Stallone hits rocky patch in Australia
Sylvester Stallone faces a stiff fine for allegedly trying to bring vials of a muscle-building hormone into Australia, where it is restricted.
Lawyers for Stallone, the 60-year-old star of the “Rocky” and “Rambo” movie franchises, represented him in a Sydney court on Tuesday where he faces one charge of importing a banned substance.
Prosecution documents handed to the court said Stallone had marked “No” on a customs declaration card that asked if he was bringing into Australia restricted or prohibited goods “such as medicines, steroids, firearms, weapons, or any kind of illicit drugs.” But an X-ray of bags among his entourage on their arrival Feb. 16 to promote Stallone’s latest “Rocky Balboa” movie prompted a search that revealed 48 vials of the human growth hormone product Jintropin, made by Chinese firm GeneScience Pharmaceuticals, the court heard.
Stallone did not appear in court Tuesday and was excused from appearing at another hearing, scheduled for April 24, as long as a lawyer appears on his behalf. He will be required to enter a plea at the next hearing.
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