The NYPD has issued a memo forbidding its officers from using anabolic steroids as well as 21 legal and widely available supplements at the risk of "disciplinary action" [Pdf]. Many products on the list are used to build muscle and lose weight, reports MYFOXNY. We want our cops lean and strong, so what's the problem?
According to a sports medicine expert at Beth Israel steroids, as well as some over-the-counter supplements that mimic their effects, can cause a phenomenon called "roid rage." (Remember the Hell's Kitchen boyfriend killer?) "The last thing you want a police officer having is a rage effect from a steroid that's out of their control because they may have innocently taken a supplement to work out and feel good," said the MD. There's another issue too: the supplements sometimes cause "false positives," so police could claim they were taking over-the-counter pills if pee tests showed they'd been using steroids.
Still, one retired police officer doesn't like the rule one bit, since for cops, bearing bulk is a part of the job. "I don't think it's fair to police that are trying to maintain a certain size to protect himself and his partner and the people," he said, adding that, "This is over the line, this is ridiculous."
