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[Definitie:] "An ergogenic aid is any substance or phenomenon that enhances performance."
(Wilmore and Costill) 
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0 6 - 0 5 - 2 0 0 5 Drug charge in St. A BB case
The Union Leader and New Hampshire Sunday News
GOFFSTOWN — A star St. Anselm College football player arrested last weekend in connection with an on-campus BB gun shooting was also charged earlier in the course of that investigation with possession of a drug often related to steroid use. Derek DiMartino, a 23-year-old senior, was first arrested on April 21, the day after three teenage skateboarders reported they were fired on from a dormitory. Police were given a search warrant April 20 for DiMartino's dorm room, looking for the gun, Capt. Glenn Dubois said. Police did not find the gun during the search, but reported discovering several containers of Pregnyl, a brand name for a drug called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), commonly used to offset some side effects of steroids, according to police and several Web sites. Dubois said DiMartino did not have a prescription for the controlled drug, which would be a misdemeanor offense if true. During the search police also found hypodermic needles, which are legal, he said. Police found no steroids, he said. Dubois said police did not announce DiMartino's April 21 arrest publicly until after the BB gun shooting charge was made because they considered the drug discovery as part of a broader investigation. "It wasn't something we wanted to advertise at that time. It was part of an ongoing investigation," Dubois said. "We didn't want to compromise the investigation. Ultimately, we were able to get enough probable cause to believe he was the shooter." According to the Web site, www.steroid.com and other medical sites, hCG is a protein hormone that develops naturally in the placenta of pregnant women and is manufactured from the urine of pregnant women. In women, the drug can sometimes be used to induce ovulation. In men, hCG can stimulate the production of testosterone, which can counteract testicular atrophy caused by steroid use and can offset loss of strength and muscle mass following a steroid treatment, the Web site said. University of New Hampshire associate professor of exercise science Robert Kenefick, a member of the kinesiology department, said he was not familiar with Pregnyl specifically, but that hCG could be taken in an attempt to stimulate natural testosterone production. "Basically, some of these substances are like a precursor," he said. "Something that stimulates the release of growth hormone. You could be trying to stimulate the gonads and the gonads will release testosterone." According to information from the Food and Drug Administration Web site, athletes sometimes use hCG to increase the body's natural production of testosterone, which could be reduced by long-term steroid use. DiMartino was released by a bail commissioner after his April 21 arrest on $5,000 cash bail, pending his arraignment in Goffstown District Court May 24 on possession of a controlled drug charge, according to court records. The star running back was released again by a bail commissioner on $10,000 cash bail after his second arrest April 30 on three counts of second-degree assault, three counts of reckless conduct, one count of witness tampering and one count of conspiracy to falsify evidence. Criminal complaints and affidavits have yet to be filed in either case file, a court staff worker said. Hawks head football coach Geoff Harlan said college athletes are subject to random testing by the National College Athletic Association. "We've got a zero-tolerance policy that is part of our team handbook I hand out every year," Harlan said. The coach said he is unfamiliar with Pregnyl and has had no indication from the coaching staff that DiMartino is involved with the use of any performance-enhancing illegal drugs. "It's obviously disappointing for myself, and the staff and the college to see these charges being brought against him, and have this conduct occur at this time and under these circumstances," Harlan said. "I certainly feel this was a grave mistake on this man's part," he said. Every year, DeMartino signed off on a form pledging he would not take drugs, the coach said. Police have also arrested DiMartino's football teammate, James Malone, a 21-year-old junior from Leominster, Mass., for allegedly helping DiMartino dispose of the BB gun. Police said they expect to make several more arrests. DiMartino's high school coach at Fall Mountain Regional in Langdon, John Luopa, said he has stayed friends with DiMartino over the years and has never heard any mention that his former player was involved with steroids. Luopa, who now teaches at Keene High School and has taken a short leave from high school coaching to coach his own children, said he talked to DiMartino on the telephone as recently as Monday night. "He was not only a great athlete, but a great person," Luopa said. While in high school, DiMartino set the all-time rushing record for New Hampshire high school football with 4,750 yards. Luopa said DiMartino's skills make him a prospect for the National Football League, arena football leagues or the Canadian Football League. "To my knowledge, he never used steroids, and I know there is no testing policy in high schools," Luopa said. DiMartino started as an "incredible" linebacker his freshman and sophomore years, then emerged as the state's "best running back ever" in his junior and senior year, Luopa said. "That was from hard work," he said. "I know in high school, he was by far the hardest worker." Luopa said DiMartino, who was captain of the St. Anselm football team, was the natural leader of the high school team and encouraged other players to work extra hard lifting weights to better their game. "When he started off in high school, he was probably 165 pounds. He was just a raw athlete. He would work harder than anyone I ever had who played for me," Luopa said. "He was in the weight room at least six days per week." Both DiMartino and Malone have been placed on academic suspension from St. Anselm College. 0 5 - 0 1 - 2 0 0 6 Former St. A football captain headed to jail
By PAT GROSSMITH Manchester — A former St. Anselm College football star will be spending 90 days in jail for allegedly shooting three teenage skateboarders with a BB gun, if a judge accepts his negotiated plea. Derek DiMartino, 24, of 42 Pasture Lane, Bedford, has notified Hillsborough County Superior Court of his intention to plead guilty to two charges — felony and misdemeanor reckless conduct complaints. Under the negotiated plea, the former captain of the Hawks football team will be sentenced to 90 days in the Valley Street jail on the felony reckless conduct charge. He will be recommended for work release. On the misdemeanor reckless conduct charge, he will receive a one year suspended sentence, one year probation and a $2,000 fine, with $1,000 suspended after he takes a tour of the state prison. He is also to make restitution to the three teenage victims of the BB attack. The plea and sentencing is to take place Jan. 12. DiMartino is charged in the April 20 shooting of three teenage skateboarders outside the Bernard Court dormitories at St. Anselm College in Goffstown. DiMartino cut class that day and allegedly shot at a 15-year-old and two 16-year-old skateboarders, hitting them with the pellets. The boys were checked at a hospital and later released. They were skateboarding in the courtyard of DiMartino’s dormitory on the western section of the campus when they were hit. Originally, DiMartino was arrested on nine charges including reckless conduct, three counts; second-degree assault, three towns; witness tampering, conspiracy to falsify physical evidence and possession of a controlled drug (Pregnyl, commonly associated with steroid use). The college expelled DiMartino two weeks after the shooting incident. A teammate of DiMartino was also charged in the incident. James Malone, 21, of Leominster, Mass., allegedly helped him get rid of the BB gun. In June, Malone pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of obstructing government administration. He was given a 90-day suspended sentence, fined $2,000, and ordered to serve 50 hours of community service. He also had to write letters of apology to the three teenage skateboarders. Originally, Malone was arrested on felony charges of falsifying physical evidence and conspiracy to falsify physical evidence. The felony charges were dismissed. |
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