The illegal 'new generation drugs' used by athletes and administered by coaches are designed to stimulate growth hormones and are nearly impossible to detect by testing. Peptides can have many benefits for sportspeople, including the reduction of body fat and assistance in the swift recovery from injuries. Legal peptides help the body recover from physical activity and can be taken as supplements. However, the illegal peptides uncovered by the Australian Crime Commission (ACC) and being investigated by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) are used to stimulate muscle growth and have less obvious side effects than steroids. Many peptides aren't approved for human use. These new-age drugs are very difficult to pick up through testing. The use of coercive powers by investigators, such as calling on witnesses is usually the only way to prove illegal use. The ACC report released on Thursday found athletes and officials were part of a 'widespread' use of the growth hormone-releasing peptides. The substances it found in use in Australia were GHRP-2, GHRP-6, CJC-1295, AOD-9604 and hexarelin, all of which promote the release of an increased level of growth hormone into the bloodstream. All except one type are prohibited under WADA guidelines. Read more here: … Continue reading →

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Two Australian Rules football clubs and a number of rugby league teams are being probed for the use of banned performance-enhancing drugs, officials said on Sunday. Federal justice minister Jason Clare, criticised for releasing a damning report into doping in Australian sports last week that lacked details, confirmed that a number of clubs in the competing football codes were under suspicion. Clare said authorities had passed on the names of the clubs to both of the sport's governing bodies. "We've given the names of the clubs to both the NRL (National Rugby League) and the AFL (Australian Football League)," he told state broadcaster ABC. "And the NRL and the AFL have asked for permission to tell the clubs that are affected by the investigation." "The (Australian) Crime Commission agrees and we're taking action to allow both the NRL and the AFL to tell the clubs that are involved in this investigation," he added, referring to Australia's top criminal intelligence unit. "And then it will be up to the clubs to put their hand up and say 'yes, we are one of the clubs that are affected by this investigation'." One of the AFL clubs, the Melbourne-based Essendon … Continue reading →

The black market for prescription drugs in Southern Illinois is alive and well, often sending users of all ages to the emergency room. Many die. Last fall, a young man mixed alcohol with morphine that was extracted from a time-release patch, or fentanyl, which in some cases is 100 times more potent than heroin. To this day, police Chief Bob Smith cant believe he survived. I have never seen an individual that near death and make it, Smith said. It isnt the first time in Harrisburg, or elsewhere in Southern Illinois. In the last two to three years, Smith said, there have been 10 to 15 deaths directly linked to morphine patches. Two of the deaths occurred within a week of each other. A similar problem was seen in West Frankfort. To many in law enforcement, health care and mental health, unchecked prescription drugs in the home are as deadly as a loaded gun around unsupervised children. Parents, know what a Skittle Party is? Its when kids bring any prescription drug they can get their hands on typically from their homes and bring them to a party. They then dump the drugs in a bowl or a bag and ingest … Continue reading →