Top Wwe Stars Suspended!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Black Widow]

From the NY Daily News:

- The WWE was rocked again today, after several of wrestling's top names emerged in the Albany district attorney's probe into a widespread Internet doping scandal.

The wrestling congomerate based in Stamford announced that it will suspend 10 of its biggest stars for violation of its wellness policy.

Top wrestlers Randy Orton, Charles Haas, Jr., Adam "Edge" Copeland, Robert "Booker T" Huffman, Shane Helms, Mike Bucci, Anthony Carelli, John "Johnny Nitro" Hennigan, Darren "William Regal" Matthews, Ken "Mr. Kennedy" Anderson and Chavo Guerrero were all identified as clients of Signature Pharmacy in Orlando, the site raided by Albany County and Florida law enforcement agencies in February for distributing steroids and other prescription drugs to clients who had not been examined by doctors. The investigation is part of a probe into illegal Internet drug distribution by Albany D.A. David Soares.

3 NEW NAMES ADDED

ESPN added three other names

Dave Bautista
Shoichi Funaki
Chris Mordetzky aka Chris Masters

[legolas4792]

holy crap dude how can they be suspended many of them are important parts of their brand but atleast wwe is actually taken action against drugs for once

[JohnCenaFan28]

OMG! So they're all suspended!? :tantrum:

[)85(]

No!!!! Not The Book Man!!!!

[wwe9112]

Holey CRAP, that isnt good at all, but that makes them look good in the government eyes. I wonder if this will be the fall of WWE, then TNA rises to the occasion, and then there will be a dvd called "Rise and Fall of the WWE" just like the ecw one.

[Butoden]

Hahaha lol what the hell! XD
Thats freaking insane lol that's like all the top stars. Of all those guys I didn't expect guys like William Regal or Chavo to be on there. I did expect RANDY ORTON though..

[time2venge]

KELLER ANALYSIS: TNA could actually end up being a bigger factor in this story than most assume. They have no public drug testing policy, have made comments on the record dismissive of such a need, and have made every boneheaded move possible in the last month to draw attention to themselves from Congress. This story just grows in magnitude, and while WWE said it had no knowledge of hearings, the fact that they are going public with names of those who violate the wellness policy would seem like a good new policy to be able to tout at hearings. The fact that WWE suspended ten wrestlers for using an Internet pharmacy has the potential to wreak havoc on ongoing storylines and PPV plans. That will become apparent, if not leaked first, by this next set of live events.

[JohnCenaFan28]

I didn't expect Nitro, Haas, Chavo, Regal but Orton was the one I'll believe... Kennedy!? Then he's just been dishing crap about not taking steroids after the WWE Wellness Program came for him... WWE is VERY vulnerable right now...

[AFC1986]

if these are the suspeneded wrestlers, this will hurt th ewwe in so many ways. if kennedy is suspended, it practically stops the whole illegitimate son storyline. if booker t and kennedy are suspended, that leaves triple h as the only possible contender for cena's title and they won't wrestle as both are huge faces. if john morrison is suspended, cm punk is the only logical person to be the new ecw champion as he is the no.1 contender. the media are going to have a field day with this news and with the congress after the wwe, this will only make things a lot worse for vince

[JohnCenaFan28]

Please don't be true!:sad2:

[Triple X]

my god all of these

[J-man]

NO!!!!!!! or yes? TNA will rise alot

[Deadman151]

Damn! I knew Orton was gonna screw up again. I never expected Kennedy or Morrison to be suspended.

[Black Widow]

something tells me this could well be cock and bull from the media..

if its not

RAWS GM, shame on you :no:

[JoshTheKiller]

JR??!!

[Black Widow]

World Wrestling Entertainment, under fire since one of its top stars was involved in a double-murder suicide, announced the suspension of 10 of its wrestlers on Thursday.

They are being suspended for violating the WWE's "wellness policy."
The move comes as investigators from the Albany, N.Y., district attorney's office have been gathering information about steroid use by WWE wrestlers as part of a wide ranging investigation into online pharmacies and the doctors who write prescriptions for them.

