NEWS: Herald Sun - 20/02/07 'Customs swoop on Stallone'

Customs swoop on Stallone
Gerard McManus and Nicolette Burke
February 20, 2007 12:00am

AUTHORITIES raided superstar Sylvester Stallone's private jet and hotel yesterday after he was seen allegedly trying to dump illegal substances from the balcony of his luxury suite.

Customs officers grounded the actor's private jet to stop him leaving Australia and executed search warrants on his five-star Sydney hotel room, his executive jet and airport limousine.

Stallone, 60, was preparing to return to Los Angeles after promoting his latest Rocky movie when authorities arrived at the Park Hyatt.

Customs officers were serving a summons on the actor after an investigation into prohibited substances found in his luggage when he arrived last Friday.

But high-level government sources told the Herald Sun officers swooped when they allegedly noticed "suspicious activity" inside his suite.

The source said Stallone was seen allegedly trying to throw objects off his hotel room's balcony.

Customs then requested search warrants to search Stallone's suite, his limousine and his private jet for any prohibited substances.

It is believed the Customs investigation centres on whether Stallone may have been in possession of banned body-building steroids.

Stallone was eventually allowed to fly out last night, but Customs is analysing seized material and continuing its investigation.

Customs officers were serving a minor summons on the Rocky and Rambo star about 3pm.

The summons would have resulted in Stallone or his legal representative appearing in court at a later date.

Stallone was eventually permitted to fly out about 6pm after the searches were completed.

If found to have been in possession of illegal substances Stallone could be banned from visiting Australia again.

The maximum penalty for importing performance and image-enhancing drugs is up to five years in jail and/or $110,000 in fines, according to Customs' website.

A Customs spokesman said last night that the investigation into Stallone was ongoing.

"There is a range of options we can pursue in these circumstances," a spokesperson said.

"The investigation is ongoing and we are aware of Mr Stallone's travel movements.

"The material has to be identified and we have to look at all the options and the evidence before deciding what action to take."

Sunday's two-hour detention at Sydney airport resulted in Stallone's luggage being X-rayed, searched and seized.

Stallone later said the search was a "misunderstanding" and Customs were doing a great job.

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Sly 'tried to import hormone'
March 13, 2007 10:39am

HOLLYWOOD muscleman Sylvester Stallone tried to bring 48 vials of human growth hormone into Australia, a Sydney court has been told.

The 60-year-old movie star did not appear in the Downing Centre Local Court today where charges against him for importing a banned substance were briefly mentioned.

The Australian Customs Service has charged Stallone with one count of importing a prohibited import.

Stallone was detained at Sydney Airport on February 16 after prohibited substances were allegedly found in his luggage.

The maximum fine for the offence is $110,000, but the maximum financial penalty a local court can impose is $22,000.

Stallone was in Sydney last month for the premiere of his new film Rocky Balboa and left after three days.

Magistrate David Heilern adjourned the matter to the same court for a plea on April 24.

Stallone is excused from attending on that occasion if he is represented by his lawyer, Robert Todd.

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Stallone on growth hormone charge
Leonie Lamont
March 13, 2007 - 11:10AM

Stallone ... accused of importing 48 vials of the banned hormone.


American actor Sylvester Stallone was summonsed to appear in a Sydney court today charged with importing a prohibited import aboard a commercial flight into Australia in February.

Stallone, 60, was issued with the court attendance notice to apear at Downing Local Court today, following a Customs service investigation into his alleged importation of performance and image enhancing drugs - namely 48 vials of human growth hormone.

His solicitor Robert Todd told magistrate David Heilpern that he was seeking an adjournment and wanted to gather more material.

If found guilty, Stallone faces a maximum fine of $22,000 in the local courts jurisdiction.

He came to the attention of authorities after a routine baggage search at Sydney Airport allegedly unearthed a prohibited substance.

Court documents allege customs officers found five boxes of the growth hormone Jintropin when Stallone got off Qantas flight QF8 from the United States on February 16.

Stallone was visiting Australia in February to promote his latest film Rocky Balboa.

It is alleged that Stallone ticked the ''no box'' when asked to declare whether he was bringing in restricted or prohibited goods ''such as medicines, steroids, firearms or any kind of illicit drugs''.

Court documents alleged Jintropin, whose active ingredient Somatropin, is a human growth hormone, is not a product approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, and is not a recognised treatment for any medical condition.

Stallone, who has been excused from attending court at the next scheduled date, will be required to enter a plea on April 24.


Human growth hormone

Jintropin is one of several brands of growth hormone used to treat deficiencies in young girls with Turner's Syndrome, a genetic disorder that leads to infertility and short stature.

