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Oklahoma Steroid Bust Nets Several Bodybuilders

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By Lori Fullbright, The News On 6

TULSA, OK-- A big steroid bust leads to 10 arrest warrants.  Investigators say when they began the investigation two years ago; they vastly underestimated how bad the problem of anabolic steroid abuse was in Oklahoma.

Wednesday's bust doesn't involve your average drug user.  The accused are middle and upper class professionals.  Some are accused of using steroids, others of selling or giving them away and agents say one man even ordered the raw ingredients from China to make his own.

The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Tulsa Police have been working the case, along with help from the Drug Enforcement Agency, U.S. Marshals and other agencies.

Officers were directed to a job site, where they found Derrick Davis.

"Here's what's going to happen. You'll be booked into Tulsa County and there is a bond, so you can bond out," the arresting officer told Davis.

Documents show Davis ordered raw anabolic steroid compounds from China in order to make injectable steroids.  They say when Davis realized his latest shipment had been seized by U.S. Customs; he had a friend hide all his steroid stuff at work, which police also recovered.

A nationally recognized competitive bodybuilder from Tulsa, Trudy Ireland-Kline was out of state and promised to surrender when she returns.

Documents show she admitted using steroids, but said she quit because they were causing heart problems.

"The abuses come when people flood their body with doses well beyond anything considered therapeutic," said "Tom" with the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics.

Agents say Tom Burke is a steroid dealer who admitted using steroids for 20 years, including to prepare for the 2008 Oklahoma Open bodybuilding competition.

He's a trainer at this Tulsa gym and records show he gave steroids to several people he trained.  Agents say steroid abusers are in denial about the effects and side effects.

"They can see it in everyone else, but can't see the abuse in themselves," said "Tom" with the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics.

Dr. Brad Stahlheber was arrested at Muskogee Community Hospital where he works.  Agents say he admitted buying steroids over the Internet and using them for cosmetic reasons.

Dr. Gary Lee faces charges of writing more than 30 steroid prescriptions to a couple of competitive bodybuilders and a power hitter on a national softball team.

And, in Oklahoma City, Darrell Terrell, an amateur bodybuilder who's been featured in national magazines and city firefighter Sherry Smith, both face charges after a search of their home turned up steroids and syringes.

Agents tell The News On 6 the case is not over.  It has taken them to the East Coast and federal charges are involved, but they can't talk about that yet because those indictments are currently sealed.