Epstein: SI Article Should Not Have Negative Impact on Alabama (AUDIO)

By now you have seen the article.

You know, the one from Sports Illustrated that examines a small supplement company just outside of Birmingham, S.W.A.T.S. (Sports with Alternatives to Steroids). The same article, also tells a story of how the two man operation was able to arrange audiences, creating customers with some of the country’s top athletes in the professional ranks and collegiate programs.

The article recalls a story of how Christopher Key, one of the co-owners of S.W.A.T.S. entertained a handful of Crimson Tide players as the article cited linebacker Adrian Hubbard and defensive end Quentin Dial being in attendance.  Key demonstrated the effects of his company’s holographic stickers and told of the effects of his company’s deer velvet spray as shown in the excerpt below.

"You're familiar with HGH, correct?" asked Key, referring to human growth hormone. "It's converted in the liver to IGF-1." IGF-1, or -insulin-like growth factor, is a natural, anabolic hormone that stimulates muscle growth. "We have deer that we harvest out of New Zealand," Key said. "Their antlers are the fastest-growing substance on planet Earth . . . because of the high concentration of IGF-1. We've been able to freeze dry that out, extract it, put it in a sublingual spray that you shake for 20 seconds and then spray three [times] under your tongue. . . . This stuff has been around for almost 1,000 years, this is stuff from the Chinese."

The problem is IGF-1 is banned by every professional sports league, as well as the NCAA.

However the article does not just mention the Alabama football team.Auburn and LSU are mentioned in the article as are many NFL stars, including Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis.

While the story certainly is not positive as it relates to the University of Alabama, on of the article’s author’s David Epstein says he doesn’t think it will, or should have a negative impact on the program.

The University of Alabama said they sent the company two cease and desist letters, paying close attention the company, while doing its best to educate players.

Audio comes courtesy of The Game, airing weeknights from 6-8pm on Tuscaloosa’s Sports Authority 99.1 WDGM.