‘Rocky Balboa’ star Sylvester Stallone has been fined almost $4000 for bringing a banned performance enhancement drug into Australia.
Stallone, who pleaded guilty to importing the human growth hormone product Jintropin – was not present at the New South Wales court when the judge imposed the fine today.
The actor was also ordered to pay an estimated $8,000 in court costs.
Deputy chief magistrate Paul Cloran said Sylvester was fined for bringing Jintropin into Australia without a valid prescription to do so.
Stallone was also fined for failing to declare he was importing testosterone despite having a prescription for it.
Australia’s maximum penalty for importing banned substances is $90,000 and five years in prison. Stallone faced a lower penalty because his case was heard in a local – rather than federal – court.
The actor was charged in February with bringing Jintropin to Australia during a tour to promote the latest film in the Rocky franchise.r
When his luggage was searched at Sydney airport, 48 vials of the performance-enhancing drug were found.
The 60 year old actor, threw four vials of testosterone out of his hotel window when customs officers arrived to search his room.
Jintropin contains somatropin, which claims to reduce body fat, boost muscle mass and increase sexual prowess.
He apologised for his actions in a letter read out to the court last week.
He said:
“I made a terrible mistake, not because I was attempting to deceive anyone but I was simply ignorant to your official rules.
“I feel terrible that my breach of the rules has set a poor example to members of the public, whose opinion I cherish dearly.”
Recent Comments