Benoit's doctor charged with improperly prescribing drugs in federal probe

<p>Pro wrestler Chris Benoit excessively bought injectable steroids before he strangled his wife and son and committed suicide last month, a federal agent said in court papers released Monday as Benoit's doctor was charged with improperly prescribing drugs to two other people.</p><p>A Drug Enforcement Administration agent's affidavit said Dr. Phil Astin prescribed a 10-month supply of anabolic steroids to Benoit every three to four weeks between May 2006 and May 2007. It says that during a probe of "RX Weight Loss," Benoit was identified as an excessive purchaser of injectable steroids. Prosecutors would not say what "RX Weight Loss" refers to.</p><p>The affidavit also said Astin was identified as the supplier of various controlled substances, including injectable anabolic steroids, that were found in Benoit's home.</p><p>Astin has not been charged with supplying steroids to Benoit, though U.S. Attorney David E. Nahmias said that the investigation continues and that more charges are possible.</p><p>The anabolic steroids found in Benoit's home led officials to wonder whether the drugs played a role in the killings that started the weekend of June 22. Some experts believe steroids can cause paranoia, depression and violent outbursts known as "roid rage." Toxicology tests on Benoit's body have not yet been completed.</p><p>A federal indictment issued Monday charges Astin with improperly dispensing painkillers and other drugs to two other patients.</p><p>The seven-count indictment said Astin dispensed drugs including Percocet, Xanax, Lorcet and Vicoprofen between April 2004 and September 2005. The recipients were identified in the indictment by the initials O.G. and M.J.; Benoit's initials were not listed.</p><p>Astin made an initial court appearance Monday afternoon and entered a plea of not guilty.</p><p>U.S. Magistrate Judge Linda Walker ordered Astin held on $125,000 bond and said that regardless of whether he came up with the money he would be held in jail overnight. She said Astin would be under house arrest once he posts bond.</p><p>A separate criminal complaint against Astin that was filed Friday and made public Monday said Astin had written prescriptions for about 1 million doses of controlled substances over the past two years, including "significant quantities" of injectable testosterone cypionate, an anabolic steroid.</p><p>The complaint by DEA Agent Anissa Jones said the amount of prescriptions was "excessive" for a medical office with a sole practitioner in a rural area like Carrollton, about 40 miles west of Atlanta.</p><p>The doctor faces up to 20 years in prison on each count if convicted. "The indictment is a sliver of that evidence and we will have to see where it leads once we review all the records," Nahmias said.</p><p>Assistant U.S. Attorney John Horn said that when agents raided the doctor's office on Wednesday, Astin was carrying Benoit's medical file and may have been trying to tamper with evidence.</p><p>Astin's attorney, Manny Arora, said the doctor had brought the file because he thought the authorities would want it. He had asked that Astin be released on his own recognizance.</p><p>Federal drug agents have taken over the probe into whether Astin improperly prescribed testosterone and other drugs to Benoit before the killings and suicide in the wrestler's suburban Atlanta home last month. State prosecutors and sheriff's officials are overseeing the death investigation.</p><p>Federal prosecutors are seeking the forfeiture of all property and proceeds Astin obtained through the illegal conduct if he's convicted.</p><p>Investigators have conducted two raids at Astin's west Georgia office since last week.</p><p>Astin prescribed testosterone for Benoit, a longtime friend, in the past but has not said what, if any, medications he prescribed when Benoit visited his office June 22, the day authorities believe Benoit killed his wife.</p><p>"We're still asking questions and searching for answers with regard to the death so we can tie up loose ends," Fayette County District Attorney Scott Ballard said.</p><p>Ballard said finding a motive in the case remains elusive.</p><p>"I think it will always be undetermined as to 'Why?'" Ballard said. "I think it's because there can't be any satisfactory reason why you kill a 7-year-old."</p><p>Authorities have said Benoit strangled his wife and son, placing Bibles next to their bodies, before hanging himself on the cable of a weight-machine in his home.</p><p>Benoit's father, Michael, said Monday that "it's impossible to come up with a rational explanation for a very irrational act."</p><p>"That's my feeling. Let the cards fall where they fall, we have no control over it at this point," he said. "It's just impossible to come up with a rational explanation for what happened."</p><p>___</p><p>Associated Press writers Errin Haines and Greg Bluestein in Atlanta and Matt Apuzzo in Washington contributed to this report.</p>

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