Written by:
Jason Dowling
December 2, 2007
DEALERS peddling illegal steroids are targeting gym and fitness centres across Victoria, with customs recording a massive increase in attempts to import the dangerous drugs.
People already obsessed with body image concerns present easy prey for dealers trying to offload black-market performance-enhancing drugs, customs investigations head Richard Janeczko has warned.
Australia's Standing Committee on Recreation and Sport is so concerned about the trend that it has ordered a review of "options to maintain the integrity, and support the development, of the fitness industry".
The committee warned that there had not "been any systematic investigation into the extent of this abuse of drugs".
Mr Janeczko said the big increase in seizures of performance and image-enhancing drugs by customs was a clear sign of a broadening market.
"The fact that we are getting such large quantity of seizures indicates there is a market for it," he told The Sunday Age.
He said the fitness industry was the key target. "Our concern is that the huge increase is going to that market," he said. "If you look at the proliferation of fitness centres, which reflects a lot of people are interested in their image."
In a nine-month Customs operation between October 2006 and July 2007, Customs officers detected 1405 separate importations — a 50% jump in seizures at the Australian border.
During this period, Customs on average stopped five shipments being smuggled into Australia each day.
The Victorian Government has signed up to combat the new drug scourge, with the head of Sport and Recreation Victoria on the federal committee tackling the new drug problem.
Bill Kyriakopoulos, spokesman for Sports Minister James Merlino, said the Victorian Government was serious about dealing with performance-enhancing drugs.
"The Victorian Government has in place a range of measures related to drug use in the community focusing on education, prevention and risk reduction — and will continue to work through the issue with sporting bodies and industries," Mr Kyriakopoulos said.
At least 29 Australians have been charged recently with steroid-importing offences. Those charged include personal trainers, body builders, a former Mr Australia, an ex-Miss World Figure and a male model.
Steroids in Victoria
¡February 21, 2007 — 1.7kg of steroid tablets discovered at Melbourne Airport.
¡February 1, 2007 — Raid on house in Taylors Lakes uncovers 165 vials allegedly containing anabolic steroids.
¡October 3, 2006 — Customs discover 547 anabolic tablets in Docklands apartment.
¡September 27, 2006 — 247 anabolic tablets found in post.
¡September 24, 2006 — Customs seize 14 vials of steroids and 120 tablets in Melbourne.
¡September 21, 2006 — Customs seize parcel from Serbia containing 12 vials of anabolic steroid in hollowed-out book.
¡March 30, 2006 — 0.5kg of steroids seized in Doncaster East.
SOURCE: AUSTRALIAN CUSTOMS SERVICE
