10 Wwe Stars Suspended

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BY T.J. QUINN

DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Thursday, August 30th 2007, 4:10 PM


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The WWE was rocked again today, after several of wrestling's top names emerged in the Albany district attorney's probe into a widespread Internet doping scandal.

The wrestling conglomerate based in Stamford announced that it will suspend 10 of its biggest stars for violation of its wellness policy.

Top wrestlers Randy Orton, Charles Haas, Jr., Adam "Edge" Copeland, Robert "Booker T" Huffman, Shane Helms, Mike Bucci, Anthony Carelli, John "Johnny Nitro" Hennigan, Darren "William Regal" Matthews, Ken "Mr. Kennedy" Anderson and Chavo Guerrero were all identified as clients of Signature Pharmacy in Orlando, the site raided by Albany County and Florida law enforcement agencies in February for distributing steroids and other prescription drugs to clients who had not been examined by doctors. The investigation is part of a probe into illegal Internet drug distribution by Albany D.A. David Soares.

The WWE said in a statement that it issued suspension notices based on independent information received from the Albany D.A.

The WWE's announcement comes as members of Congress prepare to investigate steroid use in professional wrestling, as the Daily News reported today.

Two of its recently deceased stars - Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero - also received steroids and other drugs from Signature, as prescribed by Florida physician Gary Brandwein, who has pleaded not guilty to criminal sale of a controlled substance and criminal diversion of prescription drugs. Benoit murdered his wife and son before killing himself in June and Guerrero died in a Minneapolis hotel in 2005 from heart disease.

Guerrero received the steroids testosterone and nandrolone, along with the estrogen-blocker anastozole, a drug commonly taken by men on steroids to prevent developing breast tissue, Nov. 2, 2005, just 11 days before he died of heart disease.

Guerrero's nephew, Chavo Guerrero, found Guerrero unconscious in the hotel room.

Benoit received steroids from Signature, based on a Brandwein prescription, in February, 2006.

The WWE stars are among the first athletes to face discipline for their part in the nationwide Signature Pharmacy scandal, the Internet steroid ring that has already led to guilty pleas from nine doctors, anti-aging clinic owners and operators. Law enforcement sources have said they expect the names of numerous NFL and Major League Baseball athletes to emerge as well.

 

[YoungSinister]

The only surprise is that there aren't more guys that were suspended. O well. I stopped watching wrestling years ago.

 

[ThaBurgerPimp]

guess Ron Simmons could say it best...

[FLASH]http://www.youtube.com/v/uRCzoT8pASk[/FLASH]

 

[Bawse Nigguh]

that's gonna fuck up a lot of storylines they go goin on now

 

[l_sizzle210]

damn alot of top name guys but i pretty sure theres more

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

UPDATED: Daily News Names Names
Posted By Matthew Michaels on 08.30.2007

The New York Daily News has reported the following names were linked by the Albany, NY, district attorney investigating an "Internet doping scandal," in an article found here. Here are the names of WWE stars listed in the article as being identified as clients of Signature Pharmacy in Orlando, FL, which was "raided by Albany County and Florida law enforcement agencies in February for distributing steroids and other prescription drugs to clients who had not been examined by doctors" as part of a bigger Internet drug investigation:

Randy Orton
Charles Haas, Jr.
Adam "Edge" Copeland
Robert "Booker T" Huffman
Shane "Gregory" Helms
Mike "Simon Dean" Bucci
Anthony "Santino Marella" Carelli
John "Johnny Nitro" ("John Morrison") Hennigan
Darren "William Regal" Matthews
Ken "Mr. Kennedy" Anderson
Chavo Guerrero

As we reported earlier today, WWE has announced that ten superstars have been suspended for violating the company's Wellness Program, which covers Internet prescriptions as well as other behavior. If you take Bucci's name off of the above list of eleven, since he is now part of the company's talent relations team and not an active wrestler, you get ten. That being said, the Wellness Program has only existed since February 2006, so Dave Meltzer at WrestlingObserver.com has noted that some of the wrestlers on this list may have obtained Internet prescriptions from Signature prior to that time, therefore wouldn't necessarily have been automatically suspended by WWE. Here's Meltzer's quote from his Web site:

Based on records obtained through sources by the Observer months back, Copeland's last reported prescription came several years ago, when he was recuperating from neck surgery. So many of these incidents here may have predated the Wellness policy implemented in February 2006. It is known Orton and Helms' had transactions that predated the policy, and that the timing of both Copeland and Helms' transactions at the time came during periods of injury rehabilitation. So it may not yet be the time to make Ken Anderson look like a fool, depending on the date, because he has admitted use prior to February of 2006. It is by no means confired that these men are among the ten who were suspended earlier today.

