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Romanowski trial: Day 2 Expert: Drug would have marginal effect on performance
Updated: Wednesday June 27, 2001 11:56 PM
CASTLE ROCK, Colo. (AP) -- A doctor in the drug trial of Bill Romanowski testified Wednesday he assured the Broncos linebacker that filling prescriptions for him in his wife's name was nothing to worry about. Dr. Randall Snook told the court that Romanowski never asked him to do anything inappropriate. He said he was concerned about Romanowski's privacy even though he understood the practice was against the law. "I said that it shouldn't be a problem, I've done this before," Snook said. "It was to protect anonymity." Romanowski, 35, is accused of obtaining the appetite suppressant phentermine from prescriptions written for his wife, Julie, and two other people during the 1998 season. The Broncos won the Super Bowl that season. Prosecutors said he got prescriptions for 500 pills. Snook said he never talked to Romanowski during that time and only raised the issue with him when police came to his office in August 1999. A transcript of the phone conversation, which police taped without Romanowski's knowledge, shows Snook told Romanowski he felt uncomfortable prescribing the drug in someone else's name. Romanowski replied, "Is that all right? Is everything all right in doing this?" Snook reassured him it was not a problem. In a taped conversation between Snook and Julie Romanowski earlier the same day, she told Snook they could put the prescriptions under her husband's name if he wanted. Snook refused, saying the whole point was to guard the Romanowskis' privacy. Snook pleaded guilty earlier this year to providing the pills and was sentenced to 18 months probation. Prosecutors have suggested Romanowski used phentermine to enhance his play and that he gave it to teammates, though he is not charged with distribution. Phentermine is not banned by the NFL. A medical expert testified the diet drug could have improved Romanowski's play by making him slightly more aware of his surroundings. University of Colorado pharmacology professor Thomas French said phentermine would cause tremors, nausea, confusion and blurred vision in larger doses. He said there were no studies on phentermine's ability to enhance performance. "Increasing a dose of phentermine would be like strapping five Hyundais together and getting behind the wheel. You would never get the sensation of a Jaguar," French said. Former Romanowski friend Loretta Johnson testified Tuesday that Julie Romanowski said her husband used the drug "to give him an edge." Johnson pleaded guilty to conspiring to illegally obtain the prescription drug for the Romanowskis. Defense lawyers said Romanowski used the drug to suppress his appetite because he didn't want to feel hungry during practice or games. Broncos strength trainer Rich Tutten testified Romanowski came to him in the fall of 1999 and asked that his weight records be changed. "I asked him if he was in trouble and he said he could be," Tutten testified. Tutten said he refused to change the data. Romanowski is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, one count of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud and deceit and two counts of conspiracy. Prosecutors expected to finish presenting their case Thursday. Julie Romanowski is scheduled to go on trial Aug. 14 on eight counts of illegally obtaining diet pills and one count of conspiracy. Bill Romanowski is a two-time Pro Bowl selection who helped the Broncos win back-to-back Super Bowls in 1997 and 1998.
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