Pharmacist Debarred From Dispensing Drugs for 30 Years

One pharmacist who illegally supplied steroids to bodybuilders will not be filling prescriptions any time soon.

Frank Balestra, who owns a pharmacy in Innaloo, Australia, admitted to professional misconduct after he illegally dispensed approximately 100,000 drugs that included steroids, stimulants, and human growth hormones to bodybuilders, according to PerthNow. Now, Balestra will not be able to reapply for a pharmacy registration for the next 30 years.

Over a span of 8 years, the Pharmacy Board of Australia and the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) found that Balestra supplied more medication than what was prescribed to the patients, according to PerthNow.

The SAT noted that Balestra doled out drugs even when the prescriptions did not include the patient’s correct name, a date, or directions for use. Furthermore, he filled prescriptions with the knowledge that the patients were suffering from adverse side effects or could potentially become psychologically or physically dependent on the drugs considering the quantities and combinations, according to PerthNow.

“The respondent continued dispensing anabolic steroids to 1 patient despite being informed by the patients’ medical practitioner that the patient was suffering from heart failure,” according to a report heard by the SAT.

In addition, Balestra filled prescriptions for another Australian doctor whose job was terminated after it was determined that he had written 70,000 prescriptions for patients taking steroids, human growth hormones, and stimulants without any medical reason, according to The Sunday Times.