Steriod suppliers face five years' jail
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Alarm at the growing use of drugs in sport led the Government to announce new controls on anabolic steroids last night. People supplying the drugs, thought to be freely available in gyms used by bodybuilders and athletes, will face up to five years' jail and unlimited fines.
But the new measures announced by Michael Howard, the Home Secretary, fall short of what some in sport had been demanding, in that possessing steroids, taken by athletes to build muscle and allow longer training, will still be legal.
The British Amateur Athletic Association and the British Amateur Weightlifters Association said the controls were little more than a ``step in the right direction''.
Mr Howard said the effectiveness of his measures would be monitored and tougher legislation introduced if necessary. But he said: ``These measures will help to stop the activities of the unscrupulous illicit suppliers and traffickers which feed anabolic steroid misuse.''
By failing to make possession an offence, though, he has left a loophole for determined users, who will be able to buy drugs by mail-order from France and Germeny, where supplying remains legal.
However, policing any complete ban would prove difficult, as steroids are legitimately used in treating many medical conditions.
Suspicion runs high, page 3
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments