finishing fourth and fifth, respectively, the last two years, even he couldn’t have imagined what was in store.
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Jay Cutler Reclaims the Mr. Olympia Title, Branch Warren Runner-Up
by Joe Pietaro

Becoming the first to reclaim the Mr. Olympia title, Jay Cutler defeated what has been called the deepest line-up in the contest’s history. The Las Vegas resident was the clear-cut fan favorite and obviously impressed the judges just as much.

“Everyone wrote me off,” he said on stage right after the announcement. “It’s a huge achievement for me. At 36 there’s a lot of gas left in the tank for me.” Cutler speculated about winning a fourth Sandow, but followed that up by saying he wanted to enjoy this one first.
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Feds Raid Meridian Online Supplement Retailer Bodybuilding.com

FDA says Bodybuilding.com has illegally sold supplements with steroids
BY BILL ROBERTS

Investigators raided this warehouse as they searched for evidence that Bodybuilding.com had violated federal drug laws.

Thursday’s raid followed a two-year criminal investigation into the company and corporate officers, including founder Ryan DeLuca, by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, according to search warrants filed in U.S. District Court.

The searches were conducted at Bodybuilding.com’s headquarters at 2026 S. Silverstone Way, Meridian, and its warehouse off Gowen Road in south Boise, after two warrants were signed by U.S. Magistrate Judge Candy W. Dale, said Wendy Olson, an assistant U.S. attorney in Boise.
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Here is the list of the 2009 Mr. Olympia Competitor’s who will compete this weekend in the contest. They are, in alphabetical order:

1. Troy Alves (USA)
2. Melvin Anthony (USA)
3. Gustavo Badell (Puerto Rico)
4. Darrem Charles (Trinidad)
5. Jay Cutler (USA)
6. Moe Elmoussawi (New Zealand)
7. Toney Freeman (USA)
8. Kai Greene (USA)
9. Ahmad Haidar (Lebanon)
10. Phil Heath (USA)
11. Dexter Jackson (USA)
12. Dennis James (Germany)
13. Michael Kefalianos (Australia)
14. Martin Kjellstrom (Sweden)
15. Victor Martinez (USA)
16. Ronny Rockel (Germany)
17. Markus Ruhl (Germany)
18. Silvio Samuel (Spain)
19. Joel Stubbs (Bahamas)
20. Branch Warren (USA)
21. Bill Wilmore (USA)
22. Dennis Wolf (Germany)
23. Hidetada Yamagishi (Japan)

Here are the competitors of the 2009 Mr. Olympia Showdown 202lbs and Under Contest. They are, in alphabetical order:
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Mannatech Company Settle False Marketing Claims

The multi-level marketing world – the same industry that gave forth Amway and other home selling networks – got a black eye this week.

Mannatech Inc., a maker of dietary supplements, agreed to pay $6 million to settle a lawsuit brought by the Texas attorney general. The state alleged that the Coppell, Texas company made false claims about its health benefits and marketed products as cures and treatments for diseases.

Possibly the most unusual aspect of the agreement was that the Sam Caster, the company’s founder, former chairman, former CEO and biggest shareholder, agreed to pay a $1 million civil penalty. The lawsuit, filed in 2007, alleged numerous instances in which freelance sales associates falsely claimed that the products helped cure or prevented diseases such as cancer, autism and Down syndrome. Caster, the suit alleged, failed to effectively stop these tactics.
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2009 Team Universe Results

Overall
1. Wendell Floyd

Heavyweight
1. Shiloe Steinmetz
2. Donovan Strong
3. David Coleman
4. Amechia Chinweze
5. Jeff Beckham
Chadwick Austin
James Bivens
Robert Brown
Chris Cosich
Domine DAgustino
Erick Seng
Marlon Hospedales
Glenn Ubelhor
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Federal Agents Raid Vitamin Company IDS

OVIEDO, Fla. — Federal agents raided a vitamin supplement company Wednesday. Agents raided I.D.S. Sports office on Alafaya Trail in Oviedo, but it is not clear why.

U-haul trucks were used by law enforcement officers to load up with items from the office. Officers say the items are evidence in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigation (ICE).

Officials told Eyewitness News that they served warrants in the Orlando area regarding an on-going state and federal investigation. An eyewitness said Wednesday’s raid was on a major scale.

