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NFL steroid doctor writing tell all book?

Wednesday, April 06, 2005

The West Columbia, S.C., doctor at the center of a steroids investigation involving current and former Carolina Panthers is writing a book about the drugs and his involvement with professional football players, his agent says according to the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER.

Jose Canseco's business agent says he's now Dr. James Shortt's literary agent and that they'll be in New York today meeting with book publishers.

"I'm taking the good doctor up there to sign a book deal," said Doug Ames, a Columbia-based agent who represents Canseco, the former Oakland A slugger and Major League Baseball MVP whose recent book about steroid abuse in the major leagues sent shock waves through the sport.

Shortt, an alternative medicine physician, is under investigation by state and federal authorities. A recent CBS news report said three Carolina Panthers players filled prescriptions from Shortt for banned steroids less than two weeks before the team played in the 2004 Super Bowl.

Ames said Shortt has decided to write a book telling the story of his life and career, including information that will jolt the NFL.

"It's going to blow a lot of people's minds," said Ames, who claimed to have spent six hours last week discussing the project with Shortt. "The NFL and their drug-testing policies, they think they are so good. ... It will be an eye-opener for the NFL.

"It will definitely be a shocking story on who has been using them and what doctors have been prescribing."

Ames said Shortt plans to name players who have been his patients.

"Absolutely," Ames said. "You can't do a book without it."