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FDA arrests gym instructor selling steroids in Bhandup
Sumitra Deb Roy,TNN | Aug 27, 2015
Mumbai: A gym instructor from Bhandup was caught by the state Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for illegally selling steroids to unsuspecting young clients for building muscles. Officials had to lay a trap and send a decoy patient to net the offender, who did not have a licence or the qualifications to dispense the drugs with habit-forming properties.
FDA commissioner Harshadeep Kamble said steroids worth Rs 20,000, in the form of pills and injectable, were seized from Manoj Vandre during a raid last Sunday. "Abuse of steroids can damage vital organs and have long-term ramifications. They cannot be sold without a doctor's prescription or bought from an unlicensed source," Kamble said. He added that consuming steroids has been a fad among youngsters, who find it more convincing when an instructor doles out supplies. Steroids are a synthetic form of male hormone testosterone.
The commissioner was tipped off about the rampant steroid sale by a worried parent. Officials then tried contacting Vandre, who allegedly "played hard to get". He finally fell into the trap and agreed to sell steroids (provironum, testoviron, deflon, etc) and several other hormone-based medicines. "He was overcharging clients and making huge profits. He had drugs and syringes which he is not supposed to have," Kamble added.
Consultant physician Dr Hemant Thacker said steroid abuse can play havoc with one's hormone system and can shut it completely. "It can give a temporary sense of well-being only to deceive later," he said, adding that it is the most non-natural way of building muscles.
Another senior doctor said steroid injections come cheap at Rs 80-400 and are popular among youngsters. "Steroids help produce proteins and in building an improved muscle mass. Almost magically, they get biceps or six pack abs without realizing it can affect their liver, kill sperm count and disturb blood pressure, sugar levels," she added.
A case has been registered against Vandre at the Bhandup police station for violating provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetic Act.
The state FDA also busted a fake medicine racket in Navi Mumbai. An official said Vishal Organics was selling untested products for diabetes, headache and obesity. Medicines worth Rs 11 lakh were seized from them and a case was registered.
Sumitra Deb Roy,TNN | Aug 27, 2015
Mumbai: A gym instructor from Bhandup was caught by the state Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for illegally selling steroids to unsuspecting young clients for building muscles. Officials had to lay a trap and send a decoy patient to net the offender, who did not have a licence or the qualifications to dispense the drugs with habit-forming properties.
FDA commissioner Harshadeep Kamble said steroids worth Rs 20,000, in the form of pills and injectable, were seized from Manoj Vandre during a raid last Sunday. "Abuse of steroids can damage vital organs and have long-term ramifications. They cannot be sold without a doctor's prescription or bought from an unlicensed source," Kamble said. He added that consuming steroids has been a fad among youngsters, who find it more convincing when an instructor doles out supplies. Steroids are a synthetic form of male hormone testosterone.
The commissioner was tipped off about the rampant steroid sale by a worried parent. Officials then tried contacting Vandre, who allegedly "played hard to get". He finally fell into the trap and agreed to sell steroids (provironum, testoviron, deflon, etc) and several other hormone-based medicines. "He was overcharging clients and making huge profits. He had drugs and syringes which he is not supposed to have," Kamble added.
Consultant physician Dr Hemant Thacker said steroid abuse can play havoc with one's hormone system and can shut it completely. "It can give a temporary sense of well-being only to deceive later," he said, adding that it is the most non-natural way of building muscles.
Another senior doctor said steroid injections come cheap at Rs 80-400 and are popular among youngsters. "Steroids help produce proteins and in building an improved muscle mass. Almost magically, they get biceps or six pack abs without realizing it can affect their liver, kill sperm count and disturb blood pressure, sugar levels," she added.
A case has been registered against Vandre at the Bhandup police station for violating provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetic Act.
The state FDA also busted a fake medicine racket in Navi Mumbai. An official said Vishal Organics was selling untested products for diabetes, headache and obesity. Medicines worth Rs 11 lakh were seized from them and a case was registered.