Steroid Nation

Bond's teammate Bobby Estalella, as well as Jason Giambi, targeted for perjury trial testimony

Barry Bonds's teammate appear to be key at the upcoming federal perjury trial where the Govt accuses ex-Giant slugger Barry Bonds of lying about his steroids, HGH, and PED use.  Bobby Estrella and Jason Giambi have been named as juice squeezers.  To the AP:

 Former major league catcher Bobby Estalella has been subpoenaed by federal prosecutors to testify at Barry Bonds' trial, ESPN.com reported Thursday.

Estalella, who was on the San Francisco Giants with Bonds in 2000 and 2001, is expected to testify to firsthand knowledge that Bonds used steroids, the Web site said, citing an unidentified source with knowledge of the evidence. The Web site attributed knowledge of the subpoenas to two unidentified sources.

Estalella testified before a federal grand jury in November 2003. He admitted to the grand jury that he used performance-enhancing drugs, the San Francisco Chronicle reported in December 2004.

The book "Game of Shadows," by two Chronicle reporters, says Estalella received a drug schedule from Greg Anderson, Bonds' trainer, advising him to use human growth hormone, the steroids "the cream" and "the clear," and the female fertility drug Clomid.

The book also indicates Estrella is a relatively obnoxious character.

Ex-Oakland A and ex-Yankee player Jason Giambi, a prodigious juicer -- better be prepared for court testimony too (notice any hting similar with Estalella and Giambi?):

Prosecutors also plan to call Jason Giambi and his brother, Jeremy, as witnesses at Bonds' trial so they can testify that Anderson gave them performance-enhancing drugs, The New York Times reported on its Web site Thursday night.

The newspaper said prosecutors want to use testimony from the Giambis, teammates in Oakland from 2000-01, to show that Anderson developed doping calendars for them. Then the prosecutors could argue that Anderson made similar calendars for Bonds, the Times said, citing an unidentified person briefed on the government's evidence. The newspaper said the person spoke on condition of anonymity because he didn't want to jeopardize his access to sensitive information.

There will likely be a trickle of big names coming out with involvement in the Bonds BALCO-steroids-perjury trial.  SHold keep the media busy this year with names and faces.

Benoit's doctor -- Dr. Phil Astin -- pleads guilty on perscription abuse charges

Dr. Phil Astin, who supplied Chris Benoit steroids and HGH among other drugs -- pleaded guilty to 175 charges of illegal prescription drug distribution.  Benoit, the WWF wrestler suffering from concussions, drug abuse (anabolic steroids, HGH, narcotics, benzodiazepines, alcohol) killed his son, wife, and himself on a weekend rage rampage in 2007.

To WSBRadio:

The former doctor of pro wrestler Chris Benoit has changed his plea to guilty.

Dr. Phil Astin entered the new plea to a 175 count indictment in court on Thursday.

The indictment charges Astin with conspiracy and illegal distribution of prescription drugs.  The charges are not related to the 2007 of Benoit, his wife and the wrestler's son.

Benoit was taking anabolic steroids when he killed his family and then himself in their Fayette County home.

Astin's attorney portrays him as a country doctor willing to bend a few rules to try to ease his clients aches and pains.

Astin will be sentenced in May. 

Feds raid home of Bonds ex-trainer Greg Anderson's mother-in-law

Federal agents found themselves busy yesterday raiding the home of Barry Bonds's ex-trainer Greg Anderson (and leaving everyone with a very wordy headline).  Anderson is accused of delivering PEDs including steroids and HGH to the slugger.  His journey included a long stint in jail while mum about Barry Bonds's drug use.  This raid indicates continued interest in Anderson's role, and perhaps unrest about the Govt case against Bonds.

Twenty federal agents raided the home of the mother-in-law of Barry Bonds' personal trainer on Wednesday.

Madeleine Gestas and her daughter Nicole Anderson, the trainer's wife, are the target of a tax investigation that the lawyer for Greg Anderson said is aimed at pressuring the trainer to testify at Bonds' upcoming trial.

Bonds, baseball's career home run leader and a seven-time MVP, has pleaded not guilty to charges he lied to a federal grand jury in 2003 when he denied knowingly using performance-enhancing drugs.

"Even the mafia spares the women and children," said Anderson's lawyer, Mark Geragos.

Anderson's lawyer takes blame credit for the raid:

Geragos said he believes the raid was in response to his refusal to tell prosecutors whether Anderson would testify. Geragos said he ignored a letter faxed to his Los Angeles office Monday by prosecutors that asked about Anderson's plans for the Bonds' trial.

Anderson served more than a year in prison for refusing to testify against Bonds before a federal grand jury. Geragos said that on the day after her husband was released from prison, Anderson's wife received a so-called target letter informing her that she was under investigation.

Geragos said Anderson received a government subpoena last week demanding his testimony at the March 2 trial. Geragos declined to say whether Anderson would testify. If Anderson refuses, he could be sent to prison again.

However, other forces may be in play here -- to tighten the noose around the Bonds thickened neck:

The New York Times, citing an anonymous source, reported Thursday that prosecutors have evidence that links Bonds to the use of performance-enhancing drugs other than the "cream" and the "clear" — the designer substances that have become synonymous with the Bonds case.

A person who has reviewed the prosecution's evidence said that authorities detected anabolic steroids in urine samples linked to Bonds, according to the Times.

Michigan swimmer Emily Brunemann tests positive for diuretics -- 'masking agents'

A University of Michigan swimmer tested positive for 2 diuretics: hydrocholorothiazide and triamterene.  The combination makes up the pill 'Dyazide'.  The swimmer's lawyer says she thought she took a laxative.  Opps...wrong excretory system. 

Those are impressive delts shown in the photo.  To AFP for the story.

American swimmer Emily Brunemann has been slapped with a six-month suspension after testing positive for a banned substance, the United States Anti-doping Agency announced Wednesday.

The 22-year-old Brunemann, a four-time NCAA All-American, was caught using banned drugs hydrochlorothiazide and triamterene. The two are considered masking agents and are listed on the World Anti-doping Agency Prohibited List.

"Following a detailed evidentary hearing, the panel confirmed that Brunemann committed a doping violation and found that she failed to take appropriate steps to avoid ingesting a prohibited substance," USADA said in a news release. Brunemann's suspension is retroactive to September 26.

Brunemann's lawyer, Howard Jacobs, said his client tested positive after taking what she thought was a laxative.

"Emily Brunemann accepted responsibility for her one-time mistake in taking what she thought at the time was a laxative but that turned out to be a banned diuretic," said Jacobs, who was also the lawyer for disgraced former American sprinter Tim Montgomery.

A diuretic can mask steroid use by diluting the urine.  The drug could also be used to simply drop water weight.

Brunemann denied knowingly taking a banned drug and said she plans to continue swimming for her US college team, the University of Michigan.

"I look forward to finishing my collegiate swimming career and proving my first place finishes at the 2008 NCAA Championship and the 2008 US National Championships were based on my hard work and dedication," she was reported saying in Swimming World Magazine.

Concussion shows severe damage in NFL player's brain(s)

Everyone knows a football isn't a contact sport; football is a collision sport.  As the players become bigger strong and faster, the collisions become larger, louder, and more frightening.  And who doesn't like it when a player gets lit up on the field?  The player's brain doesn't appreciate too much.  CNN carries the story.

