Customs says it has uncovered massive sports doping ring

Group allegedly supplied synthetic growth hormone and other substances to athletes for years

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Customs authorities suspect that a Finnish criminal organisation has supplied the black market with large amounts of sports doping substances to users in the south of Finland for four years.
      Hannu Sinkkonen, deputy director of the Tampere Customs office, says that the smuggled substances have been used primarily by body-builders and weight-lifters.
      Various individuals are suspected of having smuggled substances including testosterone, anabolic steroids, and synthetic growth hormone at least from Egypt, Thailand, Greece, and Spain.
      Customs authorities say that they have uncovered efforts to smuggle 12,500 ampoules and 40,000 pills, but they believe that the actual amount was much greater.
     
The substances include a few dozen ampoules of synthetic growth hormone.
      "It is a terribly expensive and rare substance. One ampoule costs more than 300 euros on the black market", Hannu Sinkkonen says.
      Timo Seppälä, medical chief of the Finnish Anti-Doping Committee, says that synthetic growth hormone cannot yet be detected in current doping tests.
      He says that users of the substances can be divided into two groups: competing athletes who are subject to doping tests, and body builders.
      Authorities suspect 19 people of involvement in the matter. Sinkkonen would not say if there are any competing athletes among the suspects.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Customs confiscate record amount of doping agents from two vans (28.3.2007)

Helsingin Sanomat