The Daily News article also noted that Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero were Signature clients. As we previously reported, Brian "Crush" Adams (and according to Meltzer, several other former WWE wrestlers) have been linked to Signature.

EDIT:here are the new names tied to Signature: Shoichi Funaki, Dave Batista and Chris "Masters" Mordetsky.
__________________

 

[Heist]

Pro-Wrestlers take steriods?! Oh shit!

 

[Piff504]

guess Ron Simmons could say it best...

[FLASH]http://www.youtube.com/v/uRCzoT8pASk[/FLASH]

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

How come "Captain Quad-tear" isn't on the list??

 

[XXXplosive]

How come "Captain Quad-tear" isn't on the list??

I know right
Being the son-in-law of the boss has it's advantages, I guess

 

[Ironmonk]

I'll be damned if them fools aren't on Raw on 9/4/07!

 

[LeroyDibiase]

They named Funaki...FUNAKI the little Jap who never wrestles as getting roids. I wonder wHHHo he was buying them for???

 

[ThaBurgerPimp]

that's gonna fuck up a lot of storylines they go goin on now

oh im sure it will mess up the Cena/Orton angle..theyll probably just show video of john cena being "arrested" by actors playing police cause he beat down randy outside of a arena,and that orton suffered"severe internal injuries" or something

 

[GULLAH JACK]

What about Cena, Batista, and Lashley? They all OBVIOUSLY have plenty of "help".

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

What about Cena, Batista, and Lashley? They all OBVIOUSLY have plenty of "help".

Batista is on the updated list. They need to test Rey Mysterio, too.

oh im sure it will mess up the Cena/Orton angle..theyll probably just show video of john cena being "arrested" by actors playing police cause he beat down randy outside of a arena,and that orton suffered"severe internal injuries" or something.

They will probably 'suspend' Randy for attacking Cena's dad.

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

that's gonna fuck up a lot of storylines they go goin on now

A lot of the shows were pre-taped because they are touring in Europe and Africa this week.

Smackdown Spoilers

ECW Spoilers

Latest On WWE Suspensions [Spoilers]
Posted by Ashish on 09.02.2007

Tapings help shine light on suspensions...

SPOILER WARNING!


- Having CM Punk defeat John Morrison for the ECW Title at the ECW On Sci-Fi taping last night seems to be an indication that Morrison is one of the 11 wrestlers that WWE has suspended. Morrison was named in the New York Daily News article as having bought drugs from Signature Pharmacy with his most recent purchase coming in February of 2007.

- WWE has announced that Umaga will be defending the WWE Intercontinental Title against Jeff Hardy at the RAW taping tonight. It is likely that Umaga is one of the 11 suspended wrestlers and thus will likely drop the belt tonight. Umaga was also named in the media reports as a customer of Signature Pharmacy, with his most recent date of purchase being December of 2006.

- Batista worked the Smackdown taping last night and was not only victorious, but also announced as part of the main event for Unforgiven, so it doesn't appear as if he is among the suspended wrestlers. Batista was named as a customer of Signature Pharmacy but only in the ESPN report which did not list the dates of purchase.

- Chavo Guerrero worked the Smackdown taping and lost to Rey Mysterio. It remains to be seen if he is one of the suspended wrestlers, although one would presume he would be since he was named in media reports as a customer of Signature Pharmacy and listed as buying drugs from Signature as recently as May of 2006.

More Details On Why WWE Suspended Some & Not Others
Posted by Ashish on 09.01.2007

A look into the process....

The 11 wrestlers that WWE suspended were not suspended for failing drug tests, they were suspended for buying steroids (or growth hormones) from a specific pharmacy over the internet. Wrestlers who are using but did not buy from Signature Pharmacy are likely to not be suspended. This would explain why someone like Bobby Lashley is not one of the named or suspended wrestlers. One of the things that goes on backstage is that the richer wrestlers are able to buy designer drugs and have people working for them that ensure there is no paper trail back to the drugs. A guy who doesn't make as much is more likely to turn to online pharmacies and not go to the great lengths to cover up their tracks.

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

Updates On WWE Suspensions [Spoilers]

A look at what light the RAW taping shed on who is and isn't suspended...

- Umaga worked the RAW taping tonight and lost the WWE Intercontinental Title to Jeff Hardy. He was also beaten badly by Triple H and taken off on a stretcher. This would seem to be a way to write him off for the next few weeks which would indicate that he is among the suspended WWE wrestlers. Umaga was named in recent media reports as a customer of Signature Pharmacy, having bought drugs online as recently as December of 2006.

