Advice for Commissioner Selig: Appoint a vice president for doping control

Baseball needs an appointed permanent vice president to deal with integrity issues like anabolic steroids abuse....now.

As if this summer needed more interruptions or injections caused by anabolic drugs, suddenly the HGH bugaboo pops up again.  The MLB season began with open investigations in the 4 year long BALCO case, the Jason Grimsley year-long probe, the spring Florida Internet pharmacy bust, and Metboy, the New York Met clubhouse boy who sold MLBers anabolic drugs.  George Mitchell's investigation tagged along along last spring too.  And the summer of Bonds presented 3 long months of material to write about how the career leader in home runs used an anabolic drug regimen that included anabolic steroids, HGH, insulin, and Clomid.

Now we get the Black September weekend of wacky HGH/steroid fun, courtesy of Rick Ankiel, Troy Glaus, and Jay Gibbons; heck those guys sound like suburban soccer players on the team with Buffy and Mikey.  Let's get some Ralph Lauren socks.

Obviously the use of performance enhancing drugs didn't start yesterday, and looking at the on-going investigations the new revelations won't end tomorrow.  The Mitchell probe supposedly has a beginning and an end (but perhaps without a middle).  What can be done? 

Ken Rosenthal over at Fox suggest Selig deal with the issue, which is an obvious idea.  But how?

If Major League Baseball is truly serious about limiting the use of performance-enhancing drugs — notice we say "limiting," not "eliminating" — then it's time to put up or shut up.

Become the industry leader in attacking PEDs.

Invest real money — not thousands, but millions — to compete in the chemical arms race.

Use of steroids/PEDs in baseball threatens the historical statistical integrity, taints the fairness of the contests (affects the outcomes), delivers a perverted standard of sportsmanship to younger players, and overall encourages the trafficking of illegal substances and drugs.  Enough already?

Bud Selig needs to act boldly, which would entail appointing a Vice President for Integrity.  Call it something else for God's sake (but not something lame like Homeland Security):  Vice President for Doping Control;  Vice President for PED and Substances Policy.  Something like that, but appoint a guy who can work with the baseball front offices, the commissioner's office, the MLB Player's Association, the medical profession, and the Gov't to manage steroid and PED policies.  This drug serpent is to large, too Medusa multi-headed for a casual approach, or a one-off commission, or management from the Commish himself.

A Vice-President for Integrity should lead a full time office with the medical and legal resources to manage all the aspects of the thus far unmanageable plague on the game.  The media points to the unprecedented growth in popularity of baseball by looking at attendance figures, as if that is justice for allowing drug-cheating to go on.  As if an operation without integrity will not one day suffer the consequences of malignant neglect.  As if one day fans just won't up and treat the game like a pro-wrestling entertainment.  Is this a path where baseball aficionados want the MLB to meander down?

No, and it will take a bold move by the Commissioner.  Act now and make anti-doping (throw in gambling and cheating too) a major issue by appointing a full time office to address the issues.

Comments

[Joe Lombardo]

I need accurate information, not company line stuff. I am using androgel - perscribed by a doctor but not covered by insurance. Only a small percentage of the testosterone is actually absorbed and/or used. I was told by a Phd I know that one can greatly increase the amount of testosterone that is absorbed and used by the body and therefore get by using less and making the therapy more economical if it is applied directly to the penis. He said there are many more testosterone receptors there. The instructions are to apply to abs, shoulders or upper arms with repeated warnings not to apply to the penis. I called the pharmicutical company and spoke to a pharmacist and ased why they warn not to apply to the penis. And all she said was that it was not studied and has alcohol and may irritate. She did not come up with any strong health related reasons. They chose the sites they did because they are typically covered by a shirt and minimize the risk of transfer. Also she commented that if used on the penis, and not thoroughly washed prior to intercourse, it could transfer.

Do you know if it is true that it is more effective and economical to apply to the penis?

Joe

[GRG]

Applying Androgel to the penis? Good lord, why would anyone tell you that?

I assume you are using Androgel for an approved indication.

The drug is absorbed by the venus system then redistributed to the body via the arterial system. Veins are all over the skin. Where are the most sensitive veins for absorption? I would suspect mucous veins, as in the mouth.

Why would anyone expect the penis to absorb more drug than any other skin? The drug isn't going to penetrate right to an organ.

Furthermore what androgen receptors does anyone want to stimulate in the penal skin? There are androgen receptors in the circulation of the penis, but is that what the androgel is targeted at? Is the problem impotency?

Use the drug as the manufacturer instructs patients. There is no secret here.

And pray you don't have prostate cancer, which will appreciate more testoserone....