Solicitor Mark Cronin said yesterday there are two powerlifting organisations in Australia with one having stringent testing for steroids and the other no testing.

Mr Cronin told magistrate Gordon Lerve in Albury Local Court it was not hard to work out with which one Zentveld-Smith had affiliation.

It was suggested by Mr Cronin that Zentveld-Smith was playing “Russian roulette” with his physical future considering the impact of steroids.

“He has now withdrawn from powerlifting competitions. It took some time for the penny to drop,” Mr Cronin said.

Zentveld-Smith’s steroid use began four years ago and came to light through his importation of them which was picked up by customs leading to a raid on his North Albury home.

Customs officers also found a pill press which had been imported through a Sydney airport.

Zentveld-Smith, 27, appeared yesterday for sentence on 12 charges with Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions representative Estelle Steinbach saying she was not seeking a jail sentence.

Mr Lerve said Judicial Commission statistics showed eight previous matters have been dealt with in NSW courts and no one has gone to jail.

Zentveld-Smith was put on $1000 two-year bonds on nine charges and fined a total of $4250.

Mr Lerve said convictions were inevitable and it was unlikely Zentveld-Smith would be able to work in the security industry in the future.

Mr Cronin said the steroids and pill press were obtained through the internet.

“It’s as simple as that,” Mr Cronin said.

“There was no sophistication at all. He mailed them to himself.”

The pill press came fully assembled and Zentveld-Smith and another man had intended marketing supplements in the power- lifting industry.

“They never got to square one because they never got the press,” Mr Cronin said.

He said it was likely Zentveld-Smith would have trouble with future employment.

He had been employed as a security officer on a casual basis although at present receives Centrelink benefits.

Mr Cronin said Zentveld-Smith’s future in security could face some obstacles from the security licensing authority and the Defence Department where work was available.