WWE did not release the names of those suspended. A source close to the investigation said that WWE was told that the following wrestlers were among the clients of one of the pharmacies under investigation, Signature of Orlando: Shoichi Funaki, Dave Bautista, Adam "Edge" Copeland, Chris "Masters" Mordetsky, John "Johnny Nitro" Hennigan, and Shane Helms. Chris Benoit, the wrestler who killed his wife and son before hanging himself in June, was also a Signature client, as were two other wrestlers who recently died, Eddie Guerrero and Brian "Crush" Adams.

The Albany district attorney's office is examining online prescription mills where doctors get paid as little as $25 to issue online prescriptions, which in turn are filled by friendly pharmacies. In addition to Signature, its investigators raided pharmacies in Mobile, Ala. and Bay Ridge, N.Y.

Among those who have pleaded guilty are a Florida doctor named Claire Godfrey, who has admitted to prescribing performance-enhancing drugs at least two WWE wrestlers. In exchange for a plea that will keep her out of prison, she is cooperating with prosecutors.

The suspensions, which were accompanied by a WWE pledge to make future actions public after Nov. 1, comes at a time of mounting pressure on the WWE. A spokesman for the House Energy & Commerce Committee said Thursday that its commerce subcommittee will be holding hearings into the WWE in late September. The aide said a witness list has not been finalized.

Also looking into the company is the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. In a request that parallels what was asked of Major League Baseball, the committee is seeking a list of drugs covered by the WWE's policies, the number of tests it conducts annually, the protocols followed after a positive test and the procedures for awarding exemptions.

The issue of steroids and WWE largely faded until late June, when Benoit killed his wife and son in their suburban Atlanta home before hanging himself. His body was found to have 10 times the normal level of testosterone, as well as the anti-anxiety drug Xanax and the painkiller hydrocodone, authorities said.

The WWE instituted its current drug testing policy after the November 2005 death of Benoit's best friend, Guerrero, 38, who was found dead in a hotel room in Minneapolis. On Aug. 15, a day before WWE officials met with the Albany prosecutors, Adams, 44, was found dead of undetermined causes in his Florida home. Toxicology tests are pending.

The WWE has insisted that it randomly tests its 180 athletes at least four times a year. But its program has been criticized by a number of people, including David Black, the president of Aegis Sciences, a laboratory in Nashville that runs the WWE's testing program. "The intention is not to punish, but to get them [the wrestlers] to engage in a different lifestyle," Black said in a July story in the New York Times.



- wrestlezone.com

[J-man]

pardon my language but HOLY FUCK!!!

[Butoden]

Batista too now I see! LoL I wondered why he wasn't on the list!! XD

[Flair Country]

And when I first opened this thread I thought it was a prank...

This is the most bizarre news that I have heard in a long time! Oh and I would have bet anyone $10 that Randy Orton was on this list. It seems like he'll do anything to try to commit career suicide.

[Vinnyspapa]

Looks pretty bad for WWE. I dont think it will kill them like some TNA marks are saying and hoping. Looks like some mid-carders will be moving up though.

[Phenomenal One]

this is from si.com


With its rare confluence of hot button topics -- sports, kids, death, and drugs -- the double-murder, suicide case involving pro wrestler Chris Benoit and his family made for a cause celebre last summer. When the news cycle passed and the media turned its attention to a corrupt NBA referee and an NFL quarterback financing a dogfighting ring, investigators continued to explore the pipeline that enabled professional athletes to obtain steroids and human growth hormone through a chain of compound pharmacies, "anti-aging" clinics and venal doctors who often rubber-stamped prescriptions, sometimes without treating their "patients."

As the WWE is embattled by charges that its wrestlers die early and unexpectedly with alarming frequency, it must now counter evidence that the culture is awash in illicit drug use. That cause wasn't helped on Thursday, when, based on information provided to the WWE by the Albany District Attorney's office, the organization suspended 10 wrestlers for violating the company's drug policy.

While the WWE declined to release the names of the suspended athletes, SI has learned that a dozen professional wrestlers have received steroids and/or human growth hormone through the drug network. The WWE would not confirm which, if any, of the following wrestlers are among those suspended:

• Benoit, who died June 24, 2007, received nandrolone and anastrozole in February 2006. (Anastrozole is used by athletes to counter side effects of steroid use, such as water retention and breast enlargement.)

• Two weeks prior to Eddie Guerrero's death on Nov. 13, 2005, he was sent nandrolone, testosterone, and anastrozole. Guerrero died in a Minneapolis hotel room due to what a coroner later ruled as heart disease, complicated by an enlarged heart resulting from a history of anabolic steroid use.