Concussed players describe depression, cognitive troubles, and mood lability.  Add these problems to the mood lability induced by steroids (or brain changes) and you have serious troubles.  About the concussions:

For years after his NFL career ended, Ted Johnson could barely muster the energy to leave his house.

"I'd [leave to] go see my kids for maybe 15 minutes," said Johnson. "Then I would go back home and close the curtains, turn the lights off and I'd stay in bed. That was my routine for two years.

"Those were bad days."

These days, the former linebacker is less likely to recount the hundreds of tackles, scores of quarterback sacks or the three Super Bowl rings he earned as a linebacker for the New England Patriots. He is more likely to talk about suffering more than 100 concussions.

"I can definitely point to 2002 when I got back-to-back concussions. That's where the problems started," said Johnson, who retired after those two concussions. "The depression, the sleep disorders and the mental fatigue."

Until recently, the best medical definition for concussion was a jarring blow to the head that temporarily stunned the senses, occasionally leading to unconsciousness. It has been considered an invisible injury, impossible to test -- no MRI, no CT scan can detect it.

But today, using tissue from retired NFL athletes culled posthumously, the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy (CSTE), at the Boston University School of Medicine, is shedding light on what concussions look like in the brain. The findings are stunning. Far from innocuous, invisible injuries, concussions confer tremendous brain damage. That damage has a name: chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

We have referenced the synergistic effect of concussion with steroids, opiates, and other drugs (like alcohol) in producing bad outcomes...as with Chris Benoit.  The CNN article looks at a wrestler:

In one moment, his dreams of a long career wrestling were dashed by a kick to his chin. That kick, which caused Nowinski to black out and effectively ended his career, capped a career riddled with concussions.

"My world changed," said Nowinski. "I had depression. I had memory problems. My head hurt for five years..." (CTE)

The Steelers appear plagued with concussion problems:

So far, the evidence of CTE is compelling.

The Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy, along with other research institutions, has now identified traumatic encephalopathy in the brains of late NFL football players John Grimsley, Mike Webster, Andre Waters, Justin Strzelczyk and Terry Long, in addition to McHale.

Grimsley died of an accidental gunshot wound to the chest. Webster, Long and Strzelczyk all died after long bouts of depression, while Waters committed suicide in 2006 at age 44. McHale was found dead last year of an apparent drug overdose.

"Guys were dying," said Nowinski. "The fact of the matter was guys were dying because they played sports 10 or 20 years before."

So far, around 100 athletes have consented to have their brains studied after they die.

Ted Johnson was one of the first to sign up. He said he believes that concussions he suffered while playing football explain the anger, depression and throbbing headaches that occasionally still plague him.

Johnson said he played through concussions because he, like many other NFL athletes, did not understand the consequences. He has publicly criticized the NFL for not protecting players like him.

The NFL's response:

In a statement, the NFL indicated that their staffs take a cautious, conservative approach to managing concussions.

While they support research into the impact of concussions, they maintain that, "Hundreds of thousands of people have played football and other sports without experiencing any problem of this type and there continues to be considerable debate within the medical community on the precise long-term effects of concussions and how they relate to other risk factors."

The NFL is planning its own independent medical study of retired NFL players on the long-term effects of concussion.

"Really my main reason even for talking about this is to help the guys who are already retired," said Johnson. "[They] are getting divorced, going bankrupt, can't work, are depressed, and don't know what's wrong with them. [It is] to give them a name for it so they can go get help."

Studies need to be completed on the effects of concussions, and on the synergistic effects of steroids, PEDs and concussions on the player's functioning.  The players appear to be jacked-up into oblivion as they are knocked silly.

Pro cyclists may be caught doping with blood values, and genetic tests

Our colleague Robin Parisotto, who sits on the UCI (Cycling Union) board of doping reveals that doping charges may be levied by radical changes in pro cyclists's blood indices.  Story at The Australian.

THE first case of a cyclist being charged with doping on the evidence of his blood profile is expected to be prosecuted in the coming months, according to Australian anti-doping expert Robin Parisotto.

The International Cycling Union (UCI) has been building up blood profiles of its professional cyclists by taking thousands of blood samples over the past year.

Canberra scientist Parisotto, who sits on the UCI panel overseeing the anti-doping program, said yesterday more than 30 suspicious samples had been analysed and there was enough evidence to pursue a handful of riders for doping violations.

"We are only collating the results now but I expect in the next few months the UCI will be taking action against some cyclists," Parisotto said.

Sounds like the decisions about whom to prosecute are looming.

The blood profiling is designed to identify any cyclists using banned drugs or methods which manipulate the blood to improve endurance. He said suspicious samples usually contained high haemoglobin levels, or unusually low levels (which would indicate a cyclist was extracting blood to be re-injected during competition).

"There are discussions now about which are the strongest cases to go after," Parisotto said. 

"There's only a handful they can confidently follow up. But I believe in some cases the results are fairly strong and the athlete will have a hard time explaining them."

The first cycling case will be a test for this new method of identifying drug cheats.

Parisotto said there was a smaller number of suspicious samples than he would have expected if the program had been in operation three or four years earlier.

"Now there is more of an effort being made to weed out the cheats and I think some of them are getting scared," he said.

"The risk of getting caught is becoming much greater now that they have to worry about what's in their blood."

Indices to monitor include red blood cell parameters (hemoglobin, and hematocrit), EPO, and other physiological measures, that should be very stable in an individual athlete over time.  Also, Parisotto speaks of monitoring the response of particular genes to doping drugs, a very interesting development.

Parisotto, who developed one of the first tests for the blood booster EPO in the lead-up to the Sydney Olympics, is also working on the next weapon in the anti-doping war, genetic profiling.

"The technology is there now to do gene profiling on blood tests," Parisotto said.

He said any use of blood doping would show up in changes to an individual's gene activity.

The laboratories will just have to chart the abnormal changes that the drugs make to the blood and genes of the athlete.

Juiced Jose Canseco reduced to fighting Partridge Dany Bonaduce

Ex-slugger Jose Canseco, prophet of the Juiced, has seen his career drip away.  He lost his fortune, his testosterone level, and now his self-respect.  Looking for a shot in the butt, Canseco fought 'ex-actor' Danny Bonaduce in an exhibit match last night.  Both lost. To the New York Daily News:

Jose Canseco may have whistled, "Come on, get happy" as he left the Iceworks skating complex Saturday night.

The former big leaguer and admitted steroid user fought to a draw with "Partridge Family" star Danny Bonaduce in a celebrity boxing match.

Although Canseco may be bigger, there is controversy over who is smarter:

That Bonaduce was still standing after three one-minute rounds was a victory in itself - Canseco outweighs Bonaduce by 80 pounds and is about a foot taller.

When the bell rang, it looked like Andre the Giant boxing Verne Troyer. Canseco's strategy seemed to be float like an elephant and sting like a concrete pillar, while Bonaduce had to practically leap just to reach Canseco's head. In the third round, the 6-4 Canseco, who weighed in at 259 pounds, rocked Bonaduce with a right jab, but the former child TV star stayed on his feet.

