U.S.: Benoit Given Excessive Testosterone

Wrestler's Personal Physician Over-Prescribed Testosterone For Hormone Disorder, Feds Say

(AP)  The amount of testosterone prescribed to pro wrestler Chris Benoit far exceeded the normal amount for a hormone disorder he was purportedly being treated for, federal prosecutors said in new court papers.

The papers were filed in a criminal case against Dr. Phil Astin, Benoit's personal physician, who is charged with overprescribing medication

More charges against Astin are expected.

Authorities said Benoit, 40, strangled his wife with a cord, used a choke hold to strangle his 7-year-old son, placed Bibles next to the bodies and hanged himself on a piece of exercise equipment the weekend of June 22 in their suburban Atlanta home.

Steroid use has lingered as a theory behind the killings, since anabolic steroids were found in Benoit's home and tests conducted by authorities showed Benoit had roughly 10 times the normal level of testosterone in his system when he died.

Some experts believe that use of testosterone can contribute to paranoia, depression and violent outbursts known as "roid rage."

Benoit's father believes years of head trauma his son suffered while in the ring contributed to the killings.

The government says that even if Benoit had a hormone disorder as a lawyer for the doctor has claimed, the amounts of testosterone he was given "well exceeded normal dosages."

Prosecutors noted Benoit's testosterone prescriptions in court papers Friday in response to an Astin defense motion to suppress items seized during several searches of Astin's office, his mother's home and a storage container he used. There was no immediate ruling on the motion.

Prosecutors said that over a 12-month period ending a month before the murder-suicide, Astin wrote seven prescriptions to Benoit, each dispensing a 10-month supply of testosterone cypionate. The total dosage, if broken down by month, is "in excess by 50 percent of Food and Drug Administration dosage guidelines," prosecutors said.

Defense attorney Manny Arora - who has since left Astin's case - argued that the government failed to seek the opinion of a hormone disorder specialist before filing search warrant affidavits asserting that the steroids Astin prescribed Benoit were excessive.


© MMVII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Add a Comment

by myidoncbs October 8, 2007 2:37 PM PDT

"Professional Wrestling": they market ''rhoid rage to the masses. Watch it sometime, if you can stand it, and you''ll see. The ring is full of enraged steroid-filled monsters, tossing each other around as they roar their displeasure and grimmace at the world.

It''s NOT what I''d call a good role model for our children (or for teen-agers, or anyone, really).

Reply to this comment

by slim1h2o October 8, 2007 2:49 PM PDT

Wow ,, With all those roids he had in his system, no wonder he snapped. Too bad he had to take the wife and kid with him.

Reply to this comment

by ckcool192001 October 8, 2007 5:39 PM PDT

The benoit incident is horrible. However, the industry is not to blame. As MyIdoncbs states, that they are poor role models....my question is this. The men and women that perform on these shows, perform for audiences of all ages. BUT the responsibility lies with the parents to deciede if their child is #1 old enough to understand that these wrestlers train for years and years to be able to perform as they do, and #2 know that the action is not real.

Yes I agree a close look needs to be taken at the WWE and TNA and other brands of wrestling to ensure that these wrestlers are as safe and healthy as possible.

For those of you that think Wrestling is stupid, violent etc....it''s simple, don''t watch. For parents out there, before you let your children watch a show, watch one yourself, if you believe you child is old enough and mature enough then let them watch but otherwise don''t...and check up on them to make sure their not sneaking behind your back.

Parents in this country need to take more responsibility for their children, instead of trying to blame the TV, Movie, and video game studios. These companies are creating a product for profit, and for a specific audience. If your child is to young for these types of media then it is your responsibilty as a parent to prevent violent media from reaching your child.

Reply to this comment

by Krazcarl October 8, 2007 6:03 PM PDT

I do not believe he was mentaly handicapped he had taken this junk for years and was fully aware of dosage streaght. Lets not blame this on his Dr.s the blame lies with him. I just can''t believe how everyone is blaming everyone and everything but him where the blame belongs,

Reply to this comment

by cheddarboy82 October 9, 2007 10:20 AM PDT

steroids dont make you kill people. The dude obviosly had more things going on. what about all the murderers out there who never touched a drug. sometimes a person is nuts no matter what, drugs or no drugs. blaming steroids is retarted

Reply to this comment

by jinxkity October 9, 2007 3:00 PM PDT

Yea, Spectrum 108, the rest of the world may want us to shut up and mind our own business ... just as long as we keep sending them our jobs and hard earned money. Sorry, but if you''re getting my job or my hard earned money I''m sticking my nose in your business!

Reply to this comment

by godofredo29 October 10, 2007 2:08 PM PDT

I love the way the press is airbrushing out the factor of the son''s Fragile X syndrome. Any parent, especially a dad, faced with a child''s chronic and ultimately fatal condition finds little support and much anguish. Whatever role the testosterone played, it was likely secondary. Let''s get some help for caregivers, especially dad''s of chronically ill children--''cause it''s not there now!

Reply to this comment

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[myidoncbs]

"Professional Wrestling": they market ''rhoid rage to the masses. Watch it sometime, if you can stand it, and you''ll see. The ring is full of enraged steroid-filled monsters, tossing each other around as they roar their displeasure and grimmace at the world.

It''s NOT what I''d call a good role model for our children (or for teen-agers, or anyone, really).

[slim1h2o]

Wow ,, With all those roids he had in his system, no wonder he snapped. Too bad he had to take the wife and kid with him.

[ckcool192001]

The benoit incident is horrible. However, the industry is not to blame. As MyIdoncbs states, that they are poor role models....my question is this. The men and women that perform on these shows, perform for audiences of all ages. BUT the responsibility lies with the parents to deciede if their child is #1 old enough to understand that these wrestlers train for years and years to be able to perform as they do, and #2 know that the action is not real.

Yes I agree a close look needs to be taken at the WWE and TNA and other brands of wrestling to ensure that these wrestlers are as safe and healthy as possible.

For those of you that think Wrestling is stupid, violent etc....it''s simple, don''t watch. For parents out there, before you let your children watch a show, watch one yourself, if you believe you child is old enough and mature enough then let them watch but otherwise don''t...and check up on them to make sure their not sneaking behind your back.

Parents in this country need to take more responsibility for their children, instead of trying to blame the TV, Movie, and video game studios. These companies are creating a product for profit, and for a specific audience. If your child is to young for these types of media then it is your responsibilty as a parent to prevent violent media from reaching your child.

[Krazcarl]

I do not believe he was mentaly handicapped he had taken this junk for years and was fully aware of dosage streaght. Lets not blame this on his Dr.s the blame lies with him. I just can''t believe how everyone is blaming everyone and everything but him where the blame belongs,

[cheddarboy82]

steroids dont make you kill people. The dude obviosly had more things going on. what about all the murderers out there who never touched a drug. sometimes a person is nuts no matter what, drugs or no drugs. blaming steroids is retarted

[jinxkity]

Yea, Spectrum 108, the rest of the world may want us to shut up and mind our own business ... just as long as we keep sending them our jobs and hard earned money. Sorry, but if you''re getting my job or my hard earned money I''m sticking my nose in your business!

[godofredo29]

I love the way the press is airbrushing out the factor of the son''s Fragile X syndrome. Any parent, especially a dad, faced with a child''s chronic and ultimately fatal condition finds little support and much anguish. Whatever role the testosterone played, it was likely secondary. Let''s get some help for caregivers, especially dad''s of chronically ill children--''cause it''s not there now!