Steroids on stage?

What happened

Rappers 50 Cent, Timbaland, and Wyclef Jean, as well as R&B star Mary J. Blige and author-producer Tyler Perry, have been identified as possible customers of Signature Pharmacy of Orlando, Fla., who prosecutors say wrote illegal prescriptions for steroids, according to the Times Union. Thousands of people have been linked to Albany District Attorney P. David Soares’ investigation, but law enforcement officials say they have no proof that any of the customers violated any laws. However, the investigation has resulted in guilty pleas by several physicians and operators of anti-aging clinics. (AP)

What the commentators said

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What’s going on here? said Tracey Ford in the blog The Boombox. “It’s immoral,” but understandable, “when professional athletes are linked to performance-enhancing drugs. But musicians?”

This certainly gives new meaning to the term “performance enhancing,” said Ted Mann in the blog Suburbarazzi. Soares’ investigation could potentially do “for the R&B and entertainment biz what George Mitchell did for pro baseball.”

“Have you seen 50 Cent’s arm recently? said David Silverberg in the blog Digital Journal. “They belong on the tree-trunk body of a WWE wrestler.” And “Wyclef Jean’s tireless energy to promote his recent album—performing at 12 shows in the next two weeks”—is a little suspicious, too. But what could musicians hope to get from steroids? “Longer encores at three-hour gigs? Bigger biceps to flex on their Rolling Stone cover shoots?” If that’s the case, who’s next—actors, models, and politicians?

Well, “I can’t say the possibility of 50 Cent juicing surprises me,” said Mack Rawden in the Cinema Blend, “but who the hell saw Wyclef Jean or Mary J. Blige coming?” Let’s not forget, though, that the “Albany Union Times only cites confidential sources,” so there’s really “no way of verifying” these allegations. Unless more solid evidence is revealed, this is “nothing more than an unsubstantiated rumor.”