“They raided the place. They had dogs. They’ve been taking all kinds of stuff out of there, they even had vehicles confiscated. They took all kinds of stuff,” the eyewitness said.

Along with DEA and ICE agents, investigators for the U.S. Postal Service were at the scene of the raid.

I.D.S. Sports delivers bodybuilding and fitness supplements through the internet.

News Video on YouTube

CVS Faces $2.8 Million Fine To Settle FTC Charges

Drug store CVS Pharmacy will stop making misleading claims that its “AirShield” dietary supplements can prevent colds, fight germs, and boost immune systems. CVS also will pay nearly $2.8 million to settle Federal Trade Commission charges. This case is similar to cases that the FTC has announced against Airborne Health which faced a $30 million dollar fine, and the drug chain Rite Aid Corporation which were slapped with a $500,000 dollar fine. All 3 cases involved them selling a dietary supplement that purportedly treats colds and the flu. That’s because both CVS and Rite Aid “knocked off” the wildly successful “Airborne” product made by Airborne Health.
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Vita-Tech International, Inc. Donates One Ton of Vitamins To Polio Treatment Centers in Guinea, West Africa

Vita-Tech International, Inc., has donated one ton of vitamins to Conakry, Guinea, West Africa, to support nutritionally disadvantaged populations in polio treatment centers throughout the country, as well as rural villages in the area surrounding Conakry. “This donation will provide nutritional support for hundreds of people for a long period, with follow-up shipments planned to insure continuity of care,” according to Tom Tierney, President of Vita-Tech. The donation will be administered by Polio Home, operated throughout the country by the ONG Groupe Lyceum.

“Our earth has no corners, so we are all next door neighbors, ” commented Tierney. “Vita-Tech is very pleased to make a difference via this charitable product outreach,” he said.
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Don’t Count Out Gustavo Badell at Atlantic City Pro
By Joe Pietaro

We’ve all heard the names being mentioned as favorites in Saturday’s IFBB Atlantic City Pro. Troy Alves and Hidetada Yamagishi are two that has been heard often. But little has been said about Gustavo Badell. The “Freakin’ Rican” has had a quiet 2009 after being very successful the prior year.

In 2008, Badell, 36, finished second at the Iron Man Pro, sixth at the Arnold Classic and 10th at the Olympia. So far this year, he has only competed once and placed 11th at the Arnold. This is a man who won the Iron Man in ‘05 and the San Francisco Pro in ‘06. Badell has also finished third at the 2004 and 2005 Mr. Olympias, so he has done well against the big boys in his career.
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Bye Bye 45-second Routine & One-Piece Swimsuit Rounds (IFBB Pro Only)
by Isaac Hinds

YAYEEEE! While I’m not a professional fitness competitor (yes, I am captain obvious at times) I do cover many of the shows. The IFBB Professional League has issued an advisory notice that has MAJOR changes for pro fitness competitors. Beginning next month there will be NO ONE-PIECE and NO 45-Second routine!
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Recomp Performance Nutrition (RPN) being sued for Havoc

Does HAVOC Cause Liver Damage?

According to the Recomp Performance Nutrition websites the product to the left is “…the next generation hormone to deliver the AMAZING results: lean, dry, hard, quality chiselled gains; without the unwanted and undesirable side effects from the old school hormones of yesterday!”

Consumer Takes Action Against Supplement Maker

Well one consumer taking “HAVOC” (which contains the prohormone 2a,3a-epithio-17a-methyl-5a-androstan-17b-ol) says he developed liver disease and hepatitis after taking the supplement for 5 months! The guy that suffered this ailment is Darrell Wright who says that he will now require healthcare and other services and has “suffered loss of wages and a diminished capacity to earn wages in the future”. He will be suing the makers of this supplement and has hired a well-respected lawyer named Russell Abney of the firm Beasley Allen.

2009 Muscle Beach Labor Day Contest

Three times a year, Joe Wheatley puts on a contest on the beach. Muscle Beach, that is, in the heart of Venice, where the building near the pit looks like a barbell. The 2009 Muscle Beach Labor Day contest is coming up soon, as we will see you there. Here is the poster regarding the contest.