Canseco also proved that he is recession-proof. The economy can't be that bad when a capacity crowd of 2,000 curiosity seekers pays $50 ringside and $30 for the cheap seats to watch two D-listers pummel each other. The fight was also available on Pay-Per-View.

Canseco remains as popular with fans as he is successful in the ring:

Canseco entered to mostly boos and the jeering intensified throughout the fight, although there was one fan who wore an A's jersey.

Canseco wasn't as lucky his first time in the ring. In July, former NFL player Vai Sikahema leveled Canseco in the first round of an Atlantic City bout. Canseco fell to the mat in one minute, 37 seconds and was jeered off the premises with chants of "Ster-oid!"

 Obviously Canseco needs the money, and alot more.  And the rest of the filler:

It's been nearly a year since Canseco penned "Vindicated," his sequel to the 2005 steroid tell-all "Juiced." Following the book's release, in which Canseco implied Alex Rodriguez may have used steroids early in his career, Canseco was interviewed by the FBI in connection with Roger Clemens' perjury investigation. It is unclear if Canseco has been summoned to Washington, where a grand jury is hearing evidence against Clemens.

Last October, Canseco was busted at the border for trying to smuggle in the fertility drug human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) from Mexico. Later that month, A&E aired a documentary that showed a broke, contrite Canseco. He said writing "Juiced" was a mistake and said he was scared for his health after years of juicing. He pleaded guilty to misbranding of a drug in November and was sentenced to 12 months' unsupervised probation.

Canseco was paid $35,000 for the July fight. Saturday night, both Canseco and Bonaduce received $2 for every Pay-Per-View customer.

A night to embarrass all involved.

Surgery for male gynecomastia (man-boobs) goes up in the UK

The Telegraph reports that men's breasts are expanding, as is the surgery to reduce gynecomastia -- the man-boobs often related to anabolic steroid use. (see photo of typical case at left)

Drug specialists are also reporting a rise in the number of young men turning to the illegal use of anabolic steroids to improve their physique.

New figures from the British Association of Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, due to be published on Monday, are reported to show the number of men opting for breast-reduction procedures last year rose by nearly half.

In the space of five years, the figure has increased from 22 operations in 2003 to 224 in 227.

The Government's official advisers on drugs have noted that anabolic steroids are becoming popular among non-traditional drug-users keen to improve their physique, rather than just athletes.

Anabolic steroid use now ranks among the leading drugs treated in substance abuse treatment centers.  That means an increase in correcting the gynecomastia caused by the estrogenic effects of the drugs.  It also means problems with consequences of the needles used in injectable steroids.

Latest estimates from the British Crime Survey suggest that 179,000 people aged 16-59 have used anabolic steroids but Professor Iverson has previously said the figure might be more than 200,000.

Mike Linnell, of the Lifeline drugs charity in Manchester, said that needle-exchange projects are reporting rising numbers of men injecting steroids for cosmetic reasons.

He said: "What we have seen over the last two years is a growth in people who are not drug-users in the traditional sense. They are coming in because they used anabolic steroids because they wanted to look good. It is all about image, about looking good. This is now right across the board."

Use of anabolic steroids can be for sports advantage, or for simply narcissism, as with the Adonis Complex.

Ex-fiance backs up Jay McGwire's steroid reports on brother Mark McGwire's brother --

Once again Deadspin breaks the hot story.  The sports blog found a former fiance of Jay McGwire to back up his recollection of Ex-slugger Mark McGwire's voracious appetite for steroids and HGH.  She also recalls 'roid rage' exhibited by the two, which eventually cooled her relationship to Jay McGwire and apparently the inflammatory relationship between the McGwire brothers.

Lauren Brown was engaged to Jay McGwire in 1996, the same time he was consistently supplying the former home run king with steroids. She's relieved the truth about Mark's steroid use is finally out...

Lauren Brown contacted us exclusively to share some of the incidents she'd witnessed first hand while she was dating Mark's younger brother. She called off her engagement to Jay in 1996 due to his steroid use — specifically "roid rage" incidents. But, even though she has bad memories of their engagement and the person Jay was at that time, she claims he is absolutely telling the truth.

"I know the truth. It needs to be told. And why shouldn't Jay tell the story instead of some random media person? He knows the truth," she told me on the phone. "Why shouldn't he be the one telling this story? What's being said about him, that he's a bad person, is awful. People don't want to believe that a superstar is fallen. That Mark lied. Mark made his own choices. So did Jay, but he's owned up to them. I tip my hat off to him for that."

Did McGwire stock up on the juice?

Brown says that she accompanied Jay to the 1996 Contra Costa Body Building Championship and, on the way there, they had to stop at Mark's house. "I remember asking why we didn't fly there — and why we had to drive." Now she assumes it was so Jay could transport the steroids. She says that while she was at Mark's house, she claims she saw steroids in Mark's refrigerator or actually "Several tubes of an injectible substance."

And the real 'bash brothers':

But she also said that their relationship was combustible. That the arguments between the two of them over the phone were extremely violent and were, she claims, total roid rage arguments. "I could hear Mark yelling at Jay over the phone from about 20 yards away."

Brown says she is glad teh 'truth' is out there, which is an interesting reflectino.  Imagine all the peopl out there who know what stars juiced to become drug-cheat recrod holders.  Imagine all the moral indignation they swallow every night knowing the deceptions.  Now there is one less...

"I'm just happy that Jay has gotten his life together and the truth about Mark will finally get out there. It's been too long."

Deadspin breaks story on Mark McGwire: Brother Jay McGwire supplies record-breaking steroids

In a major breaking story on Deadspin, Jay McGwire will reveal that he was the sources of slugger Mark McGwire's power surge in the late 1990s, culminating in the 1998 season when McGwire and Sammy Sosa 'saved' baseball.  (Is that like destroying a village to save a village'?).

Seems that McGwires lil bro lost an eye in an accident, applied the insurance money to some serious anabolic drugs, which gave him expertise and contacts about PEDs.  Next up -- big bro Mark who was breaking down in his MLB slugging career.  To Deadspin:

"THE MCGWIRE FAMILY SECRET:The Truth about Steroids, a Slugger, and Ultimate Redemption" has been hitting the desks of the big publishing houses this week (and turned down by many) even though it may prove once and for all that, yes, America, Mark McGwire was pumped full of Deca-Durabolin when he hit 403 homers in seven years.

Jay McGwire explains things this way (thanks bro):

"Mark is a man I think most would like to forgive because his reason wasn’t nefarious—it was for survival. My bringing the truth to surface about Mark is out of love. I want Mark to live in truth to see the light, to come to repentance so he can live in freedom—which is the only way to live. "

According Brother McGwire, Mark's road to perdition began this way:

"Shortly after I won the Contra Costa Bodybuilding Championships in May of 1994, Mark took the plunge. I accompanied him to Sacramento where we met with my supplier and trainer, who explained to him how the different drugs would work on his body and answered a myriad of questions from Mark. Given Mark’s curiosity and lack of knowledge about steroids I saw from Mark, I would be shocked if Mark did something like what Jose Canseco claimed happened back in the early years....[M]ark began to use, but in low dosages so he wouldn’t lift his way out of baseball. Deca-Durabolin helped with his joint problems and recovery, while growth hormone helped his strength, making him leaner in the process. I became the first person to inject him, like most first-timers he couldn’t plunge in the needle himself. Later a girlfriend injected him."

