Illegal Trade with Doping Substances on a Large Scale: Viennese Convicted

The fact that good money can be made from trading illegal doping substances, coveted in strength sports and fitness circles, was illustrated by a trial at the Vienna regional court on Thursday. A 46-year-old, who according to the Federal Criminal Police Office was active as a sub-dealer for an internationally active group in the federal capital from 2021 to March 2025, was held accountable under the Anti-Doping Law. The man received a two-year suspended sentence.

The retail salesman regularly received packages in his store that contained prohibited substances for rapid muscle building. The anabolic steroids and steroids were likely manufactured in Eastern Europe and then "distributed" across countries. The gang, which is said to have generated sales of several million euros from trading the substances, is being investigated across Europe under the leadership of Europol. In Austria, 300 buyers are known so far.

50 Sub-Dealers of the International Gang Known in Austria

According to a domestic investigator, 50 of them are said to have acted as sub-dealers. A couple convicted in Linz last year had rented a separate warehouse for storing the substances for trading. According to the Federal Criminal Police Office, the two earned up to 7,000 euros monthly from passing on the illegal substances.

The accused in Vienna, on the other hand, was a smaller "cog." According to his own statements, he initially got involved in the shady business because he could access doping substances for his contribution, for which he did not have to pay. After that, he was supposed to receive a "bonus" for each package received. The indictment mentioned an enrichment of a total of 25,500 euros, to about half of which the accused confessed. In the summer, there is simply less demand: "From mid-June, July, the business no longer ran. That's how it is in the protein industry."

Verdict Against 46-Year-Old Not Final

He originally decided to participate because he was convinced that the sensitive deliveries would "get lost in the multitude of many packages." The accused did not disclose to whom the vials and tablets went.

The 46-year-old was tracked down because customs intercepted a package containing several thousand vials and tablets. In addition to the suspended sentence, the court ordered the forfeiture of 15,000 euros. To this extent, the 46-year-old had enriched himself, it was stated in the judgment's reasoning. The accused agreed with the verdict, and the prosecutor initially made no statement. The decision is therefore not final.

(APA/Red)

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