Yet another star falls for banned substances. The 60-year-old macho Sylvester Stallone admitted to possessing the growth hormone Jintropin when he was stopped at Sydney airport in February last.
Stallone was then in Australia to promote his film Rocky Balboa, but he was not in the Sydney court when the confession came to light a couple of days ago.
He will be sentenced next week, when he faces a maximum fine of A$22,000 ($18,330, 9,200) in court, much lower than if it had been a federal case.
In federal cases, the maximum penalty for importing a banned substance of this type is A$110,000 ($91,600) and five years in prison. Prosecution documents said Stallone had marked "no" on a customs declaration form that asked if he was bringing restricted substances into the country.
But an X-ray of bags belonging to his entourage uncovered the bottles of Jintropin, which is made by Chinese firm GeneScience pharmaceuticals.
"You have not been validly prescribed the goods by a medical practitioner for any medical condition suffered by you and for which the goods are recognised medical treatment," Stallone was told in a customs document submitted to the court.
The vital ingredient in Jintropin is somatropin, which is advertised as reducing body fat, boosting muscle mass, improving sexual prowess and regenerating major organs.
Human growth hormone (HGH) is made naturally in the pituitary gland of humans, deep inside the brain just behind the eyes.
It is a microscopic protein substance that is secreted in short pulses during the first hours of sleep and after exercise.
It is made throughout a person's lifetime, but is more plentiful during youth.
It stimulates growth in children and plays an important role in adult metabolism.
Before the advent of genetic engineering, the only source of HGH was from dead bodies. The pituitary glands
'"/>Page: 1 2 Related medicine news :1.
Sylvester Stallone Regrets Smuggling Banned Substances to Australia2.
Steroid Scam: Sylvester Stallone Gets Away With a Light Punishment3.
Drug Company Admits Knowledge Of Side Effects In Monkeys4.
Minister Admits Alcohol Plan Has Flopped5.
Worlds Oldest Mother Admits Her Actual Age6.
China Admits Fake Blood Protein Used in Drips7.
Tried To Quit Smoking And Failed? Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW8.
Smuggled Birds To Bali Culled Due To Bird Flu Fear9.
Chinese Poultry Smuggled into United States10.
Tobacco Smugglers are Helping Terrorists: WHO11.
Drugs Banned worldwide still available in India