And the explanation for the big '98 season:

"Prior to the 1998 season, [Mark] had reached a level where he did not need to get any stronger and he couldn’t afford to add any more weight. So I directed him to androstenedione testosterone booster, which is non-hormonal (which is why it can be sold legally and is not affected by the 2004 Anabolic Steroid Control Act) and works naturally with your body. “Andro” increases strength and aggression while promoting reduction of body fat and a leaner look to the physique....[U]sing andro allowed Mark to avoid all the potential adverse side effects that could occur from using anabolic steroids, such as water retention, hair loss, and liver, heart, or kidney stress. In addition, he wouldn’t have cholesterol problems or testicular atrophy. And there were no problems with the law."

Jay McGwire is not an unknown.  In an 1998 story in the Los Angeles Times, Brother Jay surfaces:

No one knows Mark McGwire’s body better than Jay McGwire, his 28-year-old younger brother and a physical trainer who works at a fitness facility in Chino Hills.

The McGwires, often mistaken for twins, lived together in Northern California while Mark recovered from the heel and lower back injuries that sidelined him for virtually the entire 1993 and ‘94 seasons, and it was Jay, into bodybuilding since high school, who helped redesign the supplement-aided weightlifting program that helped his brother return bigger and better than ever.

That program also has become a subject of debate in the last week as the St. Louis Cardinal first baseman wages a riveting home run duel with Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs and closes in on Roger Maris’ record of 61 homers...

McGwire has used androstenedione for more than a year, and several other protein and amino acid-type supplements, including creatine, for four years. Jay McGwire, who said he has used similar supplements since he was in high school without any physical ramifications, put his brother on the program during the injury-marred 1993 and ‘94 seasons.

In no way, the younger McGwire said, does androstenedione directly enhance McGwire’s performance on the field.

In no way, he said, is he cheating.

“It has nothing to do with his swing,” Jay McGwire said. “The only thing he gets out of it is enhanced tissue recovery. Weightlifting tears down tissue. This allows him to recover more quickly. It allows him to work out six times a week instead of four.

“Mark had lifted before he got hurt [in ‘93], but not correctly. We put him on a program strengthening his legs and abs, not just his upper body. We worked at increasing his flexibility. He’s bigger and quicker now. He has phenomenal bat speed, range of motion.”

And Brother Jay absolutely denies that Mark took 'steroids' (although the Andro should be considered a steroids)

“I mean, Mark takes so much pride in his body and is so worried about what people think of him that he would never do anything to damage his health or image. The key to anything is moderation, but that’s not to say he’s taking steroids because he isn’t.

Can't Stop the Bleeding refers to a Newsday article pointing to Jay McGwire:

The andro reportedly was supplied by brother Jay McGwire, a bodybuilder who, according to Time magazine, was so hooked on steroids that family and friends staged an intervention.

So the dog tracks were in the snow.  However, there is skepticism that the Jay McGwire book will be daylight:

...the proposal that will most likely never, ever hit a book store:

Ex-President Bush exits without a Clemens Clemency

Ending speculation that departing President Bush would pardon Roger Clemens, even before he was indicted and convicted, the 43rd president left Barack Obama in charge without a Rocket 'Get Out of Jail Free' card for his various PED imbroglios.  To the New York Daily News:

There was no last-minute pardon for Roger Clemens before President Bush left the White House Tuesday, and the federal grand jury that has been examining evidence that the former Yankee star committed perjury will continue its work.

Brian McNamee's attorney Richard Emery raised the possibility of a Bush pardon after Clemens testified at the Feb. 13, 2008, congressional hearing on the Mitchell Report.

"We're glad neither Clemens nor Bush stooped to conquer," Emery said. "We hope by raising the issue we inoculated it and helped avoid it."

Emery said he raised the pardon issue because Republican members of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform seemed eager to protect Clemens and attack McNamee during last year's hearing.

Clemens also brought up his friendship with former President George H.W. Bush during the hearing. Clemens testified that he was never contacted by former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell or his investigators, but Bush Sr. tracked him down on a duck hunt to wish him well after the release of the explosive report on steroids and baseball.

So even all the good old boy network didn't come through with a curve ball from Bush to let Clemens off the hook.  There were reasons why a Bush pardon wasn't considered to be coming out of the presidential dugout:

Clemens' attorney Rusty Hardin has said he would not seek a pardon on behalf of the seven-time Cy Young Award winner. Hardin has steadfastly denied his client ever used performance-enhancing drugs, and has said innocent people don't ask for pardons.

"Richard Emery just has to quit smoking his own dope," Hardin said after Emery first raised the pardon issue.

Despite Clemens' ties to the Bush family, Washington insiders said in recent weeks that a pardon was unlikely.

One reason revolved around race. Barry Bonds' perjury trial is scheduled to begin in March in San Francisco. Olympic track star Marion Jones, who served a six-month prison sentence for lying to federal investigators and check fraud, unsuccessfully sought a pardon. Bush would have ignited angry protests if he intervened for Clemens but not for two prominent African-American athletes.

Bush made headlines when he commuted Scooter Libby's 30-month prison sentence in 2007, but the 43rd President was apparently not a fan of pardons. Bush may still be smarting from his Dec. 23 pardon of Isaac Toussie, who pleaded guilty in 2001 to lying to the feds to obtain mortgages for unqualified home buyers. Bush later revoked the pardon after the Daily News reported that Toussie's father had donated $28,500 to the Republican National Committee.

If Bush did get involved in the Clemens investigation, he would have raised questions about his own, albeit indirect, role in Major League Baseball's steroid scandal. Bush was the the managing general partner of the Texas Rangers when Jose Canseco claims he taught his teammates about performance-enhancing drugs.

Bush raised the steroid issue in his 2004 State of the Union address, when he called on sports leagues to crack down on drugs.

"The use of performance-enhancing drugs like steroids in baseball, football and other sports is dangerous, and it sends the wrong message - that there are shortcuts to accomplishment and that performance is more important than character," Bush said.

Of course we have to see how new Attorney General Eric Holder treats PED offenses.  The new AG was an NFL lawyer who downplayed steroids-related issues.

Rugby star Matt Stevens positive for cocaine

The rugby athletes -- the guys with leather balls -- occasionally test positive for foreign substances.  England's rugby star Matt Stevens tested positive for cocaine following a December match, which earns him a possible 2 year suspension.

Interesting that cocaine, a recreational drug, will be treated as a PED.  The drug is a stimulant, but likely wasn't used that way as it is basic that testing picks up the drug easily.

The London Times reported the Steven's catch first; The Sun follows up with more details.

ENGLAND rugby star Matt Stevens wept yesterday after testing positive for cocaine and admitted: “It’s ruined my life.”

The 26-year-old prop confessed to having a “drug problem” as he was removed from the elite squad and suspended by his club Bath.

Matt said: “It’s pretty distressing talking about this. When you think about how much time people have put into my career — and I’ve thrown it away.

“It’s a very serious substance and something I’ve realised I have an issue with. I truly, truly am very sorry.”