Associate Professor Fergus Cameron, Deputy Director of Endocrinology and Diabetes at Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital, said Jintropin is a "mainstream, stock-standard'' drug that is medically identical to its competing brands.

The Children's Hospital gains permission for the drug's importation through the Growth Hormone Advisory Centre (GHAC).

Human growth hormones are also prescribed to adults with growth deficiencies, to improve muscle bulk and bone density.

A report in the Journal of the American Medical Association said human growth hormones are also taken illegally for reasons including reverse ageing and enhanced sexual function.

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Stallone denied having drugs: court papers
By Katherine Danks
March 13, 2007 02:16pm

HOLLYWOOD star Sylvester Stallone denied having restricted drugs shortly before 48 vials of human growth hormone were found in his luggage, a Sydney court was told today.

The vials of Jintropin were allegedly found in five boxes during a routine X-ray of the 60-year-old muscleman's personal luggage when he arrived at Sydney airport on a Qantas flight from the US on February 16.

Jintropin is the brand name for a drug whose active ingredient, somatropin, is a human growth hormone that can assist body builders.

Human growth hormone has also been linked to anti-ageing therapies.

Australian laws prohibit the import of natural and manufactured growth hormones without a permit.

Stallone, who left Australia on February 19 after promoting his new film Rocky Balboa, chose not to appear in Downing Centre Local Court today where he was charged over the alleged importation.

Magistrate David Heilpern granted Stallone's solicitor Robert Todd a six-week adjournment after being told the defence needed to gather more material.

Court documents allege Stallone circled the "no" box when asked on his incoming passenger card if he was bringing in restricted or prohibited goods "such as medicines, steroids, firearms, weapons, or any kind of illicit drugs".

Three days later, Stallone was handed a court attendance notice for the alleged offence of importing a prohibited import by Douglas Nicholl, the Australian Customs Service (ACS) director of investigations NSW.

On that day, customs officials reportedly raided Stallone's room at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Sydney.

Court documents say the US Food and Drug Administration has not approved Jintropin and that the drug is not a recognised treatment for any medical condition.

"You have not been validly prescribed the goods by a medical practitioner for any medical condition suffered by you and for which the goods are recognised medical treatment," the documents allege.

The maximum fine for the offence is $110,000, but if found guilty, Stallone would face a maximum financial penalty of $22,000 because the charge is being dealt with in a local court.

Stallone is required to enter a plea on April 24 but he is excused from appearing.

Stallone has based much of his movie success on his physical appearance and prowess, and over the years has pursued bodybuilding, exercise and nutrition regimes, as well as marketing nutritional supplements.

His official website dedicates a section to exercise and nutrition but also includes a 1991 interview in which he is quoted as saying steroids merely make you "a cumbersome, ape-like goon".

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lv2ski said:

i would never advocate for someone being busted (hell we spend much of our time and threads trying not to be)but damn, do u really think an average joe would only cop a fine (as big as it would be to us) if we brough almost 50 viles of an illegal drug into a country

im stressing about a gram of coke at a party where there may be dogs, sly's got no reason to be stressed about 50 viles!

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Stallone had banned hormone
By Lisa Davies
May 15, 2007 12:00

HOLLYWOOD star Sylvester Stallone has admitted having testosterone, which is outlawed in Australia, and importing another controlled substance.

More details of the Rocky hunk's case have emerged in a Sydney court late this morning.

He made international headlines when he was hauled aside by customs officers - and then had his hotel room and jet raided by officials - when he arrived in Sydney to spruik the latest instalment of the boxing movie earlier this year.

Officers found vials of a banned human growth hormone amongst the musclebound actor's possessions.

Today his lawyers pleaded guilty on the star's behalf to one count of importing the controlled substance Jintropin, a human growth hormone, without a prescription.

He also pleaded guilty to one count of possessing testosterone. He had four vials of the substance, which is completely banned in Australia.

The court heard that when Customs officers raided the star's suite at the Park Hyatt hotel in Sydney , he threw the drug out of the window - and it landed in a garden box.

Today Stallone, 60, was due to appear by video link from LA in the Downing Street Local court today.

But his lawyers decided that was unnecessary and pleaded guilty on his behalf.

The hearing is continuing and Deputy Chief Magsitrate Paul Cloran is to decide on a punishment later today.

The muscle-bound star was on a promotional tour for his latest film Rocky Balboa when Australian Customs officers searched his bags on February 16 as he entered Sydney airport.

At the first court hearing in mid-March, documents tendered alleged officers discovered five boxes packed with 48 vials of Jintropin - a brand name for the human growth hormone somatropin.

Stallone, who had returned to the US, was not required to appear in court and was represented by his Australian solicitor Robert Todd.

The court heard Stallone had filled out an incoming passenger card before his arrival, but circled “no'' next to the section which asked if he was carrying prohibited goods such as steroids.

