By William k. Alcorn

STRUTHERS — Lennard Burke Jr., a sophomore at Struthers High School, was still waiting Thursday for the results of his appeal of a 10-day suspension for possessing a muscle-building supplement containing creatine in school.

The 15-year-old’s appeal Wednesday before Schools Superintendent Robert Rostan lasted about five minutes, during which time he and his father, Lennard Sr., presented his case.

Burke Sr. said Rostan did not make an immediate decision and said he would mail his decision to the family.

Burke Jr. was suspended beginning Feb. 4, and could be expelled from school, for possession of the supplement that his father says is neither a prescription nor an over-the-counter medicine.

“We don’t have a problem with the school setting policy. We just don’t think creatine was a banned substance when my son was suspended,” Burke Sr. said.

Burke Sr. said that if the suspension escalates into expulsion he would also appeal that decision.

In a related matter, Burke Sr. said he and his wife, Gina, plan to pursue complaints filed with the Ohio Department of Education against Joseph Fuline, associate high school principal, and Mary Ann Meadows, high school principal.

Burke said the complaints are the result of a confrontation between him and his wife and the school officials the day of Burke Jr.’s suspension. Burke said he does not believe he and his wife were treated professionally.

Burke Sr. said his son is a student-athlete. It’s not all about football and weight lifting. He just wants to get back to school and be a student.

Seriously?  Has the anti-steroid propaganda media machine grown so far out of control that even creatine is coming under suspiscion?  Give me a break!  It’s people like Joseph Fuline and Mary Ann Meadows who lead the anti-steroid, anti-supplement regimes without any real knowledge of what they’re talking about.  I’m not advocating steroids here (or even improper use of supplements), but I am  advocating “anti-ignorance”.  Learn what you’re talking about before jumping on any bandwagon – or more importantly, before becoming the band leader.

(Photo courtesy of GetBig.com)

Lee Priest is one of my favorite bodybuilders – maybe because we’re about the same height and weight (okay, that’s a half-truth).  He’s got, in my opinion, on the of the most heavily muscled and symmetrical physiques ever to grace the competitive stage.  He’s been no stranger to controversy, never afraid to call it like he sees it or do do as he sees fit.  This controversy (and his dissention to the PDI) actually got him into hot water with the IFBB and led to him being suspended from the association.  That ban ended just recently and Lee planned to compete in the 2009 Australian Grand Prix (right in his own backyard).

Unfortunately,  Lee tore his right bicep muscle (as seen in the pic above).  The bicep actually had to be screwed back to the bone and stitched – ouch!  This will sideline Priest for at least six weeks, taking him out of competition.  He underwent surgery just this past week.  I spoke with the “super one” and he assured me that the surgery went well and that he will be in a sling for the next month and a half.

All of us at Advanced Genetics wish Lee a quick and full recovery.

When I heard that Dave Palumbo and John Romano were fired from Muscular Development I was shocked.  That’s akin to having bacon without eggs, Valentines Day without chocolate, a kiss without a squeeze!  Dave’s column was the first I turned to when I picked up MD and it seemed like John wrote nearly half the articles in there.

Publisher Steve Blechman claims that the Jumbo One and John were unfocused in their duties as Editor-In-Chief and Senior Editor (respectively).  Ragin’ Romano states that a series of embarrassing moments and poor business tactics on Blechman’s part spirred the split.

I happen to “know” Dave Palumbo – at least in the way hundreds of other bodybuilders know him – as my trainer (in preparation for the 2008 Canadians).  Dave was always prompt in his responses to me – even when my emails came mid-week.  I also know other bodybuilders who ask Dave for advice from time to time (sans payment) and get an email back.  So, to call Dave a “slacker” in his duties seems a little hard for me to believe.

Whatever the case may be, Dave and John have launched a new website, www.RxMuscle.com.  Check it out!