Stallone admits charge of 'importing' banned hormone drugs

The actor was detained at Sydney Airport in February when he arrived from the U.S. on a promotional tour.

Customs said 48 vials of a banned human growth hormone were found in his luggage.

Yesterday, in a letter to a court, Stallone admitted two charges of importing a prohibited substance.

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Sylvester Stallone: The actor has pleaded guilty to illegally importing banned growth hormone drugs into Australia, the actor awaits sentencing next week

He described his actions as a "strange and truly unfortunate occurrence". The 60-year-old wrote: "I made a terrible mistake. Not because I was attempting to deceive anyone but I was simply ignorant of your official rules.

"It was a hard-learned lesson and an eye-opener that the world is a complex society and knowing the rules of your intended destination is of paramount importance.

"I wish to express my deepest remorse and again apologise."

Stallone, who is making new Rocky and Rambo films, was not in the court for the hearing. The judge heard that the actor threw four vials of testosterone out of a Sydney hotel window during a later raid on his room by customs officers.

Prosecutor David Agius told the court this suggested Stallone was aware he had broken the law.

But the actor's lawyer, Phillip Boulten, said Stallone was taking the hormone under doctors' supervision for a medical condition which was not revealed in court or in his letter.

"This is not some back-alley body builder dealing covertly with some banned substance in some sort of secret way," he said.

Stallone said he felt terrible that his unintentional breach of customs laws had "set a poor example" to the public. The maximum fine for the offence is £45,000.

Human growth hormone occurs naturally but can be replicated synthetically. Used to build muscle mass, it is considered a performance-enhancing drug in Australia and cannot be imported without a permit.

Documents previously given to the court alleged that the active ingredient was the hormone somatropin, under the brand name Jintropin.

The actor will be sentenced on Monday.