ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, April 10, 1996 TAG: 9604100058
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JAN VERTEFEUILLE STAFF WRITER
KNOWN AS TANK on the "American Gladiators" TV show, Edward Radcliffe pleaded guilty to charges that he helped supply steroids to Radford-area
A former "gladiator" on the TV show "American Gladiators" who helped arrange the sale of illegal steroids to several Radford-area bodybuilders pleaded guilty Monday in a California federal court.
In May 1993, U.S. Customs agents seized about $5,000 worth of anabolic steroids from a package mailed to a Radford University student, Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Mott of Roanoke said. The steroids in the package - mailed from England - were meant to be shared by 10 to 12 people, he said.
As a result, two female bodybuilders and a California couple who traveled the bodybuilding circuit were indicted by a grand jury in Roanoke last year.
Edward Radcliffe, 29, pleaded guilty Monday to five counts of importing anabolic steroids and one count of conspiracy to import and distribute them. Federal cases such as Radcliffe's, where the defendant intends to forgo a trial by pleading guilty, can be moved to another venue.
Known as "Tank," Radcliffe appeared briefly on the syndicated TV show "American Gladiators," which pits amateur contestants against professional "gladiators" in an obstacle course, games and other challenges. The show airs locally on Saturdays at 6:30 p.m. on WDRG, Roanoke cable channel 22.
Radcliffe and his wife, Lisa, a personal trainer, met an amateur bodybuilder from Pulaski, Rhonda Fuller, at the Jan Tana Classic bodybuilding competition in Roanoke four years ago. According to the indictment, Fuller later asked the Radcliffes about obtaining anabolic steroids to help her in competition.
Anabolic steroids enhance muscle growth and allow bodybuilders to bulk up quickly. They are supposed to be available by prescription only, but are rarely prescribed.
They are a Schedule III controlled substance - on the same level as Tylenol 3 with codeine and other pharmaceuticals that require prescriptions.
After supplying steroids to Fuller twice, Edward Radcliffe recommended a friend in England who could ship them to her, according to the indictment, and Fuller and a friend at Radford University, Michael R. Conner, got a group to pool their money for a shipment.
The shipment confiscated by Customs included anabolic steroids in both tablet and liquid form, which must be injected.
The English friend, Paula Bircumshaw, is an internationally ranked competitor who took 12th place in the top contest for women, Ms. Olympia, in 1993. She also has placed in the Jan Tana Classic and the Ms. International competition, according to the International Federation of Body Builders.
Bircumshaw was indicted by the Roanoke grand jury but has not been arrested. Mott said he would not seek to extradite her from England.
However, Bircumshaw could be arrested if she returned to the United States.
Lisa Radcliffe's case has been delayed because of health problems, Mott said, and she may return to Roanoke for trial.
Fuller, 30, who now lives in California, is cooperating and will plead guilty after Lisa Radcliffe's case is resolved, Mott said.
Conner, who no longer attends Radford, was sentenced to two years' probation in January 1994.
Staff writer Sandra Brown Kelly contributed to this story.
LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines ILLUSTRATION: GRAPHIC: Chart by staff: Anabolic steroids.by CNB