Steroid Probe Hits The Hip Hop and R&B World

A year-long steroids trafficking investigation is making waves beyond the world of sports, as rappers 50 Cent and Wyclef Jean have been named in the ongoing Albany, NY based probe.

The Times Union reports that singer Mary J. Blige, music producer Timbaland and author/actor/producer Tyler Perry were also mentioned by confidential sources.

The entertainers are among numerous people who may have used or received prescribed shipments of steroids and injectable human growth hormone (HGH) in recent years.

According to records reviewed by the Times Union, 50 Cent, Blige and the other stars received prescriptions that allegedly were signed by Dr. Gary Brandwein, a South Florida osteopath who pleaded not guilty in Albany to a felony indictment, that charged him with various drug-related crimes.

Brandwein, who through his attorney Terence Kindlon did not comment on the investigation, recently made news after reports surfaced that he previously prescribed steroids for deceased WWE pro wrestler Chris Benoit.
He is currently free on bond.

Mary J. Blige denied the allegations through her spokeswoman, Karynne Tencer.

"Mary J. Blige has never taken any ­performance-enhancing illegal steroids," Tencer said in a statement.

Records received by the Times Union, in addition to information from several cooperating witnesses on Long Island, indicate Blige and other celebrities were shipped prescribed human growth hormone or steroids -- sometimes under fictitious names -- at hotels, production studios, private residences, an upscale Manhattan fitness club and through the Long Island office of Michael Diamond, a chiropractor affiliated with the celebrities, according to sources.

Although he has not been identified as a target in the case or accused of breaking any laws, Diamond cited patient privacy laws as his reason for not discussing the entertainers he treated or why.

"I don't have anything to do with athletes, I don't do athletes," he told the Times Union on Friday (Jan. 11). "Anyone that wants to publicly state that they work with me can do so, it's just I'm not allowed legally to state who I treat or who I don't treat."

To date, law officials say they have no evidence in the probe that 50 Cent, Timbaland and or the other celebrities violated any laws.

The entertainers are not the focus of the investigation, as authorities are targeting anti-aging clinics, doctors and pharmacists who prescribed the drugs.

Celebrities aren’t the only ones feeling the impact of the investigation. Professional sports figures are reeling from the case, as Congress prepares to look deeper into former Sen. George Mitchell’s scathing report of steroid abuse among various baseball players this week.

When asked to confirm information about or comment on celebrities mentioned in the report, Albany County District Attorney David Soares declined.

Instead he told the Times Union that his reason for pursuing the case was more about dismantling a drug pipeline that has funneled millions of dollars in steroids and other drugs into New York than it was about exposing drug use among athletes or celebrities.