South African-born Matt did not say which drug he took. But The Sun has learned he tested positive for cocaine in a random test after last month’s Heineken Cup clash with Glasgow Warriors.

Matt won fans off the pitch when he was runner-up in ITV’s X Factor: Battle of the Stars in 2006.

He faces a two-year match ban, ruining his hope of playing for the British and Irish Lions in South Africa this summer. Matt, who played in the 2007 World Cup, told Sky Sports he had begun drug counselling.

Ex-Olympic gold medalist positive: Greek Athanasia Tsoumeleka, 20K walk athlete tested positive for EPO

Athanasia Tsoumelek -- a gold medal winner at the 2004 Athens Olympics in 20K Walking -- tested positive for EPO in a blood sample obtained prior to Beijing. This test must be a product of the IOC retest of blood samples from Beijing 2008.  To the Canadian Press:

Former Olympic champion Athanasia Tsoumeleka tested positive for the banned blood-booster erythropoietin in a retesting of a sample she provided two days before the opening of the Beijing Olympics.

Tsoumeleka, the 20-kilometre walk champion at the 2004 Athens Games, confirmed she was told that a retesting of the urine sample she gave on Aug. 6 tested positive for EPO.

But she expressed doubts about the second procedure and announced her retirement from competition, effective immediately.

"I was informed that there is a problem with a positive test for (EPO) in a sample I submitted on Aug. 6, 2008. I will not try to excuse myself, even though I have not knowingly made use of this substance," Tsoumeleka told radio station Skai. "The fact that samples are tested more than once - that is, opened not in my presence - makes me feel uneasy about the whole process.

"My unfortunate involvement . . . forces me to put an end to the high-level competitive sports I love so much and not wait to continue after the expiration of my expected punishment."

In Beijing, Tsoumeleka finished ninth in the 20-kilometre walk in a personal best of one hour 27 minutes 54 seconds. She was almost three and a half minutes behind winner Olga Kaniskina of Russia.

Tsoumeleka's positive test result was the latest affecting Greek athletes.

The Greek Olympic athletes are compiling a heinous record of Olympic doping.  Fania Halkia, several sprinters and strength athletes either were banned form Beijing or tested positive at the game.

Fani Halkia, the 2004 Olympic 400-metre hurdles champion, was dropped from the team in Beijing and expelled from the athletes' village after testing positive for the anabolic steroid methyltrienolone. Fourteen other Greeks, including 11 weightlifters, tested positive for the same substance before the Olympics.

Vassilis Sevastis, the head of Greece's athletics federation SEGAS, said he would not comment on Tsoumeleka's case and her statement.

"Greece is full of EPO ... nothing has been done to curtail doping in the past 20 years," sports doctor Stavros Hatzos told Skai radio station.

Daily Steroids Dose

1.  Italian number 109 Filippo Volandri will miss tennis's Australian Open after being slapped with a ban for using an asthma medicine containing a proscribed stimulant to excess.  (Monsters and Critics)

2.  Operation Puerto reopened.  (The Guardian)

3.  Benin International (South Africa) midfielder Jonas Oketola has been banned for two years after being found guilty of a doping violation.  (Kongo Times)

4.  Oscar Pereiro makes a comeback too (won the Tour De France after Landis D/C) (The Age)

Boulder climbing stumbles on steroid testing scandal

The nascent sport of bouldering, or competition climbing, looking for an Olympic berth may suffer a doping scandal setback.  Maybe not a full-fledged BALCO or Operation Puerto imbroglio, but controversy, thank you ma'am.  Watch out if your doping or 'roiding then climbing.

To Grough (Yes, Grough) Covering the Outdoor World.

Apparently a bouldering star tipped off competitors of surprise doping tests.  The mystery plays out this way:

The high-adrenaline world of competition climbing found itself at the centre of anti-doping controversy today.

In a foretaste of future events, with the possibility of the sport featuring in the 2020 Olympics, an Irish bouldering enthusiast was criticised for tipping off would-be competitors they may be dope-tested in two upcoming events. The climbers’ representative body, the Mountaineering Council of Ireland, was also dragged into the row.

Stephen McMullan, of the Irish Bouldering League, posted an entry on the forms of climbers’ website Climing.ie which read: “I’ve been informed today that it will be highly likely that there will be representatives from the Irish Sports Council conducting anti-doping tests at the Midleton [sic] and DCU rounds of the IBL.

“All competitors will be required to sign the MCI anti-doping declaration prior to being allowed to compete.

“In all likelihood there will be urine testing, more probable for folks getting placed 1, 2, 3 but also there is the possibility of random testing.”

Mr McMullan continued: “Personally I’m still reeling at this news. I suppose we just hoped this day would never come.

“Yes, it’s completely inappropriate due to the nature of the event. However, we are insured and funded by the MCI who are in turned funded by the sports councils of NI and Rep[ublic of] Ireland and them’s the rules for competitive events.

“We don’t have a choice here. Well we do, but compliance is the least of all the evils.”

So now the powerful :-) Mountaineering Council of Ireland will investigate:

Now, according to John Mooney in the Sunday Times, the Irish Sports Council has asked the MCI to investigate the posting. The ISC, along with Sport Northern Ireland, provides funding for the league.

The competitions will take place at Middleton, County Cork on 24 January and Dublin City University on 28 February.

Bouldering, which takes place both inside and outdoors, sets climbers ‘problems’ to climb, with points scored for completing these mini-routes and a strict set of rules governing how the competitions are run.

All affiliated members of the International Federation of Sport Climbing are expected to adhere to its rules, which include anti-doping. These state that all competitions organised under the federation’s authority should comply with the anti-doping code, which bans many drugs which are present in over-the-counter medications.

Mr McMullan says that people taking insulin and anyone who has used corticosteroids recently would fall foul of the dope testing and would need a medical note from their doctor to say there was a clinical need for their use.

However, he also cautions that ‘recreational’ drugs, some of which stay in the bloodstream for some time, would show up in the tests.

Stuart Garland, the MCI’s chief executive, told the Sunday Times’ Mooney: “We asked the IBL to make sure they had the relevant paperwork, which would enable the sports council staff to carry out anti-doping tests at the competitions.

“It would appear this information may have led people to reach certain conclusions.” He added that he did not endorse Mr McMullan’s comments.

An issue would be the exportation of the game to the Olympics.  The Olympics require the rigor of WADA compliance and testing. Thus the concern about doping, and Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs) for prescribed medications.

Climbing and mountaineering are recognised by the International Olympic Committee but do not yet form part of the games, though there is a strong likelihood that some form of sport climbing will feature in the 2020 Olympic Games.

The International Federation of Sport Climbing accepted the new anti-doping code in September last year.

Should Mark McGwire come clean about steroids?

The San Francisco Examiner's Gwen Knapp addresses the Mark McGwire problem in a column.

  McGwire, by all accounts a good guy, seems stranded in purgatory due to his alleged PED and steroid use.  Forget the mild Andro, but consider the stronger juice, as alleged in Jose Canseco's book "Juiced".  Despite opinions that McGwire only did Andro, those whispers (or shouts) about the juice appear to doom the big sluggers HOF aspirations.  He percent of the vote fell this year to ~21%.

