Andrei Todero: Former bodybuilder, personal trainer busted with anabolic steroids
A former bodybuilder parked at a gym and left the BMW unlocked. When he returned, a major stash of steroids had arrived for him to “courier”. Then a RBT stop brought an end to the criminal scheme.
Penrith
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A former bodybuilder and personal trainer has faced court after he was caught with a major haul of anabolic steroids in his ex-partner’s BMW following an RBT stop.
Andrei Todero, 51 of Springwood, gave evidence during a sentence hearing at Downing Centre District Court on Thursday after pleading guilty to multiple drug supply charges and one count of deal with proceeds of crime.
Court documents reveal on December 20, 2021 Todero “did supply” 10.12kg of testosterone, 5.9kg of Nandrolone, 5.2kg grams of Trenbolone and 2.4kg of Drostanolone – all anabolic steroids. He was also found with $14,950.
Todero told the court of being exposed as a child to his “father’s violence towards” his mother, recalling his mother being pushed down a staircase in West Germany.
He said the violence had reached a tipping point at 16 when he stood up to his father, “punching him multiple times”.
The court heard after qualifying as a chiropractor, Todero was unable to practise in Australia due to an unlawful possession of a prescribed substance – being steroids, which saw him move to China where he later became HIV positive and was given 30 days to leave the country in 2007.
Todero told the court it was “traumatic and humiliating” and he thought it was a “death sentence” at the time.
His barrister Ben Barrack revealed he had been diagnosed with the “inability to make testosterone” on his own – hypogonadism – with Todero saying he felt “less of a man”.
Todero was sentenced in 2008 to 12 months home detention for importing steroids, which he said was for personal use.
The court heard Todero had been taking steroids since 16, competing as a bodybuilder for 20 years and after testing positive for HIV, they were used “in combination with HIV medication to improve quality of life”.
Todero said “the last thing he wanted to do was look like a gay HIV man” and be ostracised by the bodybuilding community.
Having received his steroids and growth hormones from a HIV specialist, Mr Barrack highlighted work dried up for his client during the pandemic.
Todero, when asked in court how he was found with steroids in his car, said he had agreed to transport the drugs to Blacktown after learning he could get the substance “at a much cheaper rate”.
He said he left his car open in the car park of Chullora World Gym and “didn’t see anybody” when receiving the steroids. Todero said he was asked on two occasions to “courier” drugs.
In outlining his client’s defence, Mr Barrack said there was no evidence to suggest his client had a role “other than” that of a courier, saying Todero was “truthful” and even told police about “further steroids back at his house”.
He told the court “there was no financial gain”, although conceding “the quantity of money when it’s in the car, attracts reasonable suspicion”.
Mr Barrack said his client had an “excellent” prospect of rehabilitation and had shown genuine remorse, given his attendance at SMART recovery sessions, and work with mental health professionals.
Todero will learn his fate at Parramatta District Court on August 4.
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