• Chavo Guerrero, who found his uncle Eddie dead in the Minneapolis hotel room, received, among other drugs, somatropin (HGH), nandrolone and anastrozole between April 2005 and May 2006.

• Between November 2003 and February 2007, Shane Helms, a/k/a The Hurricane, received, among other drugs, testosterone, genotropin (HGH) and nandrolone. (As previously reported by SI, he allegedly received HGH from an Arizona doctor in 2005.)

• Starting in September 2004 through February 2007, Randy Orton received somatropin, nandrolone, stanozolol.

• John Hennigan, a/k/a Johnny Nitro, a.k.a. Johnny Morrison, is the current WWE Extreme Championship Wrestling's heavyweight champion. Between June 2006 and February 2007 he was prescribed somatropin, anastrozole, testosterone, stanozolol and chorionic gonadotropin, a hormone produced naturally during pregnancy. (HCG is taken by anabolic steroid users to stimulate the production of testosterone, which is suppressed as a result of steroid use.)

• Ken Anderson, a/k/a Mr. Kennedy, lost to Eddie Guerrero in Guerrero's final match on Nov. 11, 2005. Kennedy received shipments of anastrozole, somatropin and testosterone between October 2006 and February 2007.

• Shoichi Funaki received somatropin in March 2006.

• Brian Adams, a/k/a Crush, who retired from the pro circuit in 2001, was found dead of unknown causes on Aug. 13. He received nandrolone, testosterone and Somatropin or HGH in December 2006.

• Charles Haas was prescribed anastrozole, somatropin, stanozolol, nandrolone and chorionic gonadotropin between August 2006 and January 2007.

• Edward Fatu received somatropin between July and December 2006.

• Between November 2004 and November 2006, Darren Matthews received stanozolol, somatropin, genotropin, and anastrozole.

• Adam Copeland, a/k/a Edge, received somatropin, genotropin (both HGH), and stanozolol between September 2004 and February 2007.

• Sylvain Grenier received somatropin, nandrolone, genotropin and stanozolol, starting in February 2005 through July 2006.

Through WWE spokesman Gary Davis, the applicable WWE wrestlers listed above declined comment.

In the wake of Eddie Guerrero's steroid-related death, the WWE instituted a "Talent Wellness Program" in February 2006. The policy "prohibits the use of performance-enhancing drugs, as well as other prescription drugs which can be abused, if taken for other than a legitimate medical purpose pursuant to a valid prescription from a licensed and treating physician. For purposes of WWE's policy, prescriptions obtained over the Internet and/or from suppliers of prescription drugs from the Internet are not considered to have been given for a legitimate medical purpose."

Under the Talent Wellness Program, an initial positive test triggers to a 30-day suspension and a second positive leads to a 60-day suspension. A third positive yields a termination.

After Benoit's death, Representative Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) contacted the WWE requesting more information on the Talent Wellness Program. In addition to the rash of recent wrestler deaths, Congress has expressed concerned that the WWE counts more than more 500,000 kids among its weekly viewership.

[willpro256]

Damn All Of Them ....... Is It True????????

[bad_meetz_evil]

Woah, those are some big names. I wonder how long the supension will be though.

[Phenomenal One]

i dont want it to be true because of all the storylines this is going to mess up but we will just have to wait and see what all happens on raw this week

[Bad Boy]

Well, sad to say, they shud be suspended, but its coming at a bad time... at the moment WWE isnt at its best, and there are some big names on that list too... so it might affect storylines etc. but still, have to find out how long the suspension will be...

[Phenomenal One]

Here is your answer Bad Boy:


Here are a few more notes from WWE Lawyer Jerry McDevitt's appearance on Greta tonight:

- After confirming information from the Albany DA today, Mr. McMahon himself informed the 10 talents that they would be suspended.

- Nine of the suspensions are the Superstar's first offense while one is the second offense for the Superstar. First offenses carry 30 days while second offenses carry a suspension of 60 days. Again, McDevitt didn't name any names or speculate as to who may have what.

- All of the suspensions come with no pay.

source: sescoops.com

[619_fan]

I would like to point out that the WWE aren't releasing any of the names until November 1st when the suspended wrestlers return to action, obviously it will start to be obvious after the next week or RAW/ECW/Smackdown! but before then all names on the list are pure speculation...

