Toxicology Reports For Benoit Family Made Public; WWE Response To Findings
(Anthony DeBlasi, Kevin Castle, and Smoked Out will conduct a special Minority Report live mini webcast Wednesday to discuss the findings. Details will be posted on the site shortly.)
The following is the article posted in today's Atlanta Journal-Constitution regarding the toxicology results surrounding the Benoit tragedy. Following the article is a statement WWE issued regarding the report:
Former pro wrestler Chris Benoit had elevated levels of testosterone in his system when he died last month, indicating he had recently injected the hormone, a GBI toxicological report released Tuesday shows.
In addition, the report said, Benoit, his wife and their young son all had traces of Xanax, a common tranquilizer, in their blood. Officials said the boy was sedated before Benoit killed him.
Benoit and his wife, Nancy, also had traces of hydrocodone, a narcotic pain medication, the report said.
Fayette County District Attorney Scott Ballard said Benoit killed his wife, Nancy, on June 22 and son, Daniel, 7, the next day before killing himself later that night in their Fayetteville home.
The toxicological report found an extremely elevated testosterone to epitestosterone ratio in Benoit's system, indicating injection of the hormone. The report showed Benoit had a testosterone level of 207 micrograms per liter and an epitestosterone level of 3.5 mcg/L, for a testosterone to epitestosterone ratio of 59:1. Most people have a 1:1 T/E ratio. Ratios of 4:1 are not uncommon and ratios of 10:1 can be normal for some people.
"This level of testosterone indicates that he had been using testosterone at least within some reasonably short period of time prior to the time that he died, depending on how it was injected, the form that it was used," said Dr. Kris Sperry, Georgia's top medical examiner. "The level was elevated."
Tests to determine the ratio of testosterone to epitestosterone are used to find athletes who are injecting synthetic testosterone. In 2006, Floyd Landis had his Tour de France title withheld after urine tests showed an 11:1 T/E ratio, exceeding the 4:1 level allowed in professional cycling. Landis has denied the accusation and his appeal is under review.
Ballard said he is satisfied Chris Benoit is responsible for the deaths.
Federal prosecutors have indicted Benoit's personal physician, Phil Astin III of Carrollton, on seven counts of overprescribing medications to at least two unidentified patients. Officials have said Benoit is not one of those patients but the investigation into Astin continues. Astin is under house arrest in Carrollton after being released on $150,000 bond.
Nancy and Daniel Benoit were cremated and remembered during weekend services in her hometown of Daytona, Fla. Funeral services for Chris Benoit have not been announced but are to be held in Canada, his parents said.
Investigators office has also been raided Astin's office several times since the deaths, seizing prescription records and other medical documents.
Before he was charged, Astin told the AP he prescribed testosterone for Benoit, a longtime friend, in the past. He would not say what, if any, medications he prescribed when Benoit visited his office June 22, the day authorities believe Benoit killed his wife.
WWE RESPONSE:
STAMFORD, Conn., July 17, 2007 – WWE understands that the toxicology reports for Chris Benoit indicate that he tested positive for testosterone and negative for anabolic steroids. On Mr. Benoit's last drug test in April 2007 administered by Aegis Labs, he tested negative for anabolic steroids and for testosterone. Given the toxicology report of GBI released today, it would appear that Mr. Benoit took testosterone sometime after his April 2007 test and the time he died. WWE understands that his dealings with Dr. Astin are currently being investigated, and WWE has no knowledge of whether Dr. Astin prescribed testosterone for Mr. Benoit at some point after the April 2007 tests.
For over 20 years, the WWE has been demonstrating our concern for the well being of our contracted athletes, instituting drug testing in 1987 leading up to our current Wellness Program which began on February 27, 2006, administered by Dr. David L. Black of Aegis Sciences Corporation – one of the world’s foremost drug testing authorities.
We believe our Wellness Program is at the very least comparable to those of professional sports and is a program that will benefit WWE Superstars for generations to come.
I have a feeling WWE meant to say "Given the toxicology report of GBI released today, it would appear that Mr. Benoit took testosterone sometime after his April 2007 test and BEFORE the time he died."
As for WWE having no knowledge of Dr. Astin prescribing testosterone for Benoit, Astin admitted following the tragedy to treating Benoit and prescribing testosterone for him.
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