- William Regal worked the RAW taping and was replaced as commissioner by Vince McMahon. This would seem to also be a way to write him off for the time being, an indication that he is among the suspended WWE wrestlers. Regal, according to the media reports, bought drugs from Signature as recently as November of 2006.

- Randy Orton worked the RAW taping and was announced as part of the RAW main event for WWE Unforgiven. This obviously shows that he isn't among the suspended wrestlers. Orton was named in the media reports as having bought drugs from Signature as recently as February of 2007.

- Charlie Haas worked the RAW taping and lost in a tag-team match. He was not written off in any major way but one would assume he is one of the suspended wrestlers since he was named in the media reports as buying drugs from Signature as recently as January of 2007 and isn't a big enough star like Randy Orton to not be suspended.

- Mr. Kennedy worked the RAW taping and continued to be involved in a major way in the Mr. McMahon illegitimate son angle. Kennedy was originally scheduled to be revealed as McMahon's son in the storyline, but on RAW it was stated that he wasn't McMahon's son. It remains to be seen if the change is due to Kennedy being suspended or just due to the storyline being leaked so far in advance. Kennedy was listed in media reports as having bought drugs from Signature as recently as February of 2007.

Updates On Shawn Michaels and Chris Jericho

- WWE has contacted Shawn Michaels about returning ahead of schedule due to the many wrestlers that WWE is suspending, but word is that Michaels is not ready nor is he interested in returning early.

- WWE has also been sending feelers to Chris Jericho over the past few months to see if he is ready to return. Jericho has a very savvy agent, Barry Bloom, who is surely aware of how much leverage Jericho would have to return right now due to WWE's roster thinning out, but there is no word yet on if he is seriously considering it.

Complete RAW Spoilers.

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

AP: Brain Damage May Have Caused Wrestler Chris Benoit to Kill Family, Doctor Says

The AP picks up the story.

Wednesday, September 05, 2007

AP: ATLANTA — A doctor who examined brain matter from former pro wrestler Chris Benoit is saying the wrestler had brain damage from multiple concussions that was consistent with what's seen in Alzheimer's patients.

Dr. Julian Bailes told ABC's Good Morning America that the "striking and maybe shocking" damage may have been a leading cause for Benoit killing his wife, children and himself at their Atlanta-area home in June.

Bailes showed the show's hosts images of a healthy brain and of part of Benoit's brain — which had large brown spots he said were dead brain cells and their connecting tissue. He said such damage is not caused by steroid use.

AP: Doctor describes Benoit brain injury

New AP story with more details....

Doctor describes Benoit brain injury
By HARRY R. WEBER Associated Press Writer

ATLANTA — Pro wrestler Chris Benoit suffered brain damage from his years in the ring that could help explain why he killed his wife, son and himself, a doctor who studied Benoit's brain said Wednesday.

The analysis by doctors affiliated with the Sports Legacy Institute suggests repeated concussions could have contributed to the killings at Benoit's suburban Atlanta home.

The wrestler's father, Michael Benoit, told reporters Wednesday that he knows his son had concussions because his son told him so. But he also said he knows of no medical records or records kept by the wrestling league to support the diagnosis.

Steroid use also has lingered as a theory behind the killings, since anabolic steroids were found in Chris 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.

The institute, which researches the long-term effects of concussions, coordinated the testing using samples of Benoit's brain tissue provided by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

The Waltham, Mass.-based institute's president is former pro wrestler Christopher Nowinski, who has said he had to quit the ring after a kick to the head. Nowinski still has ties with World Wrestling Entertainment Inc., which runs the league he and Benoit were in.

A lawyer for Stamford, Conn.-based WWE did not immediately return a call Wednesday seeking comment. The company has maintained steroid use did not cause Benoit to snap.

Despite the results of the institute's tests, there was no way to know if Benoit's concussions contributed to the murder-suicide, said Dr. Robert Cantu, a member of the institute who also is chief of neurosurgery service at Emerson Hospital in Concord, Mass.

"Whether it is the sole factor I believe is speculation and I will not go there," Cantu said by phone.

The level of brain damage Benoit had can cause depression and irrational behavior, Cantu said.

Benoit's brain showed the same degenerative processes that doctors working for the institute found in the brains of three men who had played pro football and committed suicide, Cantu said. There were abnormal protein deposits caused by trauma to Benoit's brain, Cantu said.

There's no evidence that steroid use causes such protein deposits, Cantu said, though he noted the issue has not been exhaustively studied.

