According to ABC News, the DEA states that 30,000-40,000 names populate their compiled lists of PED users from the Internet pharmacy and underground Internet raids. And we didn't know that many players passed through the Baltimore Orioles/Texas Rangers/Oakland As the past few years (just kidding).
ABC News carries this story, somewhere between the Martina Hingis cocaine stuff, and the Marion Jones steroid story.
After a recent series of raids uncovered illegally produced steroids by the barrel full, ABC News has learned that the alleged underground labs might have had as many as 30,000 to 40,000 customers.
Look, there are many people out there with rotator cuff injuries, and sore elbows that need these drugs over the Internet...without seeing a physician for diagnosis, or obtaining a legitimate prescription for the controlled substances.
The Drug Enforcement Administration says it has identified those alleged clients of the thriving multi-million-dollar black market industry through e-mails and credit card purchase records obtained during the course of the investigation.
Law enforcement agents discovered steroids, human growth hormone and other drugs at 56 clandestine labs across the United States as part of a two-year operation that culminated with a massive sweep earlier this fall. Officials say the caches could have supplied more than 11 million individual doses of the drugs.
Additionally, investigators say they seized $6.5 million during the operation.
That 6.5 million can help balance the US budget deficit.
Might athletes at all levels be somewhat concerned? Yes, says the DEA, and even (surprise) girls:
Authorities said the goal of steroid users is often simple -- to gain a competitive advantage.
"I think you have a lot of weekend warriors, a lot of body builders," Payne said of typical steroid users, but there are also "athletes at every level -- professional, college, high school."
"High school girls are taking steroids now to look better, to get more tone -- in some cases, to get that athletic edge as well," he added.
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