ATLANTA, Ga., Aug. 21, 2007
Lawyer: Dead Wrestler Needed Steroids
Attorney For Chris Benoit's Doctor Suggests Wrestler's Hormone Disorder Permitted Steroid Use
-
Chris Benoit photographed on March 29, 2004. The pro wrestler was found dead along with his wife and child on June 25, 2007, victims of a murder-suicide. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said on July 17 that steroids and other drugs were found in his body. (AP)
-
Interactive Sports Doping Find out more about drug testing and performance-enhancing drugs.
Dr. Phil Astin's attorney, Manny Arora, said in a motion to suppress evidence obtained against his client that a federal agent failed to tell a judge who issued search warrants in the case about the legitimate uses of steroids.
Arora wrote that if the government had consulted a hormone disorder specialist, it would have learned that "the amount of medication in question was not excessive and would be medically appropriate based on the medical condition of Mr. Benoit."
"Had the magistrate judge known all these things, perhaps she wouldn't have issued the warrants, and there wouldn't have been a case here," Arora told the AP in a telephone interview.
"That's sort of what you have to prove: These could be used for a valid medical condition," he said. "That's the second-guessing we now do with these motions, because the government always wins the first round. It's a pretty high hill to climb, but I think we can climb it."
Arora did not elaborate on Benoit's condition. A spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office declined to comment.
Authorities have said Astin prescribed a 10-month supply of anabolic steroids to Benoit every three to four weeks between May 2006 and May 2007.
Anabolic steroids were found in Benoit's home, and tests showed Benoit had roughly 10 times the normal level of testosterone in his system when he died. Investigators have not given a motive for the killings, but the question of whether steroids played a role has lingered.
Testosterone can be used as part of hormone replacement therapy. Some athletes also have been known to use steroids to enhance their performance.
Astin has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of improperly prescribing painkillers and other drugs to two patients other than Benoit. Federal prosecutors plan a superseding indictment with new charges, but haven't said when they will act.
Last week, Arora asked a judge to throw out evidence seized from his client's west Georgia office on June 27. Monday's motion to suppress challenged the legality of raids on Astin's office on June 29 and his mother's home the same day.
Items also were seized from Astin's Carrollton office on July 9. A storage unit belonging to Astin was searched on July 6. Neither of the motions to suppress address those two searches.
The district attorney overseeing the death investigation has said Benoit strangled his wife with a cord, used a choke hold to strangle his 7-year-old son, then placed Bibles next to the bodies and hanged himself on a piece of exercise equipment in his Fayetteville home the weekend of June 22.
Astin is free on bail, but must remain in his home except under limited circumstances. A pretrial conference is scheduled for Sept. 18.
By Harry A. Weber; Associated Press Writer Greg Bluestein in Atlanta contributed to this report.
© MMVII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Add a Comment
- Sorry . That is one crazy idea and the males don''t need the steriods as they only make him fly onto a rage. Hormone disorder should be treated with what the body makes HORMONE REPLACEMENT not some steriods to bunk him up to over power others. Something isn''t right.I am just a layperson.
- Reply to this comment
- So how about this:
Roid rage made him kill his family. He calmed down after a couple of hours and, realizing what he did...felt badly and put the bibles down. Then killed himself.
No matter why he did it or under what circumstances, the facts are he did it and he''s hopefully burning in hell. - Reply to this comment
- steroids arent gonna make you kill your wife and kid, place bibles next to them and then hang yourself. whoever thought that from the start is nuts and uneducated about steroids. this story is old and annoying. the guy was crazy, nuff said
- Reply to this comment
- Posted by Extremophil,
No, it appears that they are saying that the doctor was not negligent, as the dosage he gave Benoit was appropriate for his medical condition.
In that case, actually not taking the medicine on time might have been a factor in Benoit''s story. - Reply to this comment
- Oh, OK...I get it now. He NEEDED the steriods, so it''s all right that he murdered his wife and young son. It all makes sense now.
- Reply to this comment
Best-selling author Mitch Albom on his first nonfiction work since "Tuesdays with Morrie."
