18 Features
A SCHOOL ON
STEROIDS
THE TIMELINE
FEB 1 MARCH 24
Nathan Zettler allegedly takes part
in a string of break and enters in
Waterloo Region which prompts
investigation by local police.
MARCH 25 31
During a search of Zettlers
Bridgeport home related to the
break-and-enters, police find
and seize thousands of unidenti-
fied pills, vials and capsules.
MARCH 31
Zettler is banned from campus
and suspended from the War-
riors team pending investigation,
along with fellow football player
Matthew Valeriote. Former player
Eric Legare comes under investi-
gation in relation to the break ins.
APRIL 1
Football players from Laurier,
Guelph, Western and McMaster
are tested after news of UWs in-
vestigation goes public.
APRIL 9
Zettler is formally charged with
possesion of anabolic steroids
for the purpose of trafficking. He
is also charged with breaching
probation, five counts of break-
ing and entering, use of a stolen
credit card and possesion of sto-
len property.
APRIL 17
Zettler is released on $30,000 bail
into the custody of his grand-
parents with restricted mobility
while awaiting his hearing.
ARETHEWARRIORS
JUICED?
A
t the start of April, a scandal hit
our school. The hometown heroes,
despite many shortcomings on the
field, encountered a disheartening loss
off the field allegations of doping,
robbery and drug dealing surfaced. .
Nathan Zettler is the player at the
centre of the controversy, with teammate
Matthew Valeriote and former Warrior
Eric Legare at either side underneath
the spotlight of investigation.
At the start of 2010, a string of break
. however, go no further than the football
an enters occurred in Waterloo Region.
The police began their investigation of the
crime, and the search brought them to the
last place anyone would have expected: the
locker room of UWs football team a place
once reserved for the hopes, achievements
and camaraderie of some of Canadas best
and brightest football players. A place once
assumed to be the pinnacle of many boyhood
dreams of touchdowns and jerseys. But all
may not be as it appears from the outside. .
Zettlers home was searched in relation
to the break and enters. Police, however,
find more than the stolen property they were
looking for. Allegedly, Zettlers residence
was also home to thousands of unidentified
pills, capsules and vials. These would later
be determined to be anabolic steroids, and
the quantity suggests intent to traffic. . UW will just have to watch once more
The backlash was immediate. Zettler and
MAY 1
The expected results were Warrior lineman Joe Surgenor
delayed withour explanation tells Toronto paper he uses,
on the date they were to be and upwards of ten players
revealed. on most teams do too.
Imprint, Thursday, March 26, 2010
Written and designed by TRAVIS MYERS
Valeriote were banned from campus and
barred from participating in the Warriors
team they had once so proudly played
for. Rumours and hearsay began to make
their way through the student populace as
many struggled to come to terms with their
schools representatives, their team and
their heroes coming under investigation for
something as unseemly as drug abuse. .
News of the investigation goes public
as the football team began to be tested
for drugs. Canadian Interuniversity Sport
(CIS) the governing body for drug testing,
widens their net as teams from The
University of Western Ontario, McMaster
and Laurier are also tested. The tests,
teams of each school. Players are given the
option of refusing testing, but by saving the
embarrassment of a positive test they must
also face the punishment of a four year ban
from university organized sports, as do
those whose test yields positive results. .
Zettler was then formally charged
with the possession of anabolic steroids
for the purpose of trafficking, breaching
probation, five break and enters along
with the use of a stolen credit card
and possessing stolen property. .
Amidst the proceedings, many
questions remain about these serious
allegations. Little is known of the situation
prior to the police investigation. .
One question in particular hangs over
the empty field north of campus. Can the
Waterloo Warriors recover from this? .
as the teams situation plays out.
MAY 28 JUNE 14
Final test results
expected to be
released to the
public.
Features 18
Imprint, Thursday, March 26, 2010
THE NUMBERS
WHAT ARE STEROIDS
80
HISTORY . which are naturally found in males and
OF CIS DOPING CHARGES SINCE
Scientists have known that the females. These hormones are what
testes produce hormones for create masculine characteristics, such
% 1990 WERE AGAINST FOOTBALL
quite some time, with the use and body hair, voice changes, and the
of testicular extract in medical other secondary sexual characteristics
settings going back to the 1800s. It that appear during puberty. .
wasnt until 1935, however, that the Most anabolics illegally
male hormone testosterone was used are still produced by drug
isolated. The Nazi German scientist companies, not home made. .
responsible for its synthesis won THE LAW .
the Nobel prize for this feat. .
In Canada it is not illegal to
By the end of the 1930s simply have steroids obtained
it became known through w i t h o u t a p e r s c r i p t i o n . I t i s ,
body builder and weightlifting however, illegal to traffic them
1in 25
magazines that testosterone as they are a controlled substace,
propionate was being used off- such are the allegations against
CIS PLAYERS ARE TESTED
RANDOMLY EVER YEAR
label as an aid to those desiring Nathan Zettler. It is also illegal
a more muslced physique. . to purchase them without a
SCIENCE . perscription. The maximum
In the human b o d y , penalty is 18 months of jail time. .
steroids mimic two male There is not a single major sporting
hormones, testosterone and association that allows anabolic
dihydrotestosterone, both of steroid use in its competitors.
HOW DO THEY WORK
HOW THEY ARE TAKEN . mass of muscle in the body is by first
43
Anabolic steroids can be increasing the bodys production
taken in three general ways by of proteins. They also reduce the OF CIS PLAYERS WHO FAILED A
either injecting the drug, taking an musculatory recovery time, so that % DRUG TEST WERE ON STEROIDS
oral dosage, or through the use those using them can work harder and
of skin patched similar to birth more often to achieve their goals. .
control or nicotine patches. . Anabolics also help to prevent
Injections are done directly into the body from turning more cells into
the muscle, not the bloodstream, cells that store fat, instead directing
so that the level of hormone in the these cells to become muscle tissue. .
blood is not dramatically changed, T H E DANGERS .
but gradually increased. . Oral steroids create risk for liver
The oral method is associated damage, and most anabolics increase
with liver damage after increased blood pressure, change cholesterol
dosage or long term use. levels, and create risk for heart disease.
The type of drug to be taken Severe acne and acceleration of
96
orally is chosen specifically to hair loss are very common, and
bypass the livers filteration. . growth of male breasts is also a risk. OF CIS PLAYERS WHO FAILED
% A DOPING TEST WERE MALE
MAKING MUSCLES . Mental side effects are not
Anabolic steroids work within u n c o m m o n , s u c h a s m a n i a .
the cells of the body to produce Increased aggression is also a
several effects. The main ways noted side effect, more commonly
by which anabolics increase the known as roid rage.
Stay tuned to Imprint in the coming months for more
information about this case as it unfolds.