First BALCO, now an East Coast steroid scandal

Testing for performance-enhancing drugs can only go so far — and nab so many people.

Bring state and federal law-enforcement officials in, and it could change the landscape of the anti-doping fight.

Illicit steroid distribution networks, which may be responsible for Internet sales of performance-enhancing drugs nationwide, have been targeted by prosecutors in upstate New York and Rhode Island. Customers reportedly included Los Angeles Angels outfielder Gary Matthews Jr., former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield and former baseball star Jose Canseco, as well as a doctor for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

"We've known for a long time that coaches, doctors, even companies prey and enable our athletes to use drugs against the rules," Travis Tygart, general counsel for the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, said Wednesday. "It's these types of national law enforcement efforts that will be most successful in bringing the manufacturers and distributors of these drugs to their knees.

"And that's good for all of sports and our athletes."

Testing may expose athletes who cheat, but it does little to punish those who make, market and distribute performance-enhancing substances, let alone stop the flow of drugs. That's why these new investigations have the potential to be so significant.

Instead of the stars and designer drugs in the BALCO scandal, authorities are targeting those who supply steroids to big-name and no-name users alike across the country.

"I understand that the involvement of athletes and celebrities makes this a sexy story, but I assure you we are not, at this point, we are not concerned with the celebrity factor," said P. David Soares, district attorney of Albany County, N.Y.

"Our focus here is to shut down distribution channels."

Federal and state agents raided two pharmacies in Orlando, Fla., on Tuesday in connection with an investigation by Soares' office. Eight people in three states were arrested, and prosecutors say 24 could face felony charges by the time their investigation is over.

On Thursday, four defendants waived extradition in Orlando, but their attorneys requested they be released on bond, fitted with global tracking monitors and allowed to turn themselves in to New York authorities.

Orange County Judge Mike Murphy denied the bond request but said if New York authorities did not pick up the defendants by March 8, he would reconsider bond.