The Philadelphia Eagles have been forced to defend their organization from suspicions of anabolic steroid use by its players after the late son of head coach Andy Reid was found to be in possession of several vials of steroids at the time of his death.
Garrett Reid died of a heroin overdose during the Eagles’ training camp on August 5, 2012. Dr. Omar Elkhamra, the team physician for the Eagles, unsuccessfully attempted to revive him when he was found unresponsive in his dorm room. Reid had been assisting the staff of Eagles’ strength and conditioning coach Barry Rubin.
Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli waited until December 2012 to reveal the discovery of steroids in Reid’s dormitory room at Lehigh University. The Lehigh University Police Department found 29 vials of four different anabolic steroids, 47 syringes and 64 needles in Garrett Reid’s gym bag on the day of his death.
The four types of steroids included testosterone propionate, boldenone undecylenate, nandrolone phenylpropionate and trenbolone acetate. Three of these steroids are fast-acting. They are cleared very rapidly from the body making them attractive to athletes seeking to avoid detection by anti-doping protocols.
While the tragedy has greatly affected various members of the Philadelphia Eagles’ organization on a personal level, the hysteria regarding steroids in sports has forced personnel to entertain and address speculation that Garrett Reid may have been providing performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) to Eagles football players.
Jeffrey Lurie, the owner of the Eagles, and Andy Reid, the head coach of the Eagles and father of Garrett Reid, were compelled to release statements distancing the team from Garrett’s apparent steroid issues.
“The news today on Garrett Reid’s possession of steroids is disappointing,” Lurie said in a statement. “It’s clear the conduct in which he apparently engaged runs counter to the values and principles mandated for everyone associated with our organization.”
“I cannot apologize enough for any adverse appearances that my son’s actions may have for an organization and a community that has been nothing but supportive of our family,” Andy Reid said in a separate statement.
Northampton County Coroner Zachary Lysek determined that a heroin overdose was the cause of Garrett Reid’s death. Steroids were not implicated at the time. However, Lysek acknowledged that his office is currently seeking to determine if steroids were present in Garrett Reid’s body at the time of his death.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello promised to follow up on any new developments linking the Eagles to the steroids found in Garrett Reid’s dorm room.
Source:
Rubinkam, M. (December 17, 2012). Pa. prosecutor: Steroids found in Reid’s room. Retrieved from http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_22209028/pa-prosecutor-steroids-found-reids-room
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