Have you been Falsely Accused of Doping?


Whether it’s in professional sports like baseball and MMA or in elite amateur sports like Olympics, the use of performance-enhancing drugs and banned substances in sports has been in the media spotlight like never before. Clearly, chemically induced advantages can undermine the traditional principle of a level playing field and the abuse of these substances can lead to health risks. The war against the use of anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing substances in athletics has been waged mostly on two fronts: prohibition of the substances by sports bodies with drug testing of players, and public legislation of the substances as dangerous drugs with criminal penalties imposed upon violators. Drug testing for banned substances has become commonplace in numerous professional and amateur sports (and even in some American police departments and fire departments) and stricter testing is on the way.

The system helps catch cheaters. But it has its limitations. Not all banned substances are detectable in urine samples. For example, a reliable test for human growth hormone (hGH) is still new to the scene, although hGH has been used to cheat in athletic circles for two decades. Newly created steroids are also likely to go undetected, and the use of various masking agents and techniques further confound the doping police. In the very, very near future, the availability of genetic manipulation technologies will create a new “unlevel playing field” … and may render anabolic steroids obsolete. Those who say that the doping police will always be far behind the cheaters may be right.

Meanwhile, current doping control programs may not only miss some cheating athletes, but can also trap the innocent. For example, many athletes have tested positive for banned substances after unknowingly using dietary supplements which were contaminated. Steroid legal expert Rick Collins, Esq. and his law firm have helped these athletes when confronted with doping accusations. For example, the father of a college football player accused of doping sent this letter to Rick Collins:

September 8, 2004

To Whom It May Concern:

Mr. Collins represented my son in what seemed to a hopeless case regarding a NCAA violation involving banned substances. Anyone we spoke with regarding his chances for a successful appeal told us we were fighting a losing battle and to be prepared for the worst.

Another physician referred me to Mr. Collins because of his expertise with doping cases. Mr. Collins devised a specific strategy for a difficult case. All aspects of the case were executed perfectly. This resulted in obtaining a favorable outcome in our appeal. Mr. Collins was thorough in his preparation in all regards of the case. He made himself available all times and always returned our calls promptly.

It is my opinion that Mr. Collins is the authority when dealing with doping or banned substance violations in any arena. I recommend his services to anyone that wants the best representation possible.

Respectfully submitted,
[Redacted]


The cross-contamination or spiking of dietary supplement products with banned substances has been recognized as an ongoing problem. Research conducted at an IOC-accredited drug testing laboratory in 2002 found 94 of the 634 samples contained substances not listed on the label that would trigger positive drug tests. While the subsequent imposition of current Good Manufacturing Procedures (cGMP’s) on the industry has improved the situation, the problem persists. For example, in 2013 Rick joined Team Soliman to battle against the German Boxing Commission's sketchy failed drug test allegations against Australia’s Sam Soliman. Sam, at that time the world’s #1-ranked middleweight, beat German champion Felix Sturm then tested positive for oxilofrine (ingested unknowingly from a mislabeled dietary supplement product). The bout was ruled a no contest, and Rick’s strategy of an independent U.S. test on the "B" sample exonerated Sam and led to success, over fierce opposition, in maintaining Sam's ranking – an unprecedented accomplishment in the sport. The ranking enabled Sam to fight and beat Sturm again, to win the IBF World Middleweight title, and to obtain a million-dollar fight payday – none of which would have been possible had Rick not joined the defense team.

A fuller discussion of the topic can be found in “Steroids and Steroid Precursors in College Sport: The Response to the ‘Pills in the Locker’ by Sports Bodies and Congress,” authored by Mr. Collins and adapted from his conference materials for “Winning at All Costs — Today’s Addiction: A Conference on Sports Law and Ethics,” held in Chicago, IL, and sponsored by Valparaiso Univ. School of Law (2/2005). The article focused on the use of anabolic steroid precursors by sports competitors, and how athletic organizations such as NCAA and governmental authorities responded in the earlier part of the last decade. In particular, it looked at 2004 federal legislation that subjected possessors of steroid precursor products — openly sold in health food stores until January 2005 — to arrest and prosecution (subsequent legislation expanded the list of substances legally defined as anabolic steroids, made it easier to add new compounds to the list, and effectively ended the prohormone market).

Athletes who are falsely accused of doping need to mount a vigorous challenge. The same is true for police officers, firefighters or military personnel who fail drugs tests for steroids or other banned substances. If you are accused of doping, or if you are being investigated or even criminally prosecuted (also see the “Arrested?“ page of this site) for claims involving anabolic steroids or other banned substances, seek out competent legal counsel immediately. Rick and his firm have been awarded the highest accolades (AV-rating) for legal abilities and general ethical standards from the prestigious Martindale-Hubbell directory and serve on the executive boards or committees of numerous legal associations. Feel free to call attorney Rick Collins and his team at 516-294-0300 should you have any questions. If you have a general legal question you’d like to see answered in the monthly column authored by Mr. Collins in Muscular Development magazine, email it to [email protected].

Legal charges surrounding steroids are serious – if you are an athlete facing charges or are being investigated for a steroid crime, you need an attorney who not only has unparalleled expertise and proven success in this complex area of steroids and the law, but who is committed to fighting for your rights. Rick Collins is that attorney – and can provide the experienced legal counsel you need to win your case surrounding anabolic steroids or performance enhancing drugs. Call him today to discuss your case … and how he can help.