Now, after Hall of Fame vote #3, McGwire is neither gaining or losing ground; he appears to be hopelessly stranded in some nether world of steroid penance.  But Gwen Knapp, of the SF Chronicle details a McGwire confession:

In about a month, when the Super Bowl is over and spring training is about to open, Mark McGwire should start talking about his past. He can tell us the things he wouldn’t say in front of Congress, answering all the questions he ducked back in 2005.

The timing would be perfect. It’s a dead zone in the sports schedule. He wouldn’t be distracting from anyone else’s glory, except perhaps the models in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue...

Above all, seven years have passed since McGwire retired from baseball. Regardless of what he might have ingested to enhance his career, he can’t be prosecuted for it now.

Every applicable statute of limitations has expired.

Might there be legal issues?

f he used steroids or growth hormone, he has nothing to fear from speaking up. His reputation can’t suffer. As it stands now, his baseball legacy is not 583 career home runs or 70 homers in that magical 1998 season, when Roger Maris’ sons embraced him as the heir to their father’s record. It’s: “I’m not here to talk about the past.”

His evasions at the Congressional hearings on performance-enhancing drugs deserved every bit of the ridicule they received, but under the right circumstances, they could easily be forgiven.

Juicers should come clean, to attain the public -- and press -- good graces; and McGwire could use some polish on that tarnished reputation to make a run at the Hall of Fame:

Jason Giambi, McGwire’s protege a dozen years ago in Oakland, is proof that people will get over a player’s doping if he reaches even the vicinity of truth and contrition. They don’t even demand a full accounting. They just want a vague mea culpa and an apology. It’s certainly not a game of inches.

Still, McGwire seems likely to cling to silence forever. In his opening statement on Capitol Hill, he said players couldn’t win either way. If they said they didn’t use, no one would believe them.

If they said they doped, they’d risk “public scorn and endless government investigation.”

At this point, though, the public scorn can’t get any worse. He can’t alienate people who believe he was clean, because they don’t exist. McGwire’s biggest defenders are, at best, apologists.

The issues are tricky here, legal or banned; McGwire does seem above some of the other flotsam with juicers of the 90s and 00s:

They’ll say that there’s no absolute proof and that the stuff wasn’t banned in baseball when he played anyway. (Steroid use without prescription was, however, illegal in the real world.)

But the best defense for McGwire has nothing to do with the slippery ethics of doping. It’s the fact that he didn’t commit perjury. Whatever grandiose vision he might have about himself, he didn’t have the gall to lie under oath, thinking that people would just believe him because of who he is.

Contrast that with Roger Clemens, whose Congressional appearance included the following:

A. A defense about growth hormone used at his home that shifted the blame to his wife, who apparently wanted to look hotter than usual while posing for the SI swimsuit issue, B. Discussion of a supportive call he received from the elder President Bush on a duck-hunting trip, and C. Borderline hysteria over Andy Pettitte’s incriminating statements.

In fact, Clemens’ “he mis-remembered” line has more staying power than McGwire’s aversion to talking about the past, because it can’t be erased and because some wag Photoshopped a picture of Pettitte, adding a beauty-queen tiara and a sash that said “Miss Remembered.”

Add Barry Bonds’ upcoming trial on perjury charges, Marion Jones’ crocodile tears and six months behind bars for lying to investigators, Tyler Hamilton’s contention that a vanishing twin might have led to a positive blood-doping test and Floyd Landis’ Jack Daniel’s defense. Pretty soon, McGwire starts looking like a model of integrity.

Strange, isn’t it, how steroids inflate muscles and statistics, yet shrink the definition of decency?

As as Knapp says, McGwire could come clean, put it all in perspective, and regain a proportion of the glory of 10 years ago.

McGwire could vault the bar easily if he just explained himself. At the hearings, he seemed horribly conflicted and somewhat ashamed. He didn’t like being questioned, but he also turned squeamish when he avoided answering. He can fix all of that. A month from now seems like the perfect time.

He may have reasons to wait longer, perhaps out of fear that the government will demand other people’s names — suppliers, ex-teammates. If so, another February, when everyone else’s statute of limitations has expired, would do. It probably won’t be enough to put McGwire in the Hall of Fame, but it would win a lot of respect and a special place in baseball history. He’d be that rare batter who took a swing years late and still made contact.

There is a good argument to be made for McGwire's contrition.  He put up good numbers as a skinny rookie with over 40 home runs.  His physique exploded later, and especially in that '98 season, however he was a major talent as a home run hitter at his height. 

If McGwire doens't become contrite, he risks becoming one more footnote to the steroids era.  If he comes clean, there is a chance that contriteness will cast his career in a different light.  Wouldn't a chance at redemption be better than a vague steroid purgatory forever?

Lance Armstrong on eve of comeback down under

Lance Armstrong will take to the race course down under in Australia tonight for a challenging warm up as he competes in the "Race Down Under" later this week. Did Armstrong set up his 'state of the art' anti-doping system?  To the Sydney Morning Herald:

LANCE ARMSTRONG concedes there are very real dangers about kicking off his comeback in a criterium such as tonight's Cancer Council Classic in Adelaide, in which the pace will reach breakneck speed on a tight inner-city circuit...

However, Armstrong is wary about the style of racing he will confront in tonight's criterium, in which the field will race 30 laps of a 1.7km circuit - for a total of 51km - around Rymill Park in Adelaide.

In recent weeks he has reiterated his need to re-adapt to the speed and flow of racing in a tightly compacted bunch, such as the 133-rider pack made up of 19 seven-man teams that will feature in Adelaide.

Asked about his first pedal strokes in international racing since winning the 2005 Tour being made in a criterium rather than a road race, he said: "It wouldn't be my first choice."

Armstrong also discussed the doping program he designed:

Armstrong also confirmed the independent anti-doping program to be run on him specifically by American expert Don Catlin was now in place. Armstrong, who has been tested in and out of competition 12 times since announcing his comeback in September - and twice in Adelaide - said Catlin's program would start at the Tour Down Under

"It's formalised," Armstrong said. "It is under way. It is the most comprehensive anti-doping plan in the history of sport. I am proud of it.

"If anybody has any questions about any performance this year it can hopefully answer some of those questions, but we are under way.

Sound like there were logistic problems:

"It was slightly complicated because there are a lot of people involved and obviously a lot of other agencies involved.

"Outside Don Catlin there has been 12 other anti-doping controls out of competition.

"I would challenge anybody else to show me 12 anti-doping controls in the past few months."

He said the delay in getting the Catlin program up and running was due to "getting everybody synched up, getting everybody together".

And the strategy for the course:

"[The course] has changed a little since last year where there were a lot of turns, and times when [riders] would have been really breaking hard and accelerating out of corners," he continued. "That makes it harder when you are 50 to 60 to 70 guys back. The other ones are sprinting out of the corner when you are braking into the corner. It looks on paper to be something that you can roll around a little easier on.

"But it sort of goes full circle. I started off in the late '80s doing criteriums in the

United States. The main thing is to stay out of trouble, stay up front and avoid the drama."

Russian officials ban executives and doctors for Ranger prospect Alexei Cherepanov's death

ESPN reports that Russian hockey officials -- Continental Hockey League KHL -- will ban team executives and doctors following the investigation of New Yok (York) Rangers prospect Alexei Cherepanov.