Investigators allowed the institute to test Benoit's brain tissue with the permission of his father, who lives near Edmonton in Ardrossan, Alberta.

Michael Benoit said Wednesday that he agreed to the testing because murder-suicide was out of character for his son. He also disclosed that after the killings, he discovered a diary written by his son that showed his son was having problems.

"After reading the diary, I would have thought it was written by someone who was extremely disturbed at the time," Michael Benoit said.

He did not elaborate, but he did say a friend told him that prior to the murder-suicide, Chris Benoit had been wearing a rosary, which he said was also out of character.

"I think it's the extreme that is in the wrestling industry today," he told reporters. "The human skull is not built to get hit by a chair or something."

The father said he has not discussed with his attorney whether to take any legal action against the WWE or anyone else in the case. His attorney, Cary Ichter, said that at a later time he "will give thoughtful consideration" to appropriate steps to take in the "legal arena."

Nowinski said concussions can happen in pro wrestling even though many of the moves are staged.

"I got four concussions in three years as a professional wrestler," said Nowinski, who works for the WWE on its initiative to encourage young people to vote. "A lot of concussions happen from mistakes."

Prosecutors have 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.

Authorities have said Benoit's personal doctor, Phil Astin, prescribed a 10-month supply of anabolic steroids to Benoit every three to four weeks between May 2006 and May 2007. Astin has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of improperly prescribing painkillers and other drugs to two patients other than Benoit.

 

[Slimbig]

Why go after wrestlers. It is not a " real " sport. Its entertainment isn't it, of course injuries and gravity can't be faked, but they are paid to portray images of strength and dominance and what have you.

Of course these dudes are roided up.

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

oh im sure it will mess up the Cena/Orton angle..theyll probably just show video of john cena being "arrested" by actors playing police cause he beat down randy outside of a arena,and that orton suffered"severe internal injuries" or something

No..THIS will mess up the Cena/Orton feud:

Cena Update: Out 6-8 Months, Stripped of WWE Title

A huge blow for WWE.

John Cena has suffered a complete tear of his pectoral tendon and will need surgery. He will miss six to eight months and has been stripped of the WWE Title. A new champion will now be crowned at the No Mercy PPV in a match involving Randy Orton. Rumors have Triple H and possibly Umaga also being in the match.

Below is WWE.com's story on the situation.

WWE Champion John Cena has suffered a complete tear of his right pectoral tendon and is heading into surgery, according to noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews. Because of the seriousness of the injury, WWE officials will not allow Cena to compete this Sunday at No Mercy, and he will have no choice but to surrender the title.

Dr. Andrews said Cena could miss between six and eight months of action. Cena was injured during his match with Mr. Kennedy Monday night on Raw. According to WWE physician Dr. Ferdinand Rios, Cena's injury was more serious than initially thought.

"He has a complete tear of his pectoralus major muscle," Rios said. "Because he's so big, [the tendon tear] is behind the muscle. It was hard to diagnose."

Rios said Cena will be hospitalized for a few days to learn the rehabilitation procedure he must undergo. His arm will be immobilized for a week and then therapists may allow him to start moving it so that the arm doesn't become stiff.

Rios said that Cena is so dedicated to WWE that he wouldn't be surprised to see him return sooner than later.

"I suspect that John might be able to come back sooner [than most people with this injury], as he'll train vigorously," Rios said.

Before visiting Dr. Andrews, Cena had said last night, "No matter how serious the injury, one way or another I'll be ready to compete on Sunday."

But despite Cena's vow, WWE officials will not allow him to compete at No Mercy. Therefore, he must surrender the WWE Championship.

WWE officials vow that there will be a WWE Championship Match this Sunday at No Mercy and a new WWE Champion will be crowned.

Stay with WWE.com for further updates on Cena's condition and on No Mercy as they become available.

 

[bizzaro]

That John Cena "tear of his pectoral tendon" story sounds fishy to me.
Not that i think it's fake, but, i think the WWE has suspended him for steroids but is using this as a slick way to "suspend" him without tarnishing his image.

 

[Paul1970]

damn alot of top name guys but i pretty sure theres more

What the fuck is the deal with people having Nazi symbols in their avatar's?? Nobody wanna see that shit on a Black themed site.Somebody should do something about that"Ballocaust" shit....

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

That John Cena "tear of his pectoral tendon" story sounds fishy to me.
Not that i think it's fake, but, i think the WWE has suspended him for steroids but is using this as a slick way to "suspend" him without tarnishing his image.

Pics of his surgery here: (kind of graphic.)