ESPN reveals NASCAR Craftsman truck series driver Ron Hornaday juiced up with testosterone for 2 years. Hornaday then gives the magazine multiple left turns in explaining his doping. (Read here an update on how NASCAR ignores doping)
Over a two-year period from December 2004 to January 2006, Ron Hornaday, the defending champion of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, received shipments of testosterone and human growth hormone from an anti-aging center that has been linked to drug-related scandals in the NFL and Major League Baseball.
Before going into the details of the story, recall the Internet pharmacies working out of states like Florida where the basic scheme was to push out popular illegal drugs to people without ever seeing a physician or obtaining a proper diagnosis or prescription. This scheme seems inherently stupid and fraught with error; it is astonishing that a logically thinking person would place trust in Internet prescriptions. The Hornadays compound their plight by giving unbelievable explanations that defy logic and defy medical propriety.
Hornaday acknowledged taking testosterone when shown records from the Palm Beach (Fla.) Rejuvenation Center during an interview at his home in North Carolina on Tuesday, but he denied using growth hormone that was sent to his home for his wife's use. Hornaday said he used the testosterone to treat a mysterious medical malady that later turned out to be a hyperactive thyroid. The drugs were shipped to Hornaday's address in Mooresville from the Palm Beach Rejuvenation Center.
"I'd lost 38 pounds [in the 2004 season] and no doctor could tell me what was wrong," Hornaday said, adding that a friend encouraged him to consult with the Palm Beach Rejuvenation Center. A local nurse came to his house to take his blood, he said, and forwarded the results to the clinic. Hornaday provided records to ESPN showing that the drugs were prescribed by doctors at the clinic within a day of that visit.
The diagnosis of hyperthyroidism is not mysterious or hard to make. We suspect Hornaday didn't find a doctor to diagnoses his symptoms because he likely didn't consult one.
The next part of the story is where Hornaday either reveals his complete ignorance, or he lies through his juiced teeth:
During the interview, Hornaday retrieved a two-ounce tube from his house that was half-filled with a cream. The prescription label bore the name "testosterone," but was partially torn so that it did not show his name. The expiration date was listed as Sept. 29, 2007. "I never knew that was a steroid," he said, pointing to the cream.
And the deceptions flow like juice down the track:
Hornaday said he didn't see or speak with a doctor before receiving the prescription, and
initially insisted that he only used it for a week and then stopped. Later, joined by his wife, Lindy, he changed the timeline and said he used it roughly every day for 13 months by rubbing a "pea-sized" dollop of it onto his thigh. "I couldn't see a difference," he said. "That's why I stopped." Added Lindy: "He never took it at the track. Only at home."
The Hornidays better get their story straight, it's unraveling already. The next line tells you everything about this pair:
"Ron was worried he might have had cancer," Lindy said.
So he took testosterone? That's great solution...think you have undiagnosed cancer..take a powerful anabolic steroid...maybe the tumor will grow bigger? It turns out that Hornaday apparently suffered form Graves Disease -- auto antibodies to thyroid. Roids are not going to treat that condition.
Read the rest of the story, because we can't take it anymore. The Debbie Clemens HGH wife use is a delicious subplot..look at her photo to see if the Mrs. was an HGH user...
Just because this is the Internet does not mean that slander and liable do not exist. I suggest you look into this story a bit further before posting an ill informed screed against someone who's business reputation is a top priority.
Posted by: jessie | 09/13/2008 at 12:16
How did this bozo ever get through medical school? Univ. of Iowa Associate Professor of Child Psychiatry? Nice.
He talks about deception. Deception? How convenient that he fails to mention that the ESPN "reporter" came to Hornaday's house to interview him about his pursuit of another truck series championship, but instead got him alone and confronted him with "evidence" of his steroid use. And Hornaday's plan of deception worked perfectly when he freely admitted it and told the "reporter" that there was no need to get him alone - his family knew about it. Brilliant!
Go help some kids and stay out of areas in which you have no clue.
Posted by: Phil Dirt | 09/13/2008 at 15:42
This story is a flagrant lie! I believe that the only "story that's unraveling" is EPSN's. Its too bad the Promotions unit of NASCAR signed a multi-year agreement with ESPN/ABC, otherwise ESPN should be barred (again) from NASCAR reporting.
Posted by: Mesa_Marin_Press_Box | 09/13/2008 at 19:44
look he has graves disease jerk get your story straight milloins of people take synthroid including me it is not addictive it's to regulate our thyroid stupid ESPN!!!
Posted by: Afan of 33 | 09/13/2008 at 19:58
ROFL. If you have a medical condition, then you go to a doctor, and they treat it. You don't contact shady people over the internet and illegally acquire controlled substances. Self medicating at home, without informing your boss or racing officials when you are competing at the highest level of the sport is completely stupid and is definite grounds for suspicion and investigation.
I don't mean to offend the Ron Hornaday fan club above, but you are blinded by your love for your driver.
Posted by: CheatorBeat.com | 09/13/2008 at 23:50
Exactly. It is inconceivable someone suffers a serious medical condition then comes up with a solution including anabolic steroids and/or HGH.
What if Hornaday suffered from prostate cancer? He injects a androgenic anabolic steroid that PROMOTES growth of the tumor.
This is wrong on so many levels.
Posted by: Steroid Nation | 09/14/2008 at 16:14
Wow, its embarrassing that such a moron is from the University of Iowa.
NASCAR doesn't "ignore" doping. They knew he was taking them for health concerns. It was either take them or die in his personal health problems. ESPN failed to state that though, even though he told them that.
And to CheatorBeat.com, you are wrong on one thing. His boss and NASCAR knew. NASCAR drivers have to get physicals every year. He told his doctor each year during listing medications he is currently taking. The doctors report that to NASCAR and Kevin Harvick (hiss boss). Plus, Harvick even began random drug-tests of his team.
Posted by: Kyle | 12/21/2008 at 07:25
Sorry, man, the only moron here is a guy who takes testosterone or HGH for Graves Disease. Maybe if he didn't want to 'die in his personal health problems' he might have consulted a competent doctor who could have easily diagnosed and treated his problem.
If NASCAR 'knew' then there are a few more morons running around out there...
thanks for the comments.
Posted by: | 12/21/2008 at 10:06
Life finds its wealth by the claims of the world, and its worth by the claims of love.Do you understand?
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