VOA常速英语2007-Raid Highlights Concerns Over Steroid Use

By Tony Budny
Washington
01 October 2007
 

U.S. law enforcement officials last week announced their largest crackdown ever on performance enhancing drugs.  The nationwide raid calls attention to what officials say are the dangers of steroid use among professional and amateur athletes. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) identified not only producers and sellers of steroids, but also overseas supplies, particularly from China.  VOA's Tony Budny has the story.

U.S. law officers made the largest seizure¹ of steroids and raw materials ever, even as steroid abuse has become a nationwide concern. "This is the largest steroid investigation² and take down in the history of the United States," said U.S. Attorney John Wood of Missouri, one of the prosecutors³ involved in 'Operation Raw Deal.'

On September 24, the DEA closed 56 labs nationwide, seized over 11 million doses of steroids and 242 kilograms of raw powder imported from China.  DEA spokesman Rusty⁴ Payne said the agency worked with law enforcement officers in several other nations.

"We actually handed over as many as 37 investigative packages detailing parts of our investigation and all the things that we've been able to come up with about these companies and they've willingly accepted those," said Payne.

Accusations⁵ that Major League Baseball slugger Barry Bonds abused steroids have received considerable media coverage⁶ in the United States.  Fans and sports figures question the validity of Bonds' all time home run record.

Even as medical tests of professional cyclists like Floyd Landis have shown steroid use, there is evidence that the problem extends into youth sports.

High school baseball player Taylor Hooton took his own life in 2003 after steroid abuse. 

Don Hooton established a foundation in his son's name with the goal of educating young athletes about the dangers of steroids. "Out of the 15 boys rostered on Taylor's baseball team, over half of the kids were doing anabolic steroids," he said.

The DEA's Payne said cases like Hooton's motivate law officers. "I want that 17-year-old who is just on the cusp of athletic⁷ glory, who thinks he might need an increased edge, I want him to read the paper and I want him to think twice," he said.

Steroid-related message boards aimed at amateur athletes provided leads in the investigation.  Payne explains that officers joined discussions about how to make, buy and use the drugs. "What our agents had to do is they actually had to go in and infiltrate⁸ those message boards and websites and actually play along.  And through these communications, we were able to establish sources of supply."

Officials say they are treating those who produce and sell banned steroids as they would any other dealers⁹ of illicit¹⁰ drugs.

1 seizure   

n.没收；占有；抵押

参考例句：

• The seizure of contraband is made by customs.那些走私品是被海关没收的。
• The courts ordered the seizure of all her property.法院下令查封她所有的财产。

2 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

3 prosecutors   

检举人( prosecutor的名词复数 )； 告发人； 起诉人； 公诉人

参考例句：

• In some places,public prosecutors are elected rather than appointed. 在有些地方，检察官是经选举而非任命产生的。 来自口语例句
• You've been summoned to the Prosecutors' Office, 2 days later. 你在两天以后被宣到了检察官的办公室。

4 rusty   

adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的

参考例句：

• The lock on the door is rusty and won't open.门上的锁锈住了。
• I haven't practiced my French for months and it's getting rusty.几个月不用，我的法语又荒疏了。

5 accusations   

n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名

参考例句：

• There were accusations of plagiarism. 曾有过关于剽窃的指控。
• He remained unruffled by their accusations. 对于他们的指控他处之泰然。

6 coverage   

n.报导，保险范围，保险额，范围，覆盖

参考例句：

• There's little coverage of foreign news in the newspaper.报纸上几乎没有国外新闻报道。
• This is an insurance policy with extensive coverage.这是一项承保范围广泛的保险。

7 athletic   

adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的

参考例句：

• This area has been marked off for athletic practice.这块地方被划出来供体育训练之用。
• He is an athletic star.他是一个运动明星。

8 infiltrate   

vt./vi.渗入，透过；浸润

参考例句：

• The teacher tried to infiltrate her ideas into the children's minds.老师设法把她的思想渗透到孩子们的心中。
• It can infiltrate as much as 100 kilometers into enemy territory at night.可以在夜间深入敌领土100千米。

9 dealers   

n.商人( dealer的名词复数 )；贩毒者；毒品贩子；发牌者

参考例句：

• There was fast bidding between private collectors and dealers. 私人收藏家和交易商急速竞相喊价。
• The police were corrupt and were operating in collusion with the drug dealers. 警察腐败，与那伙毒品贩子内外勾结。

10 illicit   

adj.非法的，禁止的，不正当的

参考例句：

• He had an illicit association with Jane.他和简曾有过不正当关系。
• Seizures of illicit drugs have increased by 30% this year.今年违禁药品的扣押增长了30%。