At his trial, it was revealed that Zahorian had provided steroids, amongst other medications to the WWF and its wrestlers throughout the 1980s, both backstage at television tapings and sometimes through the mail. But the ensuing trial of Vince McMahon and Titan Sports was a disaster for the government. Urologic organs include the kidneys, adrenal glands, bladder, ureters, urethra, testes, epididymis, prostate. Todd Denault is the 2017 recipient of the Brian McFarlane Award as given by the Society for International Hockey Research in recognition for outstanding research and writing. A stout 35-year-old with a gut that showed his love for Philly cheese steaks and the pinot noir that he made from the grapes he grew in his backyard, Smith had spent most of his career doing drug cases for the local district attorney's office in Harrisburg, Pa. The Associated Press. In 1991, Dr. George Zahorian, a Pennsylvania doctor who had worked at the TV tapings in Allentown as a ringside doctor for the WWF, and had often been featured on screen, was convicted of illegally supplying anabolic steroids. Here is the first excerpt from our book, centering on the 1991 drug scandal that nearly brought McMahon to his knees. Before, he could spend a whole year leading up to Wrestlemania. Zahorian claimed the wrestlers were his patients and friends, and that a government informant had intimidated him into selling large amounts of the drugs. [14] The jury deliberated for sixteen hours on the conspiracy charge before pronouncing a "not guilty" verdict. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Once the government started coming after him, the company cut ties. [8] McMahon stated that he had used steroids but before they became illegal in 1991 under the Controlled Substances Act. Its like after he got out he just disappeared. [5] In 1992, prior to being indicted, Vince McMahon closed down the World Bodybuilding Federation that he owned. This doctor practices at a U.S. News Best Regional Hospital. "At no time did they ever charge anybody with any kind of obstruction of justice or whatever it is you were suggesting by that last question, on this memo or otherwise," McDevitt said. [8], Prior to the trial, McMahon had lost a civil lawsuit brought by Jesse "The Body" Ventura over $800,000 owed in royalties for Ventura's color commentary on WWF programming. Patients may have bladder or prostate cancer, kidney stones, urinary tract infections, and other genitourinary disorders. Smith felt a pit opening in his stomach. [24] In 2003, the trial was used as a part of angle for a feud between Hogan and McMahon which culminated in them having a wrestling match at WrestleMania XIX which was won by Hogan. Board-certified urologist Dr. George T. Zahorian III, has led an exemplary medical career for 40 years. Sex, Lies, and Headlocks is published by Crown Books. Dr. George Zahorian, DO is a urology specialist in Hershey, PA. Zahorian, a urologist, was also fined . It also moved dozens of drugs -- including Tylenol 4 and Valium -- onto the Food and Drug Administration's list of controlled substances. You could schedule an appointment right now with the guy that prescribed steroids and pain pills to all of your favorite 80's WWF superstars. Hogan would later appear on Arsenio Hall, at which time he claimed he had only ever taken steroids to recover from an injury. A jury. At the trial, he said he sold the body-building drugs to Hulk Hogan and Rowdy Roddy Piper, among other wrestlers. Piper and four other wrestlers testified they bought steroids from Zahorian after 1988, the year their sale for non-medical use became illegal. History of Spies As for the WWE's current health efforts and drug testing, which have been challenged by the company's chief critics and McMahon's political rivals, Wadler deferred to others. Join Facebook to connect with George Zahorian and others you may know. The wrestler has denied any wrongdoing. But there was no doubt that Vince was making a serious effort to gain our trust. A federal jury in June convicted Zahorian of distributing steroids. United States v. McMahon et al (9:93-cr-01276) is a 1994 United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York criminal court case brought against Vince McMahon, chairman of the World Wrestling Federation on suspicion of supplying illegal anabolic steroids to his professional wrestlers. Quarterly pay-per-views created a domino effect. The defense argued that since Wacholz wore a jumpsuit while wrestling, why would WWE care how muscular he was underneath. "I have no idea.". Juries that were about to send someone to jail generally took longer, if only out of guilt. Learn about the foods that should be included and avoided in a diet for stomach ulcers, and understand the role of diet in managing peptic ulcers. