Sylvester Stallone was hit with a $10,000 fine, and a formal conviction, for bringing muscle-growth hormones into Australia earlier this year.

In the final round of his bout with Oz officials, the "Rocky" star wasn’t around to get fined, but authorities finalized the case today anyway. Prosecutors said Stallone had also failed to declare the male hormones on a customs entry form, but, oddly enough, said that he had "legitimate medical reasons" for carting the drugs.

"I don’t think there is anything further the court could or should do in order to deter Mr. Stallone from committing these offenses again," Cloran said, according to the AP, adding that it was clear that the drug was being used for "cosmetic or therapeutic purposes."

Stallone last week apologized to the court for bringing 52 vials of a banned human growth hormone and testosterone, a male hormone used to improve muscle mass, into Australia when he came here to promote his latest Rocky movie.

Steroids cause severe health problems that can severely shorten a person’s life. Stallone is setting a poor example for kids who want to get high levels of performance at any cost.

Sylvester Stallone pleaded guilty this morning in a Sydney court to bringing banned muscle-building hormones into Australia, and will be sentenced next week.

The actor didn’t appear in court, but said in a letter to Sydney’s Downing Center Local Court that he had "made a terrible mistake" because he was "ignorant" about local laws, according to the AP. Stallone was accused of bringing the restricted growth hormones into Oz when a customs search in February turned up 48 vials of Jintropin, a human growth hormone. Then, said a prosecutor yesterday, Stallone threw four vials of the male hormone testosterone out of his hotel room when customs officials searched it.

The maximum penalty for Stallone’s offense could be 5 years in prison and $91,500 in fines, but Stallone will face up to $18,500 for each charge because his case is being heard in local (not federal) court.

Sylvester Stallone tried to bring 48 vials of human growth hormone (hGH) into Australia, and was caught during a random search upon his arrival at the airport, a Sydney court has been told. There are more juicy details here.

The 60-year-old movie star did not appear in the Downing Centre Local Court today where charges against him for importing a banned substance were briefly mentioned.

The Australian Customs Service has charged Stallone with one count of importing a prohibited import. Stallone was detained at Sydney Airport on February 16 after prohibited substances were allegedly found in his luggage.

The maximum fine for the offence is $110,000, but the maximum financial penalty a local court can impose is $22,000.

Stallone was in Sydney last month for the premiere of his new film Rocky Balboa and left after three days.

Magistrate David Heilern adjourned the matter to the same court for a plea on April 24. Stallone is excused from attending on that occasion if he is represented by his lawyer, Robert Todd.

What would happen if Stallone stopped taking hGH? Perhaps he’d become pliable like silly putty, then he could play Mr. Fantastic, who can stretch his body into incredible lengths and shapes, in the next Fantastic Four movie. It might help his love life too.

Sylvester Stallone will be charged with customs offences in an Australian court on Tuesday, the national news agency reported. Customs officials refused to give details of the charges against the "Rocky" star, who was briefly detained after a search of his luggage at Sydney airport on February 19 as he arrived in Australia to promote his latest movie.

At the time, customs officers said banned items, reportedly bodybuilding drugs or human growth hormones, were found in the Stallone party’s luggage. Stallone insisted his run-in with customs was simply a misunderstanding. Customs officials said the star would not be required to appear at the Downing Centre Local Court Tuesday if he was represented by a lawyer, the Australian Associated Press said.

Local newspapers reported that officers raided the action hero’s hotel room and private jet after members of his entourage were spotted throwing items out of their hotel window after the incident at the airport.

Stallone was allowed to leave Australia, but customs officials said their investigation was continuing and they were aware of the star’s movements.

Australian customs officials searched Sylvester Stallone’s hotel room and private jet on Monday, three days after seizing banned substances from the muscle-bound actor’s entourage as he arrived for a promotional tour, a news report said. Stallone was not stopped from leaving Australia, where he spent the weekend promoting his latest movie, "Rocky Balboa," after officials searched his plane on the tarmac at Sydney airport on Monday, Sydney’s The Daily Telegraph reported, without citing sources. Officials are still examining substances collected from Stallone’s entourage to determine whether further action would be taken, the newspaper reported.

Stallone and several people traveling with him were detained for several hours at Sydney airport on Friday as they arrived. Australian Customs Service national investigations manager Richard Janeczko said some contraband items were taken, but didn’t identify them. Stallone initially said the detention on Friday was the result of a misunderstanding on his part, then later refused to answer questions about the incident. In addition to illicit drugs, Australia prohibits the unlicensed importation of a wide range of steroids and performance-enhancing substances for sporting use. Penalties for possession of such substances can range from fines to prison terms.

This is just sad, but guys as big as Stallone don’t get that big by eating their spinach.