Source: http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2003560001-2007400628,00.html
IN the most decisive move of its kind in the history of the wrestling business, the WWE have suspended many of their biggest name wrestlers for breaking drug rules.
The action came after the 10 men allegedly including former world champions Edge, King Booker and Randy Orton as well as Mr Kennedy and ECW champ John Morrison were identified as clients of Signature Pharmacy in Orlando.
That company was busted by cops in February for the distribution of steroids and other prescription drugs to clients who had not been examined by a doctor.
It has now been established that their patient list included the 10 grapplers.
Chris Benoit - who murdered his wife and seven-year-old son - was also a client, as was the late Eddie Guerrero who died from heart failure linked to years of drug abuse.
Vince McMahons company released an official statement saying: Based on independent information received from investigators from the Albany County, NY D.A.s office, WWE has today, under the penalty provisions of its Wellness Policy, issued suspension notices to 10 of its performers for violations.
It has been WWEs practice not to release the names of those who have been suspended, but notice has been sent to all WWE performers that names of anyone who is suspended under the Wellness Policy as of November 1 will be made public.
Despite the companys unwillingness to reveal names at this point they have been leaked to the American press.
The New York Daily News has speculated that the ten are Randy Orton, Charlie Haas, Edge, King Booker, Shane Helms, Santino Marella, John Morrison, William Regal, Ken Kennedy and Chavo Guerrero.
Ironically many have recently gone on the record to claim both they and the wrestling business were clean of steroids.
Just last week, when we questioned him over the large number of drug-related deaths in the industry, Kennedy told The Sun: I’d say we did have problems, because I honestly don’t think we have those problems any more.
And if you look at the list of guys that have passed away, they are all from that era where there was a rock star type of party atmosphere in the business.
Kennedy then claimed he had taken steroids but stopped when the WWE instituted their Wellness Policy and testing programme after the death of Eddie in November 2005.
He added: I stopped taking them and I had the biggest push of my life.
I didn’t take any steroids and that’s the thing, nowadays, in our business, you don’t have to take that stuff in order to get a push.
The Wrestling Observers Dave Meltzer took a sceptical tone over the WWEs actions, noting: Congress will be holding hearings about performance enhancing drug usage in pro wrestling at the end of the month.
That likely at least partially explains the rash of suspensions, because the government likely had knowledge of who was on the list and if WWE didn’t discipline those people, they’d get raked over the coals publicly for it.
When you look at the list of the people that have been suspended maybe Booker the only shock. Least shocking was Randy Orton or John Morrison(Nitro). Wwe are really cleaning their act up. It will be interesting to see how this will affect current feuds especially Randy Orton. I though he might take the title off Cena but not now.