Defense: Pistorius substance not banned
By The Associated Press
This article was published February 20, 2013 at 8:09 a.m.
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PRETORIA, South Africa — A substance found in Oscar Pistorius’ bedroom was an “herbal remedy” and not banned, his defense lawyer said Wednesday, after police claimed they discovered two boxes of testosterone and needles in the Olympic athlete’s house.
Police Detective Warrant Officer Hilton Botha claimed in Pistorius’ bail hearing in a South African court that testosterone was found in his bedroom. Pistorius has been charged with premeditated murder in the shooting death of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
Botha said police made the discovery in the double-amputee runner and multiple Paralympic champion’s upscale Pretoria house but offered no further details or explanation. State prosecutor Gerrie Nel also had to correct Botha when he initially called the substance “steroids.”
Pistorius’ lawyer, Barry Roux, said on questioning the detective — who has 16 years’ experience as a detective and 24 years with the police — that it was not a banned substance and that police were trying to give the discovery a “negative connotation.”
“It is an herbal remedy,” Roux said. “It is not a steroid, and it is not a banned substance.”
It was not immediately clear what the substance was.
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RBBrittain says... February 20, 2013 at 2:03 p.m.
Even if he beats the murder rap, I'm sure the Olympic anti-doping agency in South Africa needs to know EXACTLY what that "herbal remedy" is. It might not be LEGALLY banned in South Africa, but that does NOT mean it isn't banned at the Olympics.
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