THE 'ROID REPORT FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 1

by Gary Gaffney, MD, Steroid Nation

The Movie "Bigger Stronger Faster" opened a couple weeks ago to good critical review. The film looks at the use of anabolic steroids, and the prevalence of cheating in the USA. As if on cue, events deliver more and more material for discussion. Seems that in American if you ain't cheating, you ain't trying.

Track and field appears so traumatized by all the dope-cheating, that fans and press greet a new 100M world record (by Jamaican Usain Bolt) with intense skepticism on the legitimacy of any track record in the steroid era. Skepticism justly earned by recent events including the Gold Medal the USA 400x4 team will be giving back from the Sydney 2000 Olympics. When Antonio Pettigrew admitted a long history of doping, that meant only Michael Johnson appears clean in that USA gold medal Sydney 4x400 team.

Steroid Nation moved on over the past week. A major shock went through the nation when admitted and convicted steroid dealer David Jacobs -- dope dealers to the NFL -- was found dead with his on-off girlfriend Amanda Savell -- a former college tennis player and noted fitness model. Jacobs allegedly dealt juice to former Dallas Cowboy Matt Lehr and perhaps others. Jacobs claimed to be a professor of passing the NFL doping tests with NFL players as willing students.

Jacobs worked out a deal with the Feds, that led to meeting with NFL officials where he gave them some hot info on NFL doping. Did some NFL player bump the steroid dealer off? Was he mobbed-up and in trouble (he commented to ESPN's Shawn Asseal that the people he deals with are "The kinds of people I know about could put a bullet in the back of my head.")?. Was this some love triangle? Or was all the heat coming down simply too much for the convicted felon? The authorities say this was a double wound (gut and head) suicide.

Some of the NFL heat came down yesterday when the league allegedly suspended the Titans LB Ryan Fowler for alleged steroid activity with Jacobs. Fowler spent times on the Cowboy team about the time Lehr did. Where else will this trail lead?

The trail of the Triple Crown led to last place when Big Brown gave out a big whiff at the Belmont Stakes. Speculation about the once dominating horses poor performance nagged the post race debate. Was the horse hurting from a hoof injury? Did the big bay take too much time off.

Our speculation centered on anabolic steroid withdrawal. Trainer Rick Dutrow (now a household name) admitted to monthly Winstrol shots - drug of choice for the disgraced sprinter Ben Johnson. However the last steroid shot came either April 15 or just before the Preakness. Was steroid withdrawal a factor producing fatigue, lack of drive, and lethargy in the dominant winner of the Kentucky Derby?

One more mystery in this 'roided-up world. And, almost on cue, TO -- Terrell Owns -- stopped by to give his blessing to the juice. Seems TO missed an out-of-competition dope test, which means he may be subject to many extra tests during the upcoming season. Always leave it toe TO to upstage everyone else.