'Steroid king’ in court

Published Feb 3, 2013

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Johannesburg - An alleged high-profile supplier of steroids intends fighting a request by US authorities to extradite him in a Cape Town court, the Sunday Times reports.

Brian Wainstein, dubbed the “Steroid King”, had allegedly been supplying illegal steroids worth millions for over a decade.

He was granted bail by the Cape Town Magistrate's Court last week.

He has South African and Israeli citizenship.

Wainstein, who was on Interpol's wanted list, was arrested in Cape Town in mid-January after being in the country for a few months.

Wainstein's attorney, Brett Carnegie, told the newspaper that lawyers were going to fight the extradition request.

“We were well aware of the charges coming and we're prepared to fight them. We have briefed advocates to contest the extradition vigorously.”

An indictment by US prosecutors alleges Wainstein ran an anabolic steroids distribution operation, along with his wife and others, since 2004.

The Sunday Times reported that according to US court papers he had made a net profit of R76 million.

He also apparently faces charges in the US of smuggling human growth hormone and falsely branding drugs.

Carnegie told the newspaper Wainstein would co-operate with authorities, but that he rejected the allegations.

“We've seen the papers and we deny it.” - Sapa

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