Biotab: Finnish UGL Busted and Exposed as Scammers


Biotab, a good-sized underground laboratory (UGL) producing anabolic steroids, was busted in Finland recently. (The UGL is not to be confused with Biotab Nutraceuticals, the manufacturer of the male enhancement product known as Extenze.) Ten individuals connected to Biotab were arrested on suspicion of “aggravated doping” and related anabolic steroid distribution charges. The operators are not only facing the legal consequences of illegally manufacturing and distributing steroids. They are also facing the wrath of customers who are just now learning that they were scammed.

According to the Finnish news website Yle.fi, investigators analyzed the contents of the anabolic steroid products seized by police. The good news for consumers who may have purchased Biotab steroids is that all of the products contained anabolic steroids as the active ingredient. In addition, one of the operator's had a lab technician’s degree.

The bad news is that testosteorne was the only ingredient in all of the injectable steroids. Testosterone was the only ingredient regardless of whether the label listed methenolone enanthate (Primobolan), nandrolone decanoate (Deca Durabolin), drostanolone enanthate (Masteron enanthate) or any other expensive and/or exotic steroid. The concentrations of testosterone varied depending on the product.

Yle.fi explicited noted “buyers would not necessarily be aware” of the deception. Bodybuilders are accustomed to and have come to accept buying steroids manufactured by UGLs in relatively unsanitary conditions. (In this case, it was the first floor of an abandoned house in the city of Savo in eastern Finland.) However, bodybuilders don't take too kindly to being scammed by such deception.

Unfortunately, the practice of replacing more expensive and exotic steroids with the much cheaper testosterone is not an uncommon practice among UGLs. While a 10-milliliter vial of testosterone enanthate (200mg/mL) or testosterone cypionate (250mg/mL) can usually be purchased for $30-50 online, injectable steroids such as methenolone enanthate (100mg/mL) are often sold at over $100 per 10-milliliter vial.

Clearly, most bodybuilders, even novice steroid users, can tell the difference between a weekly dose of 200mg/mL of testosterone and 100mg/mL of methenolone. Unscrupulous UGLs use a very low concentration of testosterone, for example 50mg/mL, to mimic the “feel” of methenolone in an attempt to deceive consumers.

The arrest of the operators of Biotab is much more than just another steroid bust. It doesn't just expose the scammers at Biotab. It brings attention to a practice that is widespread among underground laboratories.