Elevated Levels of Testosterone found in Benoit's body
GBI: Benoit had steroids in system
By GREG BLUESTEIN
The Associated Press
Published on: 07/17/07
Pro wrestler Chris Benoit had an elevated level of steroids in his system when he took his life after killing his wife and 7-year-old son, Georgia's top medical examiner said Tuesday.
Dr. Kris Sperry said tests found 10 times the normal level of testosterone, indicating that Benoit likely injected the substance shortly before he died. But he said there was no evidence of any other anabolic steroids in the wrestler's system, and nothing to show that steroids played a role in the death of Nancy and Daniel Benoit.
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Sperry said the boy appeared to have been sedated when he was asphyxiated, and Benoit's wife had a "therapeutic" level of sedatives in her body.
The medical examiner said too much should not be read into the testosterone results.
"How much, how frequently, how often and how long could not be determined today," Sperry said at a news conference to announce the results of tests.
"This level of testosterone indicates that he had been using testosterone at least within some reasonably short period of time prior to the time that he died, depending on how it was injected, the form that it was used."
Fayette County District Attorney Scott Ballard said "Everything still leads us to believe it was a murder-suicide."
Also found in Chris Benoit were the drugs Xanax and hydrocodone, according to the test results. The GBI said Benoit was negative for blood alcohol.
The statement said Nancy Benoit had Xanax, hydrocodone and hydromporphone in her body.
The son, Daniel Benoit had Xanax in his system, the statement said. The GBI said it could not perform tests for steroids or human growth hormones on the son because of lack of adequate amount of urine.
Xanax is an anti-anxiety drug. Hydrocodone is a painkiller.
The statement was released just before an afternoon news conference.
The test results were expected to shed more light on Benoit's last moments. Authorities said Benoit killed his wife and 7-year-old son in their metro Atlanta home last month, placed Bibles next to their bodies and then hanged himself on the cable of a weight machine.
Anabolic steroids were found in the Benoits' gated home, leading officials to wonder if the drugs played a role in the killings. Some experts believe steroids can cause paranoia, depression and violent outbursts known as "roid rage."
Toxicology tests were conducted on Benoit's body to determine if steroids or other drugs were present. Blood-alcohol tests also were conducted on his body, and chemical tests were conducted on the bodies of the wife and son.
Federal authorities have charged Benoit's personal physician, Dr. Phil Astin, with improperly prescribing painkillers and other drugs to two patients other than Benoit. He has pleaded not guilty.
Investigators office has also been raided Astin's office several times since the deaths, seizing prescription records and other medical documents.
Before he was charged, Astin told the AP he prescribed testosterone for Benoit, a longtime friend, in the past. He would not say what, if any, medications he prescribed when Benoit visited his office June 22, the day authorities believe Benoit killed his wife.
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