Top WWE names emerge in doping scandal

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BY T.J. QUINN

DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Thursday, August 30th 2007, 6:28 PM


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The WWE was rocked again today, after several of wrestling's top names emerged in the Albany district attorney's probe into a widespread Internet doping scandal.

The wrestling conglomerate based in Stamford announced that it will suspend 10 of its biggest stars for violation of its wellness policy.

In a list obtained exclusively by the Daily News, top wrestlers Randy Orton, Charles Haas, Jr., Adam "Edge" Copeland, Robert "Booker T" Huffman, Shane Helms, Mike Bucci, Anthony Carelli, John "Johnny Nitro" Hennigan, Darren "William Regal" Matthews, Ken "Mr. Kennedy" Anderson, Eddie "Umaga" Fatu, Shoichi Funaki and Chavo Guerrero were all identified as clients of Signature Pharmacy in Orlando, the site raided by Albany County and Florida law enforcement agencies in February for distributing steroids and other prescription drugs to clients who had not been examined by doctors. The investigation is part of a probe into illegal Internet drug distribution by Albany D.A. David Soares.

It is unclear at this time which of these wrestlers will be suspended by the WWE.

The WWE said in a statement that it issued suspension notices based on independent information received from the Albany D.A.

The WWE's announcement comes as members of Congress prepare to investigate steroid use in professional wrestling, as the Daily News reported today.

Two of its recently deceased stars - Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero - also received steroids and other drugs from Signature, as prescribed by Florida physician Gary Brandwein, who has pleaded not guilty to criminal sale of a controlled substance and criminal diversion of prescription drugs. Benoit murdered his wife and son before killing himself in June and Guerrero died in a Minneapolis hotel in 2005 from heart disease.

Guerrero received the steroids testosterone and nandrolone, along with the estrogen-blocker anastozole, a drug commonly taken by men on steroids to prevent developing breast tissue, Nov. 2, 2005, just 11 days before he died of heart disease.

Guerrero's nephew, Chavo Guerrero, found Guerrero unconscious in the hotel room.

Benoit received steroids from Signature, based on a Brandwein prescription, in February, 2006.

The WWE stars are among the first athletes to face discipline for their part in the nationwide Signature Pharmacy scandal, the Internet steroid ring that has already led to guilty pleas from nine doctors, anti-aging clinic owners and operators. Law enforcement sources have said they expect the names of numerous NFL and Major League Baseball athletes to emerge as well.

Shane to be on Raw. He will announce their new GM. A source says that it might be Ric Flair as their new
GM. I rather see him as Commissioner so he can overlook all brands so he can make hell on Vickie Guerrero.

Top WWE names emerge in doping scandal

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BY T.J. QUINN

DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Thursday, August 30th 2007, 6:28 PM


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Print Email Suggest a Story

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The WWE was rocked again today, after several of wrestling's top names emerged in the Albany district attorney's probe into a widespread Internet doping scandal.

The wrestling conglomerate based in Stamford announced that it will suspend 10 of its biggest stars for violation of its wellness policy.

In a list obtained exclusively by the Daily News, top wrestlers Randy Orton, Charles Haas, Jr., Adam "Edge" Copeland, Robert "Booker T" Huffman, Shane Helms, Mike Bucci, Anthony Carelli, John "Johnny Nitro" Hennigan, Darren "William Regal" Matthews, Ken "Mr. Kennedy" Anderson, Eddie "Umaga" Fatu, Shoichi Funaki and Chavo Guerrero were all identified as clients of Signature Pharmacy in Orlando, the site raided by Albany County and Florida law enforcement agencies in February for distributing steroids and other prescription drugs to clients who had not been examined by doctors. The investigation is part of a probe into illegal Internet drug distribution by Albany D.A. David Soares.

It is unclear at this time which of these wrestlers will be suspended by the WWE.

The WWE said in a statement that it issued suspension notices based on independent information received from the Albany D.A.

The WWE's announcement comes as members of Congress prepare to investigate steroid use in professional wrestling, as the Daily News reported today.

Two of its recently deceased stars - Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero - also received steroids and other drugs from Signature, as prescribed by Florida physician Gary Brandwein, who has pleaded not guilty to criminal sale of a controlled substance and criminal diversion of prescription drugs. Benoit murdered his wife and son before killing himself in June and Guerrero died in a Minneapolis hotel in 2005 from heart disease.

Guerrero received the steroids testosterone and nandrolone, along with the estrogen-blocker anastozole, a drug commonly taken by men on steroids to prevent developing breast tissue, Nov. 2, 2005, just 11 days before he died of heart disease.

Guerrero's nephew, Chavo Guerrero, found Guerrero unconscious in the hotel room.

Benoit received steroids from Signature, based on a Brandwein prescription, in February, 2006.

The WWE stars are among the first athletes to face discipline for their part in the nationwide Signature Pharmacy scandal, the Internet steroid ring that has already led to guilty pleas from nine doctors, anti-aging clinic owners and operators. Law enforcement sources have said they expect the names of numerous NFL and Major League Baseball athletes to emerge as well.

I saw this on ESPN.com, WWE better be careful, it might become a sport.

Of course, this will do nothing to persuade mainstream sports commentators that WWE's steroid policy is serious, cause everything WWE does is evil.

I anyone surprised? No!

I'm shocked...That there might be 'raslers that don't take steroids.

[quote:e3b8529d0b="bluejayrock"]Of course, this will do nothing to persuade mainstream sports commentators that WWE's steroid policy is serious, cause everything WWE does is evil.[/quote:e3b8529d0b]



And this surprises you in what way?

You had to figure something like this would come, some wrestlers would be made examples of. And not just the curtain jerkers, to show the world that their policy supposibly had teeth some well known wrestlers had to be suspended. However to me this shows nothing really but that maybe there are holes in their policy. Investigators came to them with names, from what I read their tests didn't catch any of them. I just watched the clip on fox news, supposibly 9 are first timers and one is a repeat. My money on the repeat offender is that juice monkey masters.

Its supposibly not only wreslters names on that list, apparently some nfl names are going to come out. This is good, could do some good things by cleaning up sports and getting rid of those doctors that are lets say up to no good.

According to Pro Wrestling Torch, there are going to be more suspensions to come, and Batista and Masters were also revealed as well. For those who may not care to look the names up, Anthony Carelli is Santino Marella, Eddie Fatu is Umaga, Mike Bucci was Simon Dean (he has retired, and is an agent for WWE), and Shane Helms is of course Greg Helms.

And in other news... Scientists have discoverd that is water is indeed wet, and that the sky is blue.

I'm shocked :o

[quote:b5861b5a4b="GOP Racer"]And in other news... Scientists have discoverd that is water is indeed wet, and that the sky is blue.

I'm shocked :o[/quote:b5861b5a4b]


I'm not shocked in regards to wrestlers taking steroids, more to the fact that some main eventers are actually going to be suspended and not just some curtain jerkers. But what choice do they have considering the media coverage surrounding the Benoit tragedy.