Papers: Benoit got 'excessive' steroids

[samanthajane13]

By HARRY R. WEBER, Associated Press Writer Mon Oct 8, 5:37 PM ET




ATLANTA - 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 to two other patients.

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.

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Add all that testosterone to an already-damaged brain, and it's like Chris was destined to blow a circuit...

[mwitzah]

My friend hung out with a few pro-wrestlers, and told me that Benoit's history with alcohol and depression was well known amongst other wrestlers, and he became extremely aggressive when drinking. I wonder how that plays into the steroids (er, Testosterone)?
:shrug:

[Joe Public]

I know "roid rage" isn't the only side effect. There are also blood pressure issues that can arise from steroid use. But also the sexual side effects could have add to the situation. Just a thought. But I do feel sorry for their families.

[samanthajane13]

Steroid users seen twice as prone to violence
By Will Dunham Wed Oct 15, 5:21 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Young men who use anabolic steroids are twice as likely to engage in violence than those who do not use the muscle-building drugs, U.S. researchers said on Wednesday.

While many scientists believe anabolic steroids -- synthetic drugs related to male sex hormones -- are linked to aggressive behavior, research has been limited. Some users refer to so-called "roid rage" fueled by the drugs.

"We're finding that steroid users are more likely to become violent, even above and beyond their prior levels of violence," said Kevin Beaver of Florida State University's College of Criminology and Criminal Justice, whose study appears in the American Journal of Public Health.

"That would tend to suggest that there is something about steroid use that increases violence," Beaver said in a telephone interview.

Beaver's team looked at data on a nationally representative sample of 6,823 young men who were tracked from 1994, when they were in middle school or high school, through to 2002.

The men who used anabolic steroids either in the past year or at any time in their lives were about twice as likely to have committed at least one violent act in the past year than men who never used them -- even when statistically accounting for other drug use or prior violent tendencies, Beaver said.

The violence included fights, shootings, stabbings or injuring another person badly enough to need medical attention. The men reported their own drug use and violence.

OTHER MEDICAL PROBLEMS

The issue of violence and steroids got heavy attention in June 2007 after Canadian-born professional wrestling star Chris Benoit killed his wife and 7-year-old son and then committed suicide outside Atlanta.

An autopsy showed Benoit had large amounts of anabolic steroids and other drugs in his system.

"So if you know someone who is taking steroids, does that mean they're going to become violent? No," Beaver said. "Does it mean that they have a greater likelihood than if they had abstained from using steroids? Yes."

The study's design did not allow researchers to conclude definitively than steroids were the cause of the increased violent behavior, he said.

The study also did not look at women who use steroids.

Some athletes and bodybuilders use the drugs to build muscle and improve athletic performance and physical appearance. In the United States, anabolic steroids are legally available only by prescription from a doctor.

Steroids have been linked to numerous medical issues such as heart problems, liver disease and acne.

In men, they also have been linked to breast growth and shrinking of the testicles. In women, they have been linked to deepening of the voice, enlargement of the clitoris and body hair growth.

Beaver said he was interested to see what evidence there was for violence associated with steroid use, noting that some previous studies had not found the drugs to be linked to aggression or violence.

In the case of Benoit, other experts have pointed out that he also had extensive brain injuries suffered in wrestling matches that might have contributed to his actions.

(Editing by Julie Steenhuysen and John O'Callaghan)


http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081015/hl_nm/us_steroids_violence_1

[delaineyrae]

to be frank, steriods will f*#k you up. from my own experience as a wrestler who used them, they will make you become Dr.Jekyl and Mr. Hyde. i never had a violent outburst, but the paranoia was too much for me to handle. i was young and foolish when i was on them thank goodness i got off it without hurting someone. the other bad things were what it did to my body, just because i looked good didnt mean i smelt good :( :o
im happy its all behind me

[samanthajane13]

WOW!!

Didn't know we had anyone here with personal experience!!!

Thanks for sharing, delaineyrae!!!