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Steroids

Sports

Climbing's Little Helper

How dexamethasone corrupted mountaineering.

Devon O'Neil Outside Mar 2013 30min Permalink

Crime

How to Sell Drugs and Influence Everyone on Instagram

The true tale of a bodybuilder turned social media influencer who built an illicit empire.

John H. Tucker Boston Magazine Oct 2019 25min Permalink

Sports Health

The Rise and Fall of Gerd Bonk, the World Champion of Doping

An East German weightlifter ingested more anabolic steroids than any other athlete in recorded history. It didn’t end well.

Brian Blickenstaff Vice Aug 2016 15min Permalink

Sports

The Rise and Fall of Rafael Palmeiro

Rafael Palmeiro was a surefire Hall of Famer before a positive steroids test derailed everything. He retired a few months later, quietly sent home early by the team that had been planning to celebrate him. Next came depression and a $53 million business deal gone bust.

Read more

Previously: The Longform Guide to Sad Retired Athletes

Flinder Boyd Fox Sports Apr 2016 20min Permalink

Sports Media

The Steroid Hunt

What baseball writers did during the steroid era.

Bryan Curtis Grantland Jan 2014 25min Permalink

Sports

Chasing A-Rod

The war between Major League Baseball and Alex Rodriguez, “fought with six-figure payoffs in the tanning salons and strip malls of South Florida.”

Steve Fishman New York Dec 2013 30min Permalink

Sports

A Miami Clinic Supplies Drugs to Sports' Biggest Names

An investigation into the Dr. Anthony Bosch and his “East Coast version of BALCO,” which allegedly supplied baseball stars Alex Rodriguez, Melky Cabrera and others with performance-enhancing drugs.

Tim Elfrink The Miami New Times Jan 2013 20min Permalink

Sports

To Cheat or Not to Cheat

The untold story of steroids in baseball.

Tom Verducci Sports Illustrated May 2012 40min Permalink

Crime Tech

Con Artist Starred in Sting That Cost Google Millions

How the U.S. government used a serial con who was caught running a mail-order steroid pharmacy in Mexico to prove that Google was knowingly placing ads for illegal drugs.

Thomas Catan The Wall Street Journal Jan 2012 Permalink

Sports

Baseball Without Metaphor

A profile of Barry Bonds published as the steroid talk intensified.

David Grann New York Times Magazine Sep 2002 30min Permalink

Best Article Sports

Chasing Jose

What one learns about Jose Canseco while trying, unsuccessfully, to interview Jose Canseco.

Pat Jordan Deadspin Mar 2008 Permalink