Bootlegged
04-05-2005, 07:07 AM
www.charlotte.com
Doctor to pen steroid tell-all
S.C. physician in middle of probe involving Panthers will write book
CHARLES CHANDLER
Staff Writer
The West Columbia, S.C., doctor at the center of a steroids investigation involving current and former Carolina Panthers is writing a book about the drugs and his involvement with professional football players, his agent says.
Jose Canseco's business agent says he's now Dr. James Shortt's literary agent and that they'll be in New York today meeting with book publishers.
"I'm taking the good doctor up there to sign a book deal," said Doug Ames, a Columbia-based agent who represents Canseco, the former Oakland A slugger and Major League Baseball MVP whose recent book about steroid abuse in the major leagues sent shock waves through the sport.
Shortt, an alternative medicine physician, is under investigation by state and federal authorities. A recent CBS news report said three Carolina Panthers players filled prescriptions from Shortt for banned steroids less than two weeks before the team played in the 2004 Super Bowl.
Ames said Shortt has decided to write a book telling the story of his life and career, including information that will jolt the NFL.
"It's going to blow a lot of people's minds," said Ames, who claimed to have spent six hours last week discussing the project with Shortt. "The NFL and their drug-testing policies, they think they are so good. ... It will be an eye-opener for the NFL.
"It will definitely be a shocking story on who has been using them and what doctors have been prescribing."
Ames said Shortt plans to name players who have been his patients.
"Absolutely," Ames said. "You can't do a book without it."
Asked how Shortt would name patients without violating federal privacy laws, Ames said: "You get release forms and stuff. You're assuming he has done more harm than good for these players. He's done a lot more good. But it will be up to the athlete. We're not going to break the law."
Ames said the story Shortt plans to tell will not contradict what he told the Observer in an exclusive interview last Tuesday. Shortt said then that he sometimes prescribed steroids in moderate doses to help patients -- not just athletes -- recover from injuries, fatigue and stress.
"As a doctor, you prescribe what's needed," Ames said. "This was not done so they could play better at a position. It was done so they could play the position."
The CBS program "60 Minutes Wednesday" reported last week that two current Panthers players, center Jeff Mitchell and punter Todd Sauerbrun, and former Carolina tackle Todd Steussie, had filled prescriptions for banned steroids written by Shortt.
The players have not returned repeated phone calls from the Observer.
When Ames spoke with the Observer by phone from his home late Monday afternoon, he said Shortt was there reading Canseco's book, "Juiced." He declined to make Shortt available for an interview.
"When I signed him last Friday, I gave him advice not to speak to anyone until the book comes out," Ames said.
One of Shortt's attorneys, Ward Bradley, said he wasn't aware Shortt was collaborating with Ames on a book.
"What you're telling me is news to me," Bradley said.
Ames said he wants the book's release date to coincide with the start of the NFL regular season in September.
Panthers officials have confirmed they were subpoenaed by the Drug Enforcement Administration for information so agents could contact some current and former Carolina players about Shortt.
Canseco wrote in his book that he and some other major-leaguers, including former teammate Mark McGwire, used anabolic steroids to improve their performance.
Doctor to pen steroid tell-all
S.C. physician in middle of probe involving Panthers will write book
CHARLES CHANDLER
Staff Writer
The West Columbia, S.C., doctor at the center of a steroids investigation involving current and former Carolina Panthers is writing a book about the drugs and his involvement with professional football players, his agent says.
Jose Canseco's business agent says he's now Dr. James Shortt's literary agent and that they'll be in New York today meeting with book publishers.
"I'm taking the good doctor up there to sign a book deal," said Doug Ames, a Columbia-based agent who represents Canseco, the former Oakland A slugger and Major League Baseball MVP whose recent book about steroid abuse in the major leagues sent shock waves through the sport.
Shortt, an alternative medicine physician, is under investigation by state and federal authorities. A recent CBS news report said three Carolina Panthers players filled prescriptions from Shortt for banned steroids less than two weeks before the team played in the 2004 Super Bowl.
Ames said Shortt has decided to write a book telling the story of his life and career, including information that will jolt the NFL.
"It's going to blow a lot of people's minds," said Ames, who claimed to have spent six hours last week discussing the project with Shortt. "The NFL and their drug-testing policies, they think they are so good. ... It will be an eye-opener for the NFL.
"It will definitely be a shocking story on who has been using them and what doctors have been prescribing."
Ames said Shortt plans to name players who have been his patients.
"Absolutely," Ames said. "You can't do a book without it."
Asked how Shortt would name patients without violating federal privacy laws, Ames said: "You get release forms and stuff. You're assuming he has done more harm than good for these players. He's done a lot more good. But it will be up to the athlete. We're not going to break the law."
Ames said the story Shortt plans to tell will not contradict what he told the Observer in an exclusive interview last Tuesday. Shortt said then that he sometimes prescribed steroids in moderate doses to help patients -- not just athletes -- recover from injuries, fatigue and stress.
"As a doctor, you prescribe what's needed," Ames said. "This was not done so they could play better at a position. It was done so they could play the position."
The CBS program "60 Minutes Wednesday" reported last week that two current Panthers players, center Jeff Mitchell and punter Todd Sauerbrun, and former Carolina tackle Todd Steussie, had filled prescriptions for banned steroids written by Shortt.
The players have not returned repeated phone calls from the Observer.
When Ames spoke with the Observer by phone from his home late Monday afternoon, he said Shortt was there reading Canseco's book, "Juiced." He declined to make Shortt available for an interview.
"When I signed him last Friday, I gave him advice not to speak to anyone until the book comes out," Ames said.
One of Shortt's attorneys, Ward Bradley, said he wasn't aware Shortt was collaborating with Ames on a book.
"What you're telling me is news to me," Bradley said.
Ames said he wants the book's release date to coincide with the start of the NFL regular season in September.
Panthers officials have confirmed they were subpoenaed by the Drug Enforcement Administration for information so agents could contact some current and former Carolina players about Shortt.
Canseco wrote in his book that he and some other major-leaguers, including former teammate Mark McGwire, used anabolic steroids to improve their performance.