Cherepanov died last year during a hockey match.  Investigating the suspicious death of a 19 year-old professional athlete, generated reports that the young player took stimulants prior to his demise.  However now the Russian officials backtrack on that conclusion to implicate the executives and doctors involved with Cherepanov.  Something seems slippery here.  (ESPN reports)

Russia's Continental Hockey League has banned five team executives and doctors, four of them indefinitely, for at least two years for their roles in connection with the death of New York Rangers prospect Alexei Cherepanov.

The men -- including the former team president and general manager of Avangard Omsk and two team doctors -- were banned following a KHL investigation, which concluded that the parties involved "exhibited criminal negligence" in their duties and knowingly tried to treat Cherepanov's life-threatening heart condition on their own.

The league also clarified earlier media reports that Cherepanov had been using performance-enhancing drugs, explaining that what had been earlier reported as doping was in fact an attempt to treat Cherepanov's heart condition.

Cherepanov, 19, collapsed Oct. 13 while on the bench for the Omsk club Avangard in Russia's Continental Hockey League and died a short time later. The league said Friday that Cherepanov had suffered from chronic myocarditis and that the cause of his death was acute heart failure.

Interesting that the cause of death was acute heart failure.  In the end, everyone dies of 'heart failure'.  However in this case we find it suspicious that a 19 year-old with myocarditis died of heart failure.

We would suspect the athlete died of an arrhythmia, which caused the acute 'heart failure'...inability to pump adequate blood to the tissues. 

We also raises suspicious about the conclusion that the Russian hockey player did not use PEDs; the report says the drug found in the athlete was used to treat his heart condition.  No stimulant would be used to treat myocarditis, unless the drug were something like lidocaine, for severe ventricular arrhythmia.

The Russian report excoriated the doctors treating Cherepanov's condition.  It also addressed the PED issue this way:

Durmanov also addressed media reports last month alleging that Cherepanov had used performance-enhancing drugs.

"The team doctors of Avangard tried to treat Alexei on their own. What the press described as systematic doping, was an attempt to cure Alexei's heart condition," he said.

That's the unusual conclusion that is not believable.

It also appears the emergency crew sent to the hockey meet was not well prepared:

Following Cherepanov's death, prosecutors alleged the arena where Cherepanov was playing failed to coordinate proper emergency medical services before the game. Last month, Russia's federal Investigative Committee alleged a "row of gross violations was committed by the medical brigade" helping Cherepanov.

"Among them, doctors arrived on the scene a full 12 minutes after Cherepanov collapsed, and the battery on the defibrillator to attempt shock Cherepanov's heart back into life was drained," investigators said.

We do not believe the truth has yet emerged about the PED use, and the death of this young hockey star.  Can't the Russians inject some veracity into their reports?

Ricky Davis did not do steroids...Ricky says

Everyone wants to know...did NBA bad boy Ricky Davis sit for a steroids suspension?  (at least we want to know)

Davis, a former Iowa Hawkeye player we knew since he was in high school, sat out a number of games for the Los Angeles Clippers after violating the leagues 'anti-drug policy'. Was the suspension steroids or PED related?

  To LA-NBC:

The injury struggles of the Clippers have been the major story for this team over (at least) the last 12 games or so. Playing without Baron Davis, Zach Randolph, and Chris Kaman, it's no surprise that L.A.'s losing streak has reached that number, and with the team being so depleted, we also shouldn't be surprised that they'd welcome back someone like Ricky Davis.

Davis made his return to the floor Wednesday night against the Hawks, and played like someone who hadn't been on the NBA hardwood since November 22nd -- which he hadn't. Besides the fact that Davis was recovering from a knee injury, he also had to serve a five-game suspension for violating the league's anti-drug policy.

Inquiring minds are dying somewhat interested to know exactly what substance led to the violation and suspension.  One of L.A.'s few reporters on the scene got the answer:

When asked if he'd tested positive for a banned substance or merely failed to comply  with the league's drug program (either by missing a test or some other violation) Davis indicated that he'd tested positive but added, "No steroids.''

Draw your own conclusions.

And how did Davis perform on his comeback?

Meanwhile, on the court, Davis played 16 minutes, and contributed just two points, two rebounds, and two assists. Unfortunately for the Clippers, the less than stellar numbers probably aren't due to being rusty; Davis wasn't so great before the injury (or the suspension) either. He's averaged just four points per game in 20 minutes on the floor, while shooting a dismal 27 percent from the field this season.

Just maybe Ricky should do steroids...brain steroids.  From the photo on the right, doesn't look like Ricky needs more male steroids...

Roger Clemens exploding: The Rocket getting blasted from all sides

Interesting juxtaposition of events this week.  As the Baseball Hall of Fame announced honorees, one sure-fire future Hall of fame candidate -- Roger Clemens (now pictured more frequently in court than on the mound) -- must feel a tightening noose around his legal neck...and must also feel the HOF slip away too.

Jim Rice, whose numbers looked pedestrian compared with the steroid era sluggers, found his way into the Hall when voters regrouped to look at the average achievement of Rice's contemporaries  However Clemens, who numbers appear arguably inflated in his late career flourish, seems pale and vulnerable.

Reports this week indicate that Jeff Novitzki is participating in the Grand Jury investigating Clemens.  Considering Novitzki's expert in BALCO, that is not good news for the Rocket. To the Examiner:

Jeff Novitsky, the investigator who gathered most of the evidence in the BALCO cases has now been asked to provide assistance in the Clemens matter. All Roger has to do is call Marion Jones, Barry Bonds, Trevor Graham, Tammy Thomas and others who Novitsky nailed after they gave statements under oath or to prosecutors about their knowledge of the steroids distributed by BALCO.

Today, Metboy and steroid dealer Kirk Radomski showed up at the Grand Jury.  Ex-Clemens trainer Brian McNamee claims that he scored steroids and HGH from the former Met clubhouse boy who copped a plea deal last year to avoid big time in the big house.  (New York Daily News)

Steroid supplier Kirk Radomski testified before a grand jury investigating Roger Clemens for perjury for just over two hours Thursday morning at a federal courthouse in Washington. Wearing a black windbreaker, the burly Radomski entered the grand jury room just after 10:15 a.m. and left accompanied by a Capitol security officer.

Radomski  began reviewing previous testimony that he sold and shipped drugs to dozens of Major League Baseball players, as well as Clemens' former trainer Brian McNamee, who told prosecutors that he injected Clemens with steroids and human growth hormone over a period of several years. McNamee also cooperated with former Sen. George Mitchell in his explosive report on drug use in baseball. Radomski pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of a controlled substance in 2007 and has cooperated in the government's ongoing steroid investigation.

Radomski awes the Gov't prosecutors favors after they went lightly in his conviction and sentence.  The Metboy may be a key witness is several on-going prosecutions of MLB players.

The testimony of both Radomski and McNamee will be crucial to the government's  investigationon into whether Clemens lied to Congress when he denied using performance-enhancing drugs during a congressional hearing on the Mitchell Report last February.

Radomski is among the first of the witnesses who will appear before the grand jury and he could be asked about his dealings with Houston Astros shortstop Miguel Tejada, who is also under investigation for allegedly lying to Congress, as well as about  his dealings with McNamee.