[gator]

two things if this list is true it will leave the roster in bad shape.but this could be
good for guys like matt and jeff hardy,shelton benjamin,carlito,kane to go to the
next level

[J-man]

Im thinking Shelton will go as heel for World Title
or Carlito :hmm:

[Bad Boy]

well 30 days does suck... and the one person who got 60 days is worse... well only time will tell wat WWE will become cuz of these suspensions...

[J-man]

I think Orton got 60 days IMO

[tommy]

It was either Orton or Masters that got the 60 day.

This is horrible, but at the same time, it could amount to some long-deserved pushes as others have said. CM Punk is the one that comes to mind if Morrison really is suspended...

And, sorry all, but looks like Cena will be holding the belt for a while longer while this all gets cleaned up. Why would they take it off of someone who has most of the fans loving him and is completely clean of steriods? The only other smart choices for WWE Championship on RAW would be Trips or HBK when he comes back.

[bigr]

Maybe they will just have Diva matches ! This would be awesome !!!

[Flair Country]

well 30 days does suck... and the one person who got 60 days is worse... well only time will tell wat WWE will become cuz of these suspensions...

That's assuming that WWE sticks to these punishments though. If their ratings start to slide a bit from everyone being off the show look for some of those top names to get a 2 week suspension at most. That happend with Randy Orton a while back where he came back early from a supposedly lengthy suspension.

[J-man]

No it wouldnt. WTF?! there are only like three divas that can actually wrestle

[bigr]

I don't care about the Divas wrestling skills. I just like to look at them !

[Butoden]

Maybe we'll see a good long one hour Cena vs Carlito match or maybe a different type of long wrestling match or maybe Vince will just make a one hour McMahon dramashow (most likely)

[W-OLF]

Damn there goes all the major storylines how long is the suspensions for?

[Garden State Saint]

I refuse to talk about this stuff at length but there is so much we don't know. The only thing I know is, as a fan, this will force WWE to get abit more creative with their roster.

[whoblehwah]

YES! Batista's suspended! NO! Chavo's suspended!

[heartbreakkid]

why is everyone so sure that this is true? It may be all made up guys. Anyway, what they may do is what they did last year with orton. They may just keep the wrestlers on TV for storylines but take em off house shows and get a cut in pay.

[Cenamaniac]

Statue of limitations. Booker-T is out of it. He admitted using steroids in the last few years, if you look you can see the remnants of their side effects on him, but he is clean now. Plus these are celebrities. So we all know there will be no punishment.

[angad_singh]

good thing no divas took drugs

[XXKSXX]

good thing no divas took drugs

Oh I'm sure at some point in time they have done some kind of drugs, whether it be recreational or medical drugs.

[J-man]

sure* Ks :P

But this is not made up this is absolutely real

[XXKSXX]

^ Who ever said it was made up? To me this drug thing means nothing to me. I don't care that these wrestlers use drugs half the world does and thats real. I don't pass judgment on the wrestlers that have been busted. It was their choice and some have been suspended and some fired. We all know after what happen with Benoit that the shit storm was coming and it is here now. I think the WWE is handling this very well and they move on and the Show will go on. I also say that the 2 guys paying the most are Umaga and Morrison they both held titles.

[Dark Drakan]

I thought some big names would be in there but not that many of the top names on the roster. Quite shocking announcement indeed i must say.

[swolepiece381]

this is whack
anyone surpised not to see cena's name on the list?
Randy is my fav wrestler and it sucks but i guess he didnt learn his lesson
wonder how the storylines will be now with these suspensions

[XXKSXX]

this is whack
anyone surpised not to see cena's name on the list?


I'm not sure what u are saying but Cena doesn't even look roided out.

[Platinum_Lies]

Only Batista looks more roided up then Cena, but at least Batista has a huge frame that there could be doubt there. Cena is a smaller HBK size guy that has more muscle than seems possible.

I really don't care about the steriods in wrestling, becuase the real problem is the addiction to painkillers.

[XXKSXX]

^ I agree it does seam that the pain killers are more frequently used then anything. I would also assume that pretty much every wrestler uses them for something that is giving them pain. Their's no way not to have pain in wrestling as many bumps as they take day in and day out.