Chris Benoit's doctor pleads not guilty to improperly dispensing drugs

ATLANTA — The personal doctor to late Canadian pro wrestler Chris Benoit has pleaded not guilty to a new 175-count indictment charging him with conspiracy and improperly dispensing drugs.

Dr. Phil Astin did not attend Monday's hearing in U.S. federal court in Atlanta. His lawyer, who entered the plea, says in a statement that Astin is not a criminal.

The May indictment replaces a seven-count indictment last July and involves 17 patients.

Astin was the personal physician of Benoit, who strangled his wife and seven-year-old son before hanging himself at the family's home in an Atlanta suburb in June 2007.

Authorities say Astin prescribed anabolic steroids for Benoit. However, a medical examiner was unable to say if steroids, which have been linked to so-called 'roid rage,' played a role in the killings.

Benoit was born in Montreal and grew up in Edmonton. He began his career in 1985, training with wrestling's Hart family in Calgary.

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Benoit Doctor Pleads Not Guilty To New Charges

POSTED: 10:24 am EDT June 9, 2008

UPDATED: 10:32 am EDT June 9, 2008

ATLANTA -- The personal doctor of Chris Benoit, the wrestler who killed himself and his family last year, pleaded not guilty Monday to a new 175-count indictment that charged him with conspiracy and improperly dispensing drugs.

Dr. Phil Astin did not attend Monday's hearing in federal court in Atlanta. His attorney entered the plea on his behalf. The court granted Astin's request not to appear.

In a statement, the attorney said Astin is not a criminal.

The May 29 indictment replaced a seven-count indictment last July and involves 17 additional patients.

Authorities said Benoit strangled his wife and son, then hanged himself in their Fayetteville home in June 2007. Authorities said Astin prescribed a 10-month supply of anabolic steroids to Benoit every three to four weeks for a year leading up to the killings.

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