Christopher Key

Christopher Key

Christopher Key (born c. 1973) is a political activist and former fitness professional who was a partner in a fraudulent sports supplement business.

Key graduated from Fultondale High School and studied kinesiology and exercise physiology at the University of Alabama. He was impressed as a young man by the career of Lynn Kenny who claimed to be able to cure cancer and AIDS with ray beams.

Key was a partner in Timothy Hogan's Steel City Fitness and involved in marketing "8ight Labs" holographic bracelets for Warren Hanchey of Atlanta, Georgia before he partnered with Mitch Ross in S.W.A.T.S. Fitness and Performance (an acronym for 'Sports with Alternatives to Steroids"). Ross founded the business in 2011 with offices adjoining his gym in Fultondale. The company marketed unproven products for performance enhancement and rapid healing to college and professional athletes. Its flagship was a "deer antler spray" which Key claimed contained a natural form of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), the synthetic form of which was banned by the NCAA.

A January 2013 feature story in Sports Illustrated detailed S.W.A.T.S' history of misleading claims and its extensive relationships with athletes desperate for performance enhancers that wouldn't get them in trouble with their leagues. Notably, the story detailed a gathering with several members of 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide football team at the New Orleans Marriott just before the 2012 BCS National Championship game.

In September 2013 Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange filed a civil complaint against S.W.A.T.S., alleging at least 264 violations of the Deceptive Trade Practices Act. After a preliminary hearing on September 5, Judge Caryll Privett issued a restraining order against the business, which was raided by the Jefferson County Attorney General and Jefferson County Sheriff's Office and its assets turned over to a court-appointed receiver.

Since losing his business, Key has worked as a mover while continuing to promote unproven medical treatments and devices under the names "Health Management Systems" and "Keys 2 Life". He has also shared numerous anti-government claims and references to alleged conspiracies, including false claims about vaccines, on social media. In 2019 he began appearing with a badge around his neck and an embroidered polo shirt reading "Vaccine Police". During the COVID-19 pandemic he has appeared at public meetings to protest against mask orders and vaccine mandates.

He was removed from a meeting of the Jefferson County Board of Education, afterward claiming his appearance as a "victory". He later berated employees regarding mask requirements at Whole Foods at Cahaba Village Plaza, resulting in a trespassing charge. When he appeared at Mountain Brook Municipal Court to enter a plea, he instead mocked the judge and was forcibly removed.

Key was invited to appear at an organized anti-vaccination rally on August 14 outside of Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Illinois. He used the platform to make false accusations against vaccine developers and public health officials. Two days later he and a group entered a Wal-Mart store in Springfield and shouted threats at pharmacy staff who had been administering vaccinations. He made false statements to responding police officers.

References

• "The zany story of two self ordained sports science entrepreneurs." (January 28, 2013) Sports Illustrated'
• Kausler, Don Jr (January 30, 2013) "Snake oil or supplements: S.W.A.T.S. co-founder says Alabama, Auburn, others showed plenty of interest." The Birmingham News
• Harris, Sherea (September 6, 2013) "SWATS Fitness owners charged with 260 counts of deceptive trade practice violations." WBRC.com
• Stein, Kelsey (September 19, 2013) "Judge: S.W.A.T.S. remains barred from selling sprays, 'concussion caps,' holographic performance chips." The Birmingham News
• Sullender, Andrew (August 17, 2021) "Mercy rally draws hundreds protesting vaccine mandate; many spread misinformation" Springfield News-Leader
• Sullender, Andrew (August 18, 2021) "Man threatens Springfield Walmart workers, tells them they will be executed for administering vaccines" Springfield News-Leader