(Editor’s Note. The following article should serve as a warning to anyone who thinks that performance enhancing drug (PED) use is limited to professional and college athletes. Parents and other adults should constantly be alert to the dangers of PED use. The pressure to excel in sports permeates our society and can distort values).
Several Lebanon residents were shocked to learn of a large steroid ring that was busted after a 2-year investigation.
The Warren County Drug Task Force began investigating when they were tipped off by the Countryside YMCA in Lebanon. The ring’s leaders were targeting high school athletes at the Y. SLIDESHOW: Steroid ring drug bust
“We are here all the time. It’s a great family atmosphere and I was shocked to tell you the truth,” said Lisa Beckman a YMCA member.
“I’m a little disappointed because I think of this place as a family place and you don’t associate drug use of any kind or steroid use at this place,” said another member, Roy Decker.
None of the steroids were actually dealt within the walls of the YMCA. However, according to authorities, the sellers targeted young athletes inside the gym and instructed buyers to go to lockers at a building on Reed Hartman to pick up and drop off money for the drugs.
“We do all sorts of intramural sports up here, and I know we have never been approached by anybody here, I know he hasn’t, or at least I don’t think so. I’m just really surprised,” said Beckman.
Beckman’s oldest son is 15, and plays football and baseball…she’s never talked to her son about steroids, until now.
“Apparently I think I need to. It’s making me think I really need to do that,” she said.
Others are equally surprised about the sophisticated drug operation that started from a lab in Tennessee furnished with drugs from China that were being shipped to the Tri-state.
I’ve been in here lifting over the summer, and I heard some young guys were the ones picking them up. No one ever offered anything to me so I’m kind of shocked,” said Joe Feldmann, a high school athlete.
Joe and his friend, Trent Fruhwirth, believe their coaches will use this major bust to teach a lesson.
“They will definitely talk to us about this about staying away from these kind of drugs. It will just ruin your career of ever playing sports,” said Fruhwirth.
Authorities did not name specifically the high schools the athletes involved attended. Part of the ongoing investigation is figuring out if any professional athletes could be linked this case.
This story was originally reported by TV station Fox19 in Cincinnati, Ohio on Nov. 2, 2011. It was posted on their public blog. The link to that blog is as follows: http://www.fox19.com/story/15933318/community-suprised-by-steroid-abuse-. The ethical issues raised by the use of PEDs by young athletes is but one of many such issues athletic coaches and administrators can study at the United States Sports Academy. For more information, go to http://ussa.edu.