Banned Adelaide Doctor Faces Court for Steroid Importation Charges

A 61-year-old Adelaide doctor banned from practising has appeared in court charged with importing performance and image-enhancing drugs, including steroids, allegedly for supply through a western suburbs GP clinic. Bill Tolis was arrested last November after Australian Border Force (ABF) officers conducted raids at a Woodville medical clinic and his home. He has been charged with importing tier 1 goods, contrary to the Customs Act. In a media release the ABF said its investigation began last October when air cargo officers examined three international consignments addressed to the Woodville clinic and allegedly found vials of steroids. The border security agency said intelligence checks identified an additional 11 parcels sent to the same name and address. In November the ABF and SA Police executed search warrants and allegedly seized 242 vials of liquid steroids, $21,000 cash, multiple electronic devices and packaging materials from the medical clinic. The ABF alleged that another 107 vials of peptides and steroids were found at the man's home. Banned from being doctor Mr Tolis is a banned medical practitioner. In 2022, the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal found Mr Tolis had engaged in professional misconduct and ordered his medical practitioner's registration be cancelled. The tribunal also ordered Mr Tolis be prohibited from applying for registration for seven years and banned him from providing any health services, including naturopathy. Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency put out a statement last month saying it was concerned Mr Tolis may have been continuing to provide health services despite being banned. Accused denies allegations Mr Tolis appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court for a brief hearing and the matter was adjourned until April. He is on bail and is required to report to Port Adelaide police station every Friday. Outside court, he denied importing steroids and indicated he would have more to say later. "That's a long, complicated story and you'll be finding out about it," Mr Tolis said. He described his position at the medical clinic as being in "management" and said it was "slander" for authorities to say he posed a risk to clients. Peptides are growing in popularity for anti-aging applications and other benefits and are only legal in Australia with a prescription from a doctor. ABF Assistant Inspector Michael Foster said steroids were regulated in Australia for good reasons. "Steroids can seriously damage your health and anyone distributing them without proper authority is putting people at risk, not supporting their fitness goals," he said. "As people set new fitness goals for the year ahead, it's worth remembering that legitimate gains never come from illegal shortcuts."