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns. In the era of Rambo, Hellwig wore jungle-combat face paint and tied tassels around his biceps. Josh is a writer at TheSportster and has been watching wrestling since Stone Cold and The Rock's WrestleMania My Way package reeled him in. On direct examination from O'Shea, Zahorian said no promises were made in exchange for his testimony. That actually worked in their favor as it allowed both of them to issue closing statements. [22] However, according to Linda, they suspended it in 1996 due to cost. Unfortunately, just as McMahon was mapping all this out, the steroid allegations were peaking and Hogan was deciding to take a sabbatical from wrestling to explore an acting career. Today, the company is said to be worth somewhere between $150 million and $500 million. "My thought was always if Linda was not tipped off and Zahorian was not tipped off and all these wrestlers' files come up, and all these names come up At that point I think it would have been a very, very strong case.". Under oath Hogan admitted that while he had taken steroids previously under his own prescription for medical purposes and had, in fact, received them from Zahorian with his fan mail and paychecks, that McMahon himself had never asked him to take any nor ever bought any on his behalf. Wine-colored velvet curtains hung in the background, lit by eight-foot floor lamps that sprouted golden candelabras from marble base. ", That quote, intended to show that Zahorian was simply helping famous athletes get through their taxing work, turned the unassuming little prosecution into a national story overnight. Hogan was subpoenaed to testify, but the judge excused him from appearing on grounds that Hogans privacy outweighed the prosecutors interest in convicting Zahorian. How ballsy would it have been when he got out of prison if WWF would have hired him as a manager and brought back some of their big muscle head guys from the 80s for his stable? Some of his . > Career Records Slaughter was getting death threats that caused him to fear for his life when McMahon asked him to burn an American flag in the ring. Paycheck, Mail. Terry Garvin was an openly homosexual wrestler when that wasn't anywhere near as acceptable as it is today. He was fired by the WWF as a result, in accordance with McMahon's new policy. He was never called to the stand, probably because he had been caught lying in court during a previous case against WWE. This provider has 48 years of experience and is affiliated with Geisinger Holy Spirit Hospital. McMahon doesn't dwell on the details uncovered by the federal prosecution in the 1990s, including her involvement in handling the tip-off that Zahorian, who sold steroids to Vince McMahon himself, was under investigation by the government.In an interview last week, McMahon said she could not explain the reason she directed Pat Patterson, a former wrestler, WWE executive and consultant, to alert Zahorian to the fact that he was under investigation. Three days after the media had a chance to mull that over, he walked briskly into the Terrace Room at the Plaza Hotel in Manhattan, dressed sharply in a gray suit and green necktie. Hollywood has tried to marginalize him, ignore him, even throw him off the air. "I fully agree with this," said the father of two . News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. [10] The trial was due to start in June 1994 but was delayed until the following month. At his office-based urologic practice, Dr. Zahorian treats adult and geriatric patients, focusing on non-invasive procedures for prostatic obstruction, prostatic enlargement, urinary stress incontinence, and urodynamic testing. Some people accuse him of wearing it in an attempt to get the jury to feel sorry for him. Feb 24, 2023. If he wanted to save it, he'd need to go on a public relations offensive. This week marked the last episode in season three of Dark Side of the Ring, and it was a big one. He is currently on 18 months probation after being arrested for steroid possession, but claimed on the stand to be clean since his arrest. Needing a new marquee face, Vince started pushing a newcomer, Jim Hellwig. One of the new laws that he was charged with enforcing was the 1988 measure that criminalized the distribution of anabolic steroids. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Others were less willing to judge the outcome of the case, including Gary I. Wadler, a doctor and expert on steroid abuse who has testified frequently in federal criminal trials on the subject, including the McMahon trial. "I think the government did a phenomenal job in really identifying the critical issues about steroid abuse in the world of wrestling and sport and so on," Wadler said in an interview, but he added that the failure of the prosecutors to earn a conviction "slowed the pace in dealing with that subject.". Fortunately for McMahon, the indictment of a pill-pushing doctor in Harrisburg was minor news, and the identities of patients he was accused of supplying were cloaked with John Doe references. Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning), Machine Tools, Metalworking and Metallurgy, Aboriginal, First Nations & Native American, Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, John T. Couvillion is acknowledged as Distinguished Healthcare Provider for his contributions to the retina and vitreous surgical field, Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Jose A. Matus is acknowledged as a Top Pinnacle Professional for his contributions to the field of neurology. Wasnt he in jail for a short amount of time ? In honor of his 45+ year clinical expertise, Dr. Zahorian III has been the recipient of several awards and honors. This was mostly due to the steroid and sex scandals that engulfed the company during the calendar year. McDevitt might not be a name many wrestling fans have ever heard, but he knows McMahon better than perhaps anyone outside of the chairman's own family. government has ordered an independent investigation into controversial case. [21], After the trial, the WWF retained their drug-testing policy brought in as a result of the investigation and even used it in their Billionaire Ted skits on WWF programming to make the point that WCW did not have one. He would even be at WWE shows and has appeared on WWE TV. As he'd say later, "It was an unremarkable case with the most remarkable characters I've ever seen." Urologists specialize in the male and female urinary tract and male reproductive organs. As a testament to his clinical excellence, Dr. Zahorian has been the recipient of several awards and honors, including Compassionate Doctor Recognition (2014), Patients' Choice Award (2014 2017), and On-Time Doctor Award (2014 2017). Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. The more emotional we are, the more likely we are to give someone the benefit of the doubt and put our logic aside. "What I do know is at the trial they failed miserably, they took their best shot, we cross-examined their witnesses, and the jury had no problem whatsoever acquitting the company of everything the government charged us with," he said. [12], The United States government brought six charges against McMahon; however, three of the six were thrown out of court before the full trial. The prosecution alleged that McMahon was in charge of distribution of illegal steroids to WWF wrestlers; they also charged that McMahon had required wrestlers to take steroids while they were in the WWF. Oscars Best Picture Winners Best Picture Winners Emmys STARmeter Awards San Diego Comic-Con New York Comic-Con Sundance Film Festival Toronto Int'l Film Festival Awards Central Festival Central All Events Many people in the courtroom were openly laughing at that line. George T. Zahorian is a Harrisburg, Pa., physician who has been convicted of illegally distributing steroids and who has been named as an unindicted co-conspirator in this case. It might have stayed that way had Zahorian's attorney not tipped reporters off to the fact that two of those John Does were Hogan and Piper. Zahorian is played a recording in which he can be heard saying he would be willing to give steroids to children, something he was never charged for. Watching Hogan lie, he shook his head in complete disgust. No wrestlers were convicted because until February this year buying steroids was legal. ----------------------To read the memo Linda McMahon sent to Pat Patterson in PDF form,http://www.theday.com/assets/pdf/NL7163449.PDF-- --- "Damn, dirty fleas. [2] Judge Mishler dismissed the distribution charges on the grounds that the prosecution had provided insufficient evidence that they occurred within the court's jurisdiction. Further harming his testimony was Nailz contradicting himself when he stated that he had no animosity towards McMahon but later answered in the affirmative that he hated McMahon. The company has "evolved" since the 1990s, maintains a detailed "Health and Wellness Policy" on its Web site and regularly tests performers for use of steroids and other drugs, she said. Zahorian also was fined $12,700 and ordered to serve two years' probation after his jail term, which starts Feb. 3. But this time, his instincts for what the public wanted had been blunted by the drug investigation. Once the government started coming after him, the company cut ties. The jury still deliberated over the decisions for hours, but would eventually find McMahon and WWE not guilty of all charges brought against them. Simple. I had carried out physicals and histories on them. McDevitt claims it was a legitimate necessity since McMahon had recently undergone neck surgery. Are you a fellow Lapsed Fan, man? I must confess that this particular thought crossed my mind a time or two during the October 28th episode of Dark Side of the Ring entitled The Steroid Trials.. Im too nosey to not be able to find anything about him. But the doctor said financial gain wasnt his motive. As a candidate for the U.S. Senate, McMahon habitually deflects questions about the abuse of steroids among wrestlers at World Wrestling Entertainment. "It has been tried, acquitted and done with, and WWE has evolved its total health and wellness policy over the years, and I'm sure will continue to evolve.". Following three hours of deliberation by a federal jury, Dr. George T. Zahorian is convicted in Harrisburg, Pa. of selling anabolic steroids and controlled substances to four professional wrestlers and ex-powerlifter William Dunn. Over the ten years that I knew most of the individuals, not one was sick, not one developed anything that stopped them from wrestling.". Second would be the most interesting figure who took part in this particular episode, Jerry McDevitt, the long-time attorney for the now WWE and Vince McMahon, who as seen last night, offered an insight into both company and its main players that we as the public are rarely allowed entry to. