The National Court of Spain sentenced IFBB pro bodybuilder Manuel Manchado Lopez and six co-conspirators to two years in prison for steroid trafficking as part of “Operation Mazas”. Manchado was one of four defendants given the option of avoiding prison by paying a fine of €5,760 euros for his “crimes against public health” (”Champion body builder sentenced for steroid trafficking,” December 31).
Operation Mazas started when postal officials discovered two parcels containing illegal anabolic steroids in La Línea de la Concepción (Cádiz) in June 2003. The ensuing investigation implicated various bodybuilders and a Spanish supplement company in selling “illegal substances used for the development of muscle mass and strength” (”Condenan a Míster Universo 2003 a 2 años de prisión por tráfico de anabolizantes,” December 31).
Manuel Manchado was arrested for marketing and distributing anabolic steroids as an employee of the Spanish supplement company Steromax España SL. Steromax illegally manufactured various anabolic steroid products which were sold by Manchado via his Fitness Center in Leganés (Madrid), supplement store and an internet website. The Spanish Civil Guard seized over half a million doses of anabolic steroids, including three steroids not authorized for sale in Spain, from the residences and businesses involved in the steroid ring. Steromax was not licensed to manufacture and/or distribute pharmaceutical products (”Míster Universo 2003 es condenado a dos años de prisión por tráfico de anabolizantes” December 31).
Operation Mazas was the first in a series of three major operations by Spain’s Cuerpo Nacional de Policía (National Police Corps) and Guardia Civil (Civil Guard). Operations in the spring and summer of 2004 targeting the distribution of anabolic steroids in Spain. Operation Bodegon resulted in the seizure of over 300 boxes of anabolic steroids from houses in Carmona (Seville) and El Aljarafe (Sevilla), as well as gyms in Huelva and Alicante. Operation Gamma II resulted in hundreds of raids of residences and gyms in over 31 provinces in Spain; hundreds of dosages of ephedrine, epogen, Primobolan, Winstrol, Sustenon, Testoviron, Durabolin, Clenbuterol and Oxandrolone were seized. Spanish doctor Marcos Maynar, with links to professional cyclists competing in the Tour de France, was also implicated by Operation Gamma II. The Spanish law enforcement actions resulted in a temporary shutdown of steroid distribution networks providing anabolic steroids to bodybuilders and athletes at gyms in various cities in Spain.
Manuel Manchado received his IFBB pro card after winning the 2008 National Cup of Spain IFBB in Cartaya (Huelva) on May 11, 2008 making steady gains since winning the Mr. Universe having recently worked with Milos Sarcev. Manchado won the NAC Mr. Universe short class title on November 29, 2003 in Cuxhaven, Germany. Spain sweeped the 2003 NAC Mr. Universe with Alfonso Del Rio, Marcos Chacon and Silvio Samuel and Manuel Manchado winning the “tall”, “medium-tall”, “medium” and “short” classes with Silvio Samuel taking the overall title.
BY Millard Baker
