PHOENIX -- Arizona could soon be the first state in the country to forbid the use of illegal anabolic steroids in their police officers.

8/15/07 - Police, Firefighters Face Different Steroid Standards

The state is moving forward to pass new rules against steroids.

Police officers enforce the laws, so most agree they shouldn't be breaking them.

"The use of anabolic steroids in excess by law enforcement can lead to serious problems," said Dr. Joe Gutman, an endocrinologist.

Gutman has helped dozens of police officers detoxify after years of abusing illegal steroids. Now he's working with the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board to set new rules.

"Arizona will be the first state in the nation to protect its police officers from the ill effects of long-term steroids use and protect the public from somebody who has a steroids rage," Gutman said.

The rules committee for the board has unanimously approved the following reccomendations:

Any officer using injectable anabolic steroids must notify their commander within 72 hours.

They must supply a doctor's prescription within a week.

The prescription can't be any stronger than the FDA approved dose of 300 mg per two weeks.

"If somebody needs steroids where they have a disease or they can't produce testosterone, they're OK but if someone's using it to bodybuild or get bigger, they're not under the protection of the law," Gutman said.

Gutman said the rules will effectively close the loophole that's allowed officers who tested positive for steroids 10 to 20 times the legal dose to keep their jobs, because they had an online prescription -- even if it was from a doctor they'd never met.

Mark Spencer is president of the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association, which has long supported random drug testing. Spencer said he is in favor of these new steroid rules, as long as officers' rights aren't compromised.

"I hope there's going be a concern and respect for not violating HIPPA standards," Spencer said.

The new guidelines will be reviewed by the board and could face a vote as early as this summer.

If approved, they could be in place for police departments across the state by next year.