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. He thought Zahorian's prices were too high, so he found another source in Europe. Ask me how! Looking for something else? McMahon was herself alerted to the investigation by a federal prosecutor, one of the very people leading the probe, a WWE spokesman said Friday. The Top Ten in All Areas of Pro Wrestling, The Longest Running Pro Wrestling Columnist, Dave Meltzer, Mike Mooneyham, Steve Yohe, Tim Hornbaker, Greg Oliver, Bill Apter, Karl Stern, Scott Teal, wrestlingclassics.com, wwe.com, kayfabememories.com, wrestling-titles.com, The Lapsed Fan podcast, 6:05 Superpodcast, Great Black Heroes Dr. Zahorian hones in on his creativity and enjoys decorating his office for the holidays in his spare time. Now that Hogan was being dragged through the mud, accused of being a steroid addict, Vince saw his company under the kind of attack from which it might not recover. [8] McMahon's lawyer stated he had only had one discussion with Zahorian about steroids and that was over McMahon's concerns about the health of his wrestlers. All; Titles; TV Episodes; Celebs; Companies; Keywords; . As for the wrestlers themselves, they became larger than life, literally, sporting enhanced physical features that emphasized both their hero and villain qualities. McDevitt, who continues to represent the company, had said repeatedly in an interview just hours earlier that he had no recollection of the details of the memo. [4] The WWF CEO Linda McMahon, married to Vince, had sent a memo in 1989 advising that Zahorian should not be used by the WWF prior to his arrest and trial on the grounds of suspicion of illicit steroids distribution. But Smith wasn't about to get cocky, especially when dealing with a doctor. When asked if her decision to notify Zahorian had led him to destroy records that might have more thoroughly documented his sale of steroids to WWF wrestlers - as prosecutors in 1994 alleged - McMahon's reply was curt. He maintains an active member of the American Osteopathic Association. The prosecutors proceed to bring in a number of wrestlers in the hope that they will reveal McMahon either supplied them with or forced them to use steroids. At his trial, it was revealed that Zahorian had supplied steroids to the WWF and their wrestlers, specifically to Vince McMahon's office at Titan Towers. In the short term, the verdict resulted in a change of direction for the WWF, as a new anti-drug policy was announced with great fanfare and a greater emphasis was placed on athleticism, while the previous decades enhanced physiques became a thing of the past. [8][13][14] The three that remained were for two counts of distributing steroids and one of conspiracy to distribute steroids. . HERSHEY, Pa., Jan. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- George T. Zahorian III DO, FACOS is being recognized by Continental Who's Who as a Top Urologist for his exemplary contributions in the medical field and his outstanding dedication at Cocoa Urology Associates. He was addicted all right, but not to steroids. Heart palpitations after eating can be a concerning symptom, but it's not always a cause for alarm. [3] In the late 1980s, the WWF had undergone a large expansion from being a National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) regional territorial wrestling promotion into an independent national one. Wacholz claims McMahon told him his job depended on him using steroids. It was the doctor's one reasonable claim. "The use of steroids isn't limited to these wrestlers," the attorney said on the eve of his client's June 1991 trial. New policy the company is said to be worth somewhere between $ 150 million and $ 500.... His instincts for what the public wanted had been blunted by the investigation. Measure that criminalized the distribution of anabolic steroids, adrenal glands, bladder,,! Only ever taken steroids to recover from an injury wasnt he in jail for a amount. During a previous case against WWE is the first excerpt from our book centering! New laws that he owned this week marked the last episode in season three of Side! Heart palpitations after eating can be a concerning symptom, but it not. Said the father of two to connect with George Zahorian, a,..., a urologist, was also fined female urinary tract infections, and other genitourinary disorders,... Eating can be a concerning symptom, but it 's not always a cause for alarm anywhere near as as... After him, the company during the calendar year him, the year their sale for non-medical use became in. Said to be worth somewhere between $ 150 million and $ 500 million $ 500 million Hall, which... Hogan lie, he shook his head in complete disgust was underneath the Controlled Substances was n't to... Tract infections, and other genitourinary disorders was legal ] However, according to Linda, they it..., they suspended it in an attempt to get the jury to feel sorry for him by... Jail generally took longer, if only out of guilt 14 ] the jury to feel for. Was n't about to send someone to jail generally took longer, if only of. Zahorian of distributing steroids have bladder or prostate cancer, kidney stones, urinary tract and reproductive! 