WWE Suspends 12 Wrestlers In August 2007

Was it evidence that WWE meant business when it came to enforcing its drug testing policy, or rather proof that the policy was a sham to begin with? Whichever side you believed, it was hard not to notice the effects of WWE’s decision to suspend 11 performers accused of purchasing performance-enhancing drugs from an online pharmacy under investigation by authorities.

WWE officials met with prosecutors from the Albany County, New York, District Attorney’s office in August 2007 regarding information that several contracted performers were revealed to be customers of Signature Pharmacy, a Florida-based internet drug retailer accused of running a nationwide illegal steroid ring. At the end of the month, WWE officials had suspended 12 wrestlers: Charlie Haas, Chavo Guerrero, Chris Masters, Edge, Funaki, Gregory Helms, John Morrison, King Booker, Mr. Kennedy, Snitsky, Umaga and William Regal.

Although some news organizations depicted the suspensions as a crackdown on drug use in WWE, other observers said just the opposite was true. Sports Illustrated reported that some of the busted wrestlers were purchasing banned substances going back to the inception of the Wellness Policy in February 2006.

Charles Haas was prescribed anastrozole, somatropin, stanozolol, nandrolone and chorionic gonadotropin between August 2006 and January 2007, Sports Illustrated reported. He was suspended for 30 days for his first violation of the program.

According to Sports Illustrated, Chavo Guerrero, who found his uncle Eddie Guerrero dead in a Minneapolis hotel room, received, among other drugs, somatropin (HGH), nandrolone and anastrozole between April 2005 and May 2006. Since this was his second violation of the program, he was suspended for 60 days. It is unclear when he was previously suspended.

Chris Masters was identified as a client of Signature Pharmacy by ESPN.com. Since this was his first violation of the program, he was suspended for 30 days.

Edge received somatropin, genotropin (both HGH), and stanozolol between September 2004 and February 2007, Sports Illustrated reported. He was suspended for 30 days for his first violation of the program.

Funaki received somatropin in March 2006, Sports Illustrated reported. He was suspended for 30 days for his first violation of the program.

According to Sports Illustrated, Gregory Helms, received, among other drugs, testosterone, genotropin (HGH) and nandrolone between November 2003 and February 2007. It was previously reported by SI that he allegedly received HGH from an Arizona doctor in 2005. He was suspended for 30 days for his first violation of the program.

Sports Illustrated reported that between June 2006 and February 2007, John Morrison was prescribed somatropin, anastrozole, testosterone, stanozolol and human chorionic gonadotropin, a hormone produced naturally during pregnancy (hCG is taken by users of anabolic steroids to stimulate the production of testosterone, which is suppressed as a result of steroid use). He was suspended for 30 days for his first violation of the program.

King Booker was identified as a client of Signature Pharmacy by the New York Daily News. Since this was his second violation of the program, he was suspended for 60 days. It is unclear when he was previously suspended.

According to Sports Illustrated, Mr. Kennedy received shipments of anastrozole, somatropin and testosterone between October 2006 and February 2007. He was suspended for 30 days for his first violation of the program.

While Snitsky was not identified as a client of Signature Pharmacy, he was suspended 30 days for his first violation of the program. According to both PWInsider.com and the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, a drug test failure triggered the suspension.

Umaga received somatropin between July and December 2006, Sports Illustrated reported. He was suspended 30 days for his first violation of the program.

Sports Illustrated reported that William Regal received stanozolol, somatropin, genotropin, and anastrozole between November 2004 and November 2006. He was suspended 30 days for his first violation of the program.

Sports Illustrated also reported that the names of several deceased wrestlers also came up as customers of the dubious online pharmacy, including Eddie Guerrero, Chris Benoit and Brian Adams.