He then allegedly continued through Customs with the vials of Jintropin in his personal luggage after landing with his entourage for the tour.

Three days after Stallone’s controversial arrival he also received a visit from Customs officials at the exclusive Park Hyatt Hotel in The Rocks, where he was staying while spruiking his film.

It was there that Customs officials charged him with one count of importing a prohibited import and gave him a court attendance notice.

The notice handed to Stallone said Jintropin was banned under the Customs Act, was not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and was not a recognised treatment for any medical condition.

“You (Stallone) have not been validly prescribed the goods by a medical practitioner for any medical condition suffered by you and for which the goods are recognised medical treatment,'' it stated.

At Stallone’s next court hearing a month later, on April 24, Stallone’s legal team presented medical evidence in defence of allegations he imported 48 vials of an illegal human growth hormone into Sydney earlier this year.

Once again the star did not front court, where his lawyers indicated they were in talks with Customs over the medical material.

The story became a worldwide sensation in February when the star's Sydney hotel room was raided by Customs officers, who also searched his private plane.

Earlier this month Stallone banned Australian media from his movie launch in Los Angeles.

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Stallone pleads guilty to drug charges
May 15, 2007 - 10:00AM

Hollywood star Sylvester Stallone has pleaded guilty to bringing vials of human growth hormone into Australia.

Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court has been told Stallone admitted two charges of importing a prohibited import when he arrived at Sydney airport from the US in February.

A previous court hearing was told vials of Jintropin were found in five boxes during a routine x-ray of the 60-year-old's personal luggage.

Jintropin is the brand name for a drug which has as its active ingredient Somatropin a human growth hormone that can assist bodybuilders.

Australian laws prohibit the import of natural and manufactured growth hormones without a permit.

Stallone left Australia in February after promoting his new film Rocky Balboa.

Court documents say the US Food and Drug Administration hasn't approved Jintropin and the drug isn't a recognised treatment for any medical condition.

The maximum fine for the offence is $110,000 but Stallone faces a maximum penalty of $22,000 because the charge is being dealt with in a local court.

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Rocky star fined over hormones
May 21, 2007

HOLLYWOOD star Sylvester Stallone has been handed a bill of almost $13,000 for bringing banned hormones into Australia.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Paul Cloran fined Stallone $2975 for the offence and ordered him to pay the prosecution costs of $10,000.

The 60-year-old actor had earlier pleaded guilty in the Downing Centre Local Court to importing 45 vials of human growth hormone and possessing four vials of testosterone

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Stallone gets drug fine and criminal record
Tracy Ong
May 22, 2007

HOLLYWOOD action hero Sylvester Stallone has picked up a criminal record after a Sydney court found he tried to deceive Customs officers by presenting a false prescription for 48 vials of human growth hormone.

In a high-profile bust for the Australian Customs Service, the Rambo and Rocky star was fined $2975 in the Downing Centre Local Court yesterday for importing 48 vials of the Chinese-manufactured Jintropin hormone and not declaring four vials of testosterone.

He was ordered to pay $10,000 in court costs.

Although the fines are a drop in the ocean for an actor who commands fees of up to $20million a film, he must now declare the two criminal convictions whenever he travels overseas.

Five boxes, containing 48 vials of Jintropin, were found when Stallone's bags were randomly X-rayed at Sydney airport on February 16.

He was in Australia to promote Rocky Balboa, the sixth film in the boxing franchise.

The 60-year-old muscle man told Customs officers of his upcoming role in Rambo IV: Pearl of the Cobra and how the next stop was Asia for a demanding three-month shoot.

"Doing Rambo is hard work and I am going to be in Burma for a while," he told Customs officers. "Where do you think I am going to get this stuff in Burma? I will not be without these. I cannot be without these."

Customs hit Stallone with a second charge after he was spotted by officers throwing four ampoules, tested and found to be testosterone cypionate, off his balcony at Sydney's exclusive Park Hyatt hotel. The officers had gone to serve him a court attendance notice.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Paul Cloran found the actor twice tried to deceive Customs officers: when he had his Beverly Hills doctor write a false prescription for Jintropin, a substance also banned in the US; and when he failed to declare he had the testosterone when asked by Customs whether there was anything else.

Stallone's fines of $2550 for possession of Jintropin and $425 for failing to declare the testosterone had been reduced by 15per cent because he pleaded guilty last week.

Australian Customs national investigations manager Richard Janeczko said yesterday's verdict sent "a very strong signal that whether your name is Stallone or Smith or Jones, Customs will treat you the same as anybody else".

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The maximum penalty for importing performance and image-enhancing drugs is up to five years in jail and/or $110,000 in fines, according to Customs' website.

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