Entertainers Named In Steroid Report

50 Cent, Mary J. Blige Head List Of Names Linked To N.Y. Probe, Sources Tell Newspaper

(CBS/AP)  A number of entertainers were named in connection with an Albany-based steroid investigation, but are not part of an ongoing criminal probe, according to a published report.

Citing unnamed sources, the Times Union of Albany reported on Sunday that R&B music star Mary J. Blige, rap musicians 50 Cent, Timbaland and Wyclef Jean, and award-winning author and producer Tyler Perry may have received or used performance enhancing drugs.

Albany District Attorney P. David Soares launched an Albany-based investigation into steroid trafficking last year.

Law enforcement officials have said evidence does not indicate that the celebrities broke any law. Officials are focusing on the doctors, pharmacists and clinics that provide the drugs.

Ken Sunshine, a spokesman for Tyler Perry declined comment. Calls to representatives for the musicians were not immediately returned Sunday.

Soares has declined to comment on or confirm the identities of the stars mentioned in the report. His multi-state investigation has focused on Signature Pharmacy of Orlando, Fla. So far 10 defendants have pleaded guilty and some professional athletes have been linked to the probe in news reports.

Soares has said Signature was at the center of a web of businesses and doctors that illegally wrote prescriptions for steroids. The investigation gained national attention almost a year ago when authorities raided Signature. The company's owners and the pharmacy's operators are awaiting trial in Albany on related charges.

Records shared with the Times Union and information from several cooperating witnesses on Long Island indicate the celebrities received prescribed human growth hormone or steroids. In some cases aliases were used for their delivery.

For example, the paper claimed that between August 2005 and January 2007, Blige allegedly received multiple shipments of Jentropin (a human growth hormone) and Oxandrolone (an anabolic steroid) from the Orlando pharmacy. At least one order was sent to a “Marlo Stanfield,” which is the name of a drug kingpin on the HBO TV show “The Wire.”

In response to the article, a spokeswoman for Blige told the New York Daily News that the singer “has never taken any performance-enhancing illegal steroids.”

The Times Union also reported that 50 Cent, a.k.a. Curtis James Jackson III, allegedly received shipments of steroids sent to his residences in Connecticut and Los Angeles, and to a Long Island chiropractor’s office, under his real name and under the name “Michael Jordan.”

The article comes on the heels of Former Sen. George Mitchell’s report last month on performance-enhancing drugs in baseball.

That report said former Mets clubhouse attendant Kirk Radomski provided steroids and human growth hormone linked to several prominent players, including Roger Clemens, Paul Lo Duca, Mo Vaughn, Lenny Dykstra and Andy Pettitte. Radomski pleaded guilty last year to charges that he dealt steroids to players for a decade.

Hearings are set to begin this month in Congress on the Mitchell report.

Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., introduced legislation that would make possession of human growth hormone illegal without a current, valid prescription.

[brianbwb-2009]

(CBS/AP) A number of entertainers were named in connection with an Albany-based steroid investigation, but are not part of an ongoing criminal probe, according to a published report.

So then what is the purpose of printing such a story, if there is no criminal probe?

The only reason steroids are illegal is that it fudges the betting odds for sports, and we the people didn''t give our elected officials permission to make them illegal, but anyway what idiot bets on a concert?

[buddhabman]

I didn''t think 50 wasn''t getting ripped drinking Vitamin water :-). But what''s up with Sister Mary J Blige. Scalpel / Botox / Steroids part of the fame regimen

[gce65]

neobrian:
What is even remotely racist in anything I wrote?
"Bonehead?" That implies stupidity in taking ''roids.
"Foreheads looking like a Neanderthal?" That''s a common medical condition among ''roid users called acromegaly.
I said nothing racist.
Or do you think that simply calling someone a racist makes it so?

[gce65]

CBS:
Why do you waste our time with this trivial tripe?

No news of the recent finding that the cholesterol drug ZETIA DOESN''T WORK???? Or does the Washington Post have a monopoly on real news?

Obvious implications here are that the FDA isn''t doing its job.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/14/AR2008011401639.html?hpid=topnews

[neobrian-2009]

What a True POS!!I don''''t care if these boneheads take ''''roids. They''''re not being used for an athletic advantage where the playing field should be fair. They think they''''ll look better...until their foreheads start looking like a Neanderthal.

Posted by gce65 at 05:50 PM : Jan 14, 2008
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Can you believe this racist ?He`d spend his last penny on a rebel flag before he`d have the courage to be sense to be a'' True American''.I hope he remembers" Everything that you do,Will come back to you.

[gce65]

I don''t care if these boneheads take ''roids. They''re not being used for an athletic advantage where the playing field should be fair. They think they''ll look better...until their foreheads start looking like a Neanderthal.

[bobnjersey]

50 cent was taking steriods?

well then ... all his hit records should be discounted ... and all his awards should be forfeited ... and i NOW have no respect for those ''sounds'' he''s been making for the last few years

[papabc]

But Jones goes in for 6 months?

[mike71067]

Headline: "Entertainers Named In Steroid Report"

WHAT?! Entertainers linked to illegal drugs? I REFUSE TO BELIEVE IT! Anyhow, with the sad state of the entertainment industry (crapp that passes for music and movies), it could certainly use some performance enhancement.

I have nothing positive to say about the liberal entertainment industry. Those dopes make a living trying to shove their "values" down the throats of normal Americans. We''re not buying it.

[papabc]

No Shiite?

[cheddarboy82]

actually there are alot of steroids that dont give females, male traits...what she took was hgh, which isnt a steroid and anavar - which is a steroid with low low side effects. Many females take anavar.

[sharedthough]

It''s disappointing to think that there are so many unethical doctors. Yes, the "customers" who receive these steroids are responsible for decisions that they make, but it is even more disheartening to think that more than a few doctor are willing to be drug pushers if they are offered enough money.

[rushlimpdrug]

Crappers and steroids.
What a great combination.

[rational_1]

Why would a female singer (Blige) be taking anabolic steroids? Have you ever heard a woman who is juiced? Sounds like a combination of a man and a frog. Does she think growing an Adam''s apple will help her career? I can see 50 Cent and the male crappers doing this because roid-enhanced physiques will help them project their tough guy ''from-the-hood'' images, but what''s in it for a woman? Anyone have any idea?

[yonder71-2009]

It''s just amazing what people accept as news. Who cares what stars took what and when. These are just regular people that do dumb things. People talk about role models but shouldn''t we do something crazy and expect parents to fill that position. I know "crazy talk"......

[tanqu2000]

Who Cares?

[cheddarboy82]

who cars, steroids are awesome...and im serious. they should be legal. people going to jail for it is crazy

[motherhen11]

I hate steroids. When I get them I can''t sit down without being in pain!