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Stallone charged over growth drug Stallone charged over growth drug
(about 4 hours later)
The actor Sylvester Stallone has been charged with importing a banned human growth hormone into Australia. Hollywood star Sylvester Stallone has been charged with importing a banned human growth hormone into Australia.
He was stopped by customs officials at Sydney airport last month after the banned substance was allegedly found in his luggage. The actor, 60, was stopped at Sydney airport last month by customs officials who claim he had 48 vials of a banned substance in his luggage.
Stallone, 60, flew into Australia to promote his latest film, Rocky Balboa. Stallone, who was in Australia to promote recent film Rocky Balboa, faces a possible fine of A$22,000 (£8,930).
Customs officials said they found 48 small bottles of the hormone after searching the star's luggage, and later carrying out a raid on his hotel room. The muscle-building hormone product, Jintropin, is classed as a performance enhancing drug in Australia.
Human growth hormone is considered a performance enhancing drug and cannot be imported into Australia without a special permit. Such products cannot be imported into Australia without a special permit.
The maximum penalty for the offence is more than A$96,000 (£40,000) and a five-year prison sentence. Prosecution documents handed to a Sydney court on Tuesday said Stallone had marked "no" on a customs declaration form that asked if he was bringing restricted substances into the country.
The 60-year-old actor was not in court to hear the charge against him. HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE Made in the pituitary glandStimulates growth in childrenRegulates metabolism in adultsMedical uses include reversing muscle wastage in Aids patientsHas been promoted as an anti-ageing treatmentJintropin is a synthetic version of the hormone class="" href="/1/hi/health/medical_notes/98757.stm">Read more But an X-ray of bags belonging to his entourage uncovered the bottles of Jintropin, which is made by Chinese firm GeneScience pharmaceuticals.
"You have not been validly prescribed the goods by a medical practitioner for any medical condition suffered by you and for which the goods are recognised medical treatment," Stallone was told in a customs document submitted to the court.
Stallone and his team were held at Sydney airport for several hours following the discovery.
The maximum penalty for the offence is A$110,000 (£44,639) and a five-year prison sentence - Stallone faces a lesser fine because the case is being prosecuted in a local court.
The actor was not present to hear the charge against him at Tuesday's hearing.
He is thought to be in Thailand, where he is making his fourth Rambo film.He is thought to be in Thailand, where he is making his fourth Rambo film.
At the time, Stallone dismissed the incident as a "misunderstanding", adding that customs officials were "just doing their jobs".
"I just didn't understand some of the rules here," he explained.