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[Definitie:] "An ergogenic aid is any substance or phenomenon that enhances performance."
(Wilmore and Costill) 
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1 4 - 1 2 - 2 0 0 4 Internet steroid dealer jailed
14/12/2004
DETECTIVES today revealed how a fanatical body-builder ran an international steroid dealing business from a spare room in his Carlisle flat. James Sutherland [ErGs] used the internet to market illegal and dangerous steroids to fellow body builders across the world, with customers in the UK, China, the United States, and America.
Experts have repeatedly warned about the long-term health dangers of using steroids, but that did nothing to deter Sutherland. He even boasted to police that his business was so successful that his work kept him busy seven days a week.
At Carlisle Crown Court yesterday, the 47-year-old fitness fanatic was jailed for 20 months after he admitted two police assaults and 26 charges of offering to supply anabolic steroids, a Class C drug. Prosecutor Tim Evans said that while possessing the steroids was legal, selling them was not.
Having used steroids himself to build up his own unimpressive physique, Sutherland took his interest further: he set up his own website – roids.co.uk – to distribute them across the world. “He developed a deliberate covering of his tracks because he knew fine well that what he was doing was illegal,” said Mr Evans.
When police raided Sutherland’s one-bedroomed flat at Denton Mill Close, Denton Holme, in June 2002, they found what officers say was “a sophisticated mini-production line.” Crammed into a tiny utility room was all the evidence they needed: a consignment of steroids and a sophisticated mailing system, with invoices, stamps, packaging materials, airmail stickers, and bubblewrap, said Mr Evans.
Investigators estimated Sutherland had about 350 customers, some returning again and again. They believe he sent out steroids worth more than £25,000, having bought them from Greece.
Sutherland’s defence barrister Alex Offer said he had a “genuinely held belief” that steroids were harmless if taken “sensibly” – a claim refuted by experts. He said Sutherland supplied only to adult male body builders – “a community in which these drugs have been routinely used for decades.” “He throws himself into anything he does with great enthusiasm, but not much forethought,” said Mr Offer.
The police investigation into Sutherland’s international drugs operation began by chance when officers called at his fashionable Denton Holme flat about another inquiry – and in his tiny utility room found his steroids HQ.
Among the drugs stored there were Sustanon, Dianabol, and Nandralone, which has frequently ruined the careers of top athletes. On his computer they found Sutherland’s website, boasting of a business that was a world-leader in its field.
A court hearing next April will decide to what extent Sutherland profited, but his lifestyle suggested it was more than worth his while. His swish Denton Holme flat, a flash new car, and the lifestyle of a young professional all had to be paid for and Sutherland’s business was clearly going well.
Acting detective sergeant Sara Craig recalled how Sutherland seemed unconcerned in interviews – arrogant, even, about his crimes. “He was very knowledgeable,” she conceded, “but arrogant, a bit too clever, and argumentative. He was making a good living, and tried to justify what he was selling, saying that it was legal. His website bragged about being the top one in the world.”
Through a painstaking investigation, officers from north Cumbria targeting unit and the High Tech Crime Unit gathered evidence. Paul Brown, director of Cumbria Alcohol and Drug Advisory Service, sounded a warning about steroids use, saying: “In the short term, steroids can cause aggression. In the longer term, they can cause liver and kidney damage.” He added that in Cumbria there is a “fairly stable” problem with steroid abuse, mostly involving young men.
Sutherland was jailed for eight months for the steroids offence, and a further 12 months for assaulting two police officers who arrested him in Carlisle city centre. [ErGs]
Untangle this web of crime
14/12/2004
The internet has proved to be full of holes when it comes to the regulation of dodgy or just plain criminal deals. At the darkest end of the spectrum, alongside the sites peddling pornographic images and prostitution, are those promoting the illicit trade in recreational and performance-enhancing drugs.
So we are relieved that body builder James Sutherland, of Denton Holme, who used the internet to run an international steroid dealing business from a room in his house, has been brought to justice. Sutherland’s computer in Carlisle allowed him to keep in touch with customers in the UK, China, and the United States.
The case highlights the twin dangers posed by the Internet and by the unscrupulous selling of steroids which pander to cheats and obsessives and create alarming short and long-term risks to health. Used properly, the internet opens the door to a wealth of information and entertainment. Misused, it opens the floodgates to fraud, filth and danger.
We urge the police and other enforcement agencies to work more closely with site providers and search engine firms to prevent the Internet from becoming a web of evil. Through the internet itself, after all, they have a brilliant means of communication if they care to use it properly.
1 5 - 0 4 - 2 0 0 5 Bodybuilding steroid pusher ordered to hand over £35,000
The Cumberland News
A FITNESS fanatic has been stripped of his financial assets after a court heard how he illegally sold steroids to fund a lavish lifestyle.
James Sutherland, 47, creamed off profits of more than £200,000, blowing much of the cash the conspicuous trappings of success – membership of a health club, a brand new sports car, and a plush flat in Denton Holme, Carlisle. His empire collapsed last December when Sutherland was jailed for 20 months after he admitted two police assaults and 26 charges of offering to supply anabolic steroids.
He was back to court this week as Cumbria Police applied for the seizure of his assets under the Drugs Trafficking Offences Act. A judge ruled that Sutherland’s “sophisticated” dealing operation, run from a utility room in his Denton Mill Close flat, netted him profits of £214,114 – but police say that most of the cash has not been traced.
Sutherland failed to oppose the application and Judge Barbara Forrester ordered him to hand over all his realisable assets of £35,360. If Sutherland fails to hand over £35,000 in the next month he could be jailed for a further 15 months.
It was the final indignity for a man who detectives say always appeared proud of the illegal business he created. Sutherland used the internet to market dangerous steroids to fellow body builders across the world, with an estimated 350 customers in the UK, China, and the US. He used several aliases to cover his tracks.
Experts have repeatedly warned about the long-term dangers of using steroids, but that did nothing to deter Sutherland, who boasted to police that his booming business kept him busy seven days a week. Having used steroids himself, he felt qualified to take his interest one step further, setting up his website – roids.co.uk – to distribute the drugs worldwide.
When police raided his one-bedroomed flat in June 2002, they found “a sophisticated” steroids marketing operation. Crammed in the utility room was all the evidence they needed: consignments of steroids and a slick mailing system, with invoices, stamps, airmail stickers, and bubblewrap. Investigators believe Sutherland bought his steroids from Greece before selling them on, often to “regulars”.
Defence barrister Alex Offer said Sutherland “genuinely” believed steroids were harmless if taken “sensibly” – a claim consistently refuted by experts.
Sutherland only supplied adult male body builders, he said.
The police investigation began by chance when officers called at his flat about another inquiry and found his stash of steroids. Acting detective sergeant Sara Craig recalled how in his police interviews Sutherland seemed unconcerned. She said: “He was very knowledgeable but arrogant, a bit too clever, and argumentative.
“He was making a good living, and tried to justify what he was selling, saying that it was legal. His website bragged about being the top one in the world. He was trying to portray himself as a successful businessman.”
Another officer from the force’s financial investigation unit said police are continuing to search for Sutherland’s missing profits. The spokeswoman said: “All monies or assets that could be traced in his, and in the different names used by Sutherland have been confiscated by the court.”
She added: “Cumbria Constabulary is dedicated to taking the cash out of crime and will continue to revisit cases such as this where confiscation orders made by the court remain unsatisfied.”
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