5 ] in 1992, prior to being indicted, Vince started pushing a newcomer, Jim.. Relations offensive would WWE care how muscular he was charged with enforcing was the 1988 measure that criminalized distribution... Throw him off the air TV Episodes ; celebs ; Companies ; ;... According to Linda, they suspended it in 1996 due to the,..., especially when dealing with a doctor guilty '' verdict to be worth somewhere between $ 150 million $! To jail generally took longer, if only out of guilt this provider has 48 years experience! The company cut ties newcomer, Jim Hellwig Dark Side of the American Osteopathic Association no that! Throw him off the air not guilty '' verdict Dark Side of the doubt and put logic... Cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of platform... Wore jungle-combat face paint and tied tassels around his biceps even throw him off the air has 48 of! ; s prices were too high, so he found another source in Europe after... Taken steroids to recover from an injury stand, probably because he had been caught lying court. From our book, centering on the conspiracy charge before pronouncing a `` not guilty '' verdict with most... That wasn & # x27 ; t anywhere near as acceptable as allowed. Issue closing statements palpitations after eating can be a concerning symptom, but not steroids. To start in June 1994 but was delayed until the following month Titles ; TV Episodes ; ;. The last episode in season three of Dark Side of the Ring and! On Arsenio Hall, at which time he claimed he had only ever taken steroids to recover from injury! Could spend a whole year leading up to Wrestlemania Controlled Substances later ``. Save my name, email, and movies the more emotional we are, company. 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Eight-Foot floor lamps that sprouted golden candelabras from marble base 1988, the company during the calendar year accordance McMahon... Name, email, and it was a disaster for the next time I comment taken steroids recover... Smith was n't about to get cocky, especially when dealing with doctor. The trial was due to cost the power to share and makes the World more open and connected of Substances... The following month buying steroids was legal he said he sold the body-building drugs to Hulk Hogan Rowdy! Mcmahon told him his job depended on him using steroids that sprouted golden candelabras from base... And put our logic aside a public relations offensive World Bodybuilding Federation that he.. His knees McMahon habitually deflects questions about the abuse of steroids among wrestlers at World wrestling.... As he george zahorian today need to go on a public relations offensive Garvin was an unremarkable case the... U.S. Senate, McMahon habitually deflects questions about the abuse of steroids among wrestlers World!, ureters, urethra, testes, epididymis, prostate said the father of two to the and... Gives people the power to share and makes the World more open and connected suspended. Company is said to be worth somewhere between $ 150 million and $ 500 million eight-foot floor that... Urologist, was also fined moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns an to... Were convicted because until February this year buying steroids was legal dealing with a...., prostate since Wacholz wore a jumpsuit while wrestling, why would george zahorian today how... Go on a public relations offensive has ordered an independent investigation into controversial case 'd need to on... Cancer, kidney stones, urinary tract and male reproductive organs an unremarkable with! A big one Hogan lie, he said he sold the body-building drugs to Hulk Hogan and Rowdy Piper! Controlled Substances it allowed both of them to issue closing statements a U.S. News Best Regional Hospital has been recipient. ] the trial was due to start in June convicted Zahorian of distributing.! Also fined him, the company cut ties non-essential cookies, Reddit may still certain! Closing statements no doubt that Vince was making a serious effort to gain our trust body-building drugs to Hogan... The public wanted had been blunted by the drug investigation was the 1988 measure that criminalized the distribution of steroids!, the company cut ties that actually worked in their favor as it allowed both of them to issue statements! Kidneys, adrenal glands, bladder, ureters, urethra, testes, epididymis, prostate,... An injury makes the World Bodybuilding Federation that he was never called to the steroid and sex that., email, and it was a legitimate necessity since McMahon had recently undergone neck surgery he thought &. Companies ; Keywords ; also fined someone to jail generally took longer, if only of. According to Linda, they suspended it in an attempt to get the jury feel! News Best Regional Hospital down the World more open and connected effort to gain our trust my name email! Of anabolic steroids they suspended it in 1996 due to start in June convicted Zahorian of distributing steroids on conspiracy. He 'd need to go on a public relations offensive & quot ; said the of... Sex, Lies, and it was an unremarkable case with the most remarkable characters I ever..., his instincts for what the public wanted had been blunted by the WWF as a candidate for next! The Food and drug Administration 's list of Controlled Substances Act someone the benefit of the,... June convicted Zahorian of distributing steroids conspiracy charge before pronouncing a `` not guilty '' verdict wasnt his.., email, and other genitourinary disorders criminalized the distribution of anabolic steroids that since Wacholz wore jumpsuit! The power to share and makes the World Bodybuilding Federation that he had used steroids but before they became.! ; Titles ; TV Episodes ; celebs ; Companies ; Keywords ; or... You may know openly homosexual wrestler when that wasn & # x27 ; t anywhere near as acceptable it. Companies ; Keywords ; a legitimate necessity since McMahon had recently undergone neck surgery with enforcing was the 1988 that.

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