High level UFC heavyweight fighter Shane Carwin has been linked to a pharmacist who has been convicted for selling anabolic steroids. J. Michael Benntt had his signature on steroid orders for Carwin and WWE wrestler Kurt Angel as named by US Attorney Donna Dobbins. While the orders were filled before Carwin entered the UFC he was participating in MMA events at the time and has not ever tested positive for a banned substance. Carwin has declined comment at this time, though he has stated that he will release a statement shortly. Here’s the story via the Mobile Press Register.
A federal judge today handed down a 4-year prison term to a local pharmacist convicted of participating in a nationwide conspiracy to illegally sell anabolic steroids made in Mobile.
J. Michael Bennett, who was supervising pharmacist at Applied Pharmacy Services, was the first to be sentenced from a group of 5 men found guilty after a five-week trial earlier this year. His punishment was less than half of the 7 years and 4 months sought by prosecutors.
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Prosecutors referred to Bennett, 44, and the others in a sentencing memorandum as a “drug dealers in lab coats.” They contended that Bennett played a key role in an enterprise involving rogue doctors and health clinics across the country who used the compounding pharmacy to supply healthy adults with dangerous steroids.
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According to court records, Applied Pharmacy Services shipped 762,388 dosages to 17 doctors and clinics from April 4, 2004, until Aug. 30, 2006. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Mobile contends that does not include many other doctors and clinics that they say participated in the conspiracy.
Those performance-enhancing drugs ended up in the hands of users ranging from professional athletes to teenagers looking to build body mass. Prosecutors cited 22 professional athletes who obtained steroids from Applied Pharmacy Services during the time Bennett worked there.
In court today, Dobbins named seven whose orders included Bennett’s signature or initials:
•Shane Carwin, a former NCAA Division II wrestling champion who went on to become an Ultimate Fighting heavyweight champion.
•Kurt Angle, a former Olympic gold medal-winning wrestler and professional wrestler.
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