Mike Carroll, the CEO of Countryside YMCA in Lebanon, has been celebrating his role as a whistleblower in a multi-jurisdictional investigation that resulted in the indictment of 32 individuals involved in a major steroid distribution ring. Carroll proudly told the media that he was the man responsible for alerting authorities to a steroid dealer at the YMCA which initiated the large-scale investigation. Furthermore, he bragged about secretly cooperating for two years with an undercover police officer who lifted weights with the express goal of infiltrating the local steroid scene at the gym. The celebration was short-lived.
Carroll failed to anticipate a backlash resulting from his public statements highlighting the role of the Countryside YMCA in the steroid bust. The Cincinnati Enquirer website has reported that the Countryside YMCA was inundated with cancellation requests by members in the aftermath of the bust. This occurred even as the YMCA reiterated that no steroid sales actually occurred on the YMCA grounds.
Carroll cited the YMCA’s “Christian principles” to defend his actions in an email to members.
“Our mission is to put Christian principles into practice and build healthy spirit, mind and body for all, and we have a zero tolerance for drug activities,” wrote Carroll. “Alerting police to this illegal activity was one example of how we live up to our mission.”
Carroll’s decision to alert authorities to potential illegal activity at a company is understandable for a CEO. However, his eagerness to publicize the role of the YMCA in the bust of a criminal steroid organization brings unwanted attention to the YMCA. It was clearly a poor public relations decision.
It brought unwanted attention to the problem of steroid use at commercial gyms. It created the perception that the YMCA was a hotbed for illegal steroid dealing and steroid use. Jeni Moore, the Countryside YMCA pre-teen and teen coordinator, believed the low participation in recent youth events may be attributed to the recent attention.
Other gyms were also caught up in the steroid investigation. The manager of the LA Fitness in West Chester was actually indicted in the bust. Police reported that steroid sales occurred on the premises of Urban Active in Deerfield. Neither gym reported being affected by the scandal. Unlike the Countryside YMCA, LA Fitness and Urban Active did not go out of their way to seek publicity nor did they conspire to plant undercover officers to spy on their members.
Nonetheless, Mike Carroll stated he would do the exact same thing in spite of the negative fallout his actions have caused for the YMCA. “Yes I would, even knowing that I would probably get stung again by the initial reports.”
Sources:
Morse, J. (November 5, 2011). Gyms get bad rap in steroid sting: Whistleblower YMCA reports member confusion, backlash. Retrieved from http://communitypress.cincinnati.com/article/AB/20111105/NEWS010701/111060339/Gyms-get-bad-rap-steroid-sting
