Office Of Physician For Chris Benoit Raided; History Of License Suspensions
The Associated Press posted the following story Thursday afternoon:
Federal Drug agents and sheriff's officials raided the office of pro wrestler Chris Benoit's personal physician in search of records and other items in a warrant.
Agent Chuvalo Truesdell, a spokesman for the Drug Enforcement Administration in Atlanta, said Friday that the raid at Doctor Phil Astin's office in Carrollton, in West Georgia, began Wednesday night and concluded early Thursday morning.
Truesdell said a search warrant obtained by the Fayette County Sheriff's Department in connection with the Benoit investigation was executed there.
He said records and other items were being sought, but he said he could not immediately be more specific. Truesdell also was unable to say what was seized. No arrests were made.
Astin did not return repeated calls to his cell phone from The Associated Press today.
Benoit had been under the care of Astin, a longtime friend, for treatment of low testosterone levels. Astin said Wednesday the condition likely originated from previous steroid use.
Astin prescribed testosterone for Benoit in the past but would not say what, if any, medications he prescribed when Benoit visited his office on Friday.
Over the weekend, Benoit killed his wife and son and then killed himself at their home in Fayetteville.
Anabolic steroids were found in Benoit's home, leading officials to wonder whether the drugs played a role in the slayings. Some experts believe steroids cause paranoia, depression and violent outbursts known as "roid rage."
Following the above AP story, TMZ.com posted this very interesting information regarding Dr Astin, who was Chris Benoit's physician:
TMZ has learned that the personal physician who saw Chris Benoit just hours before the wrestler killed his wife and son once had his medical license suspended for "reasons related to competence or character."
In 2001, the Georgia state medical board suspended Phil C. Astin, M.D.'s license to practice medicine for three months and fined him $500.
Early Thursday morning, authorities raided Dr. Astin's office in connection with Benoit investigation. Officials claim they seized medical records, but no arrests were made. According to the AP, Astin has admitted to prescribing testosterone to Benoit in the past, but has not commented on what, if anything, he prescribed to the wrestler on Friday.
Ironically, Dr. Astin's father also had also run into trouble with the state medical board. According to records from the Georgia State Board of Medical Examiners, Phil Carroll Astin Sr. was found guilty of engaging in "unprofessional conduct" in 1992 by over-prescribing a plethora of pills including amphetamines, antidepressants, tranquilizers and narcotics to various patients.
As a result, the medical board suspended the father's license for 30 days, put him on 5 years probation and fined him $2000. Astin Sr. was reinstated in 1997, following the completion of his sentence.
Astin's offices were located in Carrollton, Georgia -- a small college town about 50 miles from Benoit's home.
Calls to Dr. Astin Jr. were not immediately returned.
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