Ryan Kennelly Busted

Ryan Kennelly is a powerlifter who set a benchpress world record but now faces criminal charges for delivering steroids. Police seized at least 84 vials of steroids and seven packets of steroid chemicals that allegedly belonged to him. The discovery was made after federal postal inspectors tracked a shipment of steroids to an apartment connected to him. Kennelly, 36, pleaded innocent in Benton County Superior Court to possession with intent to manufacture or deliver anabolic steroids. The Moses Lake man who calls himself "The Bench Monster" had similar charges in Grant County involving marijuana and steroids, according to authorities. 

Ryan Kennelly Background

Kennelly is a 1992 graduate of Kamiakin High School in Kennewick. He has been lifting for 16 years and on Nov. 8, 2008, set a World Powerlifting Organization world record for pressing 1,075 pounds during the Pride Powerlifting Strength Wars competition. In December 2009, Kennelly said he has made a living out of redefining the sport of bench pressing. He said he has written a book and has videos on the subject.

"No one in the world can do what I do," he said at the time. "I've studied the art form and made it easier."

He said that includes using more than just the chest to move an impressive amount of weight, incorporating the shoulders, triceps, biceps, back and legs into a lift. The Herald then reported that Kennelly's feats have made him a substantial amount of money in the sport of powerlifting, with sponsors, endorsements and a couple of long-term deals -- mostly overseas. His MySpace page, which shows his last login on Dec. 3, says his income is "$250,000 and higher."

"I don't want to do anything else," Kennelly told the Herald last year. "I started fishing again and I enjoy that, but I don't drink and I don't party. I have a small circle of friends with no surprises. I'm No. 1 in the world because I didn't go down that path."

Kennelly was arrested at his Moses Lake home Oct. 6 and charged the next day in Grant County Superior Court with manufacturing marijuana and possession with intent to deliver both marijuana and anabolic steroids. The warrant served two weeks ago was for the package, which allegedly was found inside the apartment along with the postal service's alarm device and the shipment of steroids. The warrant also covered any other steroids and products used to make the drug. Officers found the vials and packets of chemicals, along with a safe. Kennelly had the key to the safe, court documents said. Inside, detectives found more suspected drugs, $20,000 in cash and another $80,000 in gold coins, documents said.

SOURCE: The News Tribune