Minutes before Radomski arrived at the third floor of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, assistant United States Attorney Daniel P. Butler appeared and made his way to the same room. Butler returned to his Capitol Hill office after Radomski's appearance ended.

McNamee is expected to meet with Butler and other federal officers on Friday.

Lastly ex-trainer Brian McNamee says today that Clemens will end up in Jail.  that remains to be seen, as Clemens has never been charged with a felony.  It is also clear that steroids and PED convictions are difficult to obtain, and that sentence are light.  (New York Daily News, again)

Brian McNamee predicts he'll see Roger Clemens in uniform again - but this time his old boss won't be wearing pinstripes.

McNamee says the Rocket's 2009 uniform will be an orange jumpsuit, with a serial number across the chest.

In a video on the Web site Sportsimproper.com, McNamee tells host Mai Tran he believes Clemens will be sent to prison for his repeated denials of steroid use during the Feb. 13, 2008, congressional hearing on the Mitchell Report.

"Let me ask you this," Tran asked McNamee. "Do you foresee seeing Roger Clemens in a uniform next year?"

"He'll probably be wearing a uniform, but it will be one of those orange jumpsuits with a serial number on it," McNamee replied.

"Sounds like a prison uniform to me," Tran said.

McNamee told Tran that he was told the evidence that federal investigators have been compiling against Clemens is "overwhelming."

McNamee may be angry at Clemens's intemperance, however he should be very careful in venting his frustration in public.  Never know what will come back to bite...

Legendary Olympian Gail Devers weighs in on steroids -- crush them

Gail, Devers the legendary Olympic sprinter weighs in on PEDs and steroids, and she doesn't mince words.  According to Devers a 2 year ban is a 'slap on the wrist'.  Report here from Indopia:

Former Olympic and world sprint champion Gail Devers wants drug cheats to be barred from continuing their career in sports and should not given a second chance as is the norm currently.

" There should be zero tolerance to drugs in sports. By zero tolerance I mean that if you are caught (doping) you don't get a second chance and your name gets erased from all records. It's as if you never existed,"said Devers at a media conference here today.

The former American sprint queen, who overcame the debilitating Grave's disease affliction in 1988 before the Seoul Games and went on to pick up the 100m sprint gold four years later in Barcelona and repeated it in 1996 at Atlanta, is here with her family as Brand Ambassador of the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon to be held this Sunday.

" Taking (performance-enhancing) drugs is a big no-no. Banning them for two years (for first time offence) is just a slap on the wrist. They can then come back and avail of new technology and continue to cheat. It should not be allowed,"she said."(My wish is) Once caught you are gone and we don't even know you existed anymore", said the 42-year-old mother of two daughters who won the 100m hurdles title too at Barcelona.

 Devers, who won the 100m sprint as well as the 100m hurdles in the 1993 Stuttgart World Championships, described the case of her American successor in sprints, the drug-tainted Marion Jones, as"very sad"."We should not compromise our integrity. We also should educate our children (about drug abuse),"she said.

Strong words, indeed.

Mickey Rourke wrestles with steroids charges: Denies use (apparently)

When asked if he took steroids to achieve a pro wrestler's physique Micky Rourke gave an answer that certainly could be interpreted as positive:

When asked if he took steroids, the star replied, "When I'm a wrestler, I behave like a wrestler."

What else could that quote mean?  He takes steroids, HGH, narcotics, suffers head injuries and is a general threat to an orderly and peaceful society.  As a wrestler does, right?

Now Rouke backs down from his words, as reported by the San Francisco Examiner:

Mickey Rourke has hit back at reports he took steroids in a bid to get in shape for the gritty new movie "The Wrestler," insisting the media has gone too far with comments he made in a magazine interview.

 The Golden Globe-winner hinted at the fact he'd taken steroids to bulk up for his role as battered fighter Randy "The Ram" Robinson in a recent interview with Men's Journal.

When asked if he took steroids, the star replied, "When I'm a wrestler, I behave like a wrestler."

But Rourke now insists he didn't use growth hormones or controversial sports drugs to enhance his physique.

He states, "I did some stuff. You wouldn't classify it as steroids, but I did some heavy duty supplements ... but not the regular stuff."

So what does the new quote mean?  "Not the regular stuff"?  "Heavy duty supplements"?  That he didn't take nandrolone, rather he took Winny?  No injectable, just oral?  The duplicitous Vince McMahon would be proud of that answer.

Good thing these guys are actors and not in a profession where truth and clarity is regarded as important.  Here is one comment from the Examiner site:

Okay. Mickey did coke, heroin, meth, WD-40, Pixy Stix, Dr. Pepper, Perrier Jouet, Oreo AND Reese's Peanut Butter Blizzards, all five of the original sauces for Chicken McNuggets, Elmer's glue (School White, Blue and Clear), light sweet crude, grande triple-caf soy lattes and Airborne. At once. But he says he did not do steroids, and I believe him. I might put on a hazmat suit first, but I'd hug the guy.

Iowa teenager assaults mother; Cops find father juiced up the son for 'motivation'

An Iowa teenager who attracted police attention when he went off on his mother, was given anabolic steroids by his father for 'motivation'.  Giving a teenage son anabolic steroid pills and injections goes a bit beyond 'motivation;  more like 'felony'.

To the Waterloo Courier:

GILBERTVILLE — A Mason City man has been arrested for allegedly giving his teenage son steroids.

Black Hawk County sheriff’s deputies arrested Todd Anthony Gerleman, 44, Friday morning at the jail for distributing a controlled substance to a minor.

Investigators became interested in Gerleman in November 2008 after they were called to an assault that involved his 14-year-old son, according to records.

The boy had assaulted his mother at her Gilbertville home Nov. 19, and officers who responded found a syringe and 105 pills in the boy’s bedroom, court records state.

The teen told authorities his father gave him the pills during an earlier weekend visitation, records state.

The father “admitted to bringing the needle and pills from his residence ... and supplying them to ‘motivate’ his son about sports,” according to court records.

A test by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation determined the pills were methandrostenolone, which is an anabolic steroid, according to court records.

Gilbertville is a hotbed of high school wrestling.  Several D-1 wrestlers started their careers at Don Bosco High School in the small Iowa town.   Hopefully they were clean.

The Iowa court records show sports a long minor legal history.  This charge of felony distributing substances to a minor is found here.  Looks like dad is out on 500.00 bail.

The first father convicted of supplying steroids and HGH to his son a champion inline skater occurred in a famous Florida case:

The walls of a federal prison serve as a constant reminder of his crimes for Jim Gahan, a former Grandville man believed to be the first parent convicted for providing steroids to his own child.

"I probably walk 20 miles a day here pacing," Gahan told ABC News reporters for a segment that aired on "Good Morning America" on Wednesday. "And I do 500 pushups and 1,000 sit-ups every day to burn myself out so that at night I can sleep.

"Because I understand the hurt I caused my family."...

Corey, a former in-line skater, and his mother and father, were part of a Sports Illustrated story and investigation into steroid abuse earlier this month. Gahan, a former Grandville businessman who moved his son to Florida for elite training as a skater five years ago, was sentenced to federal prison in Florida in early January.

Corey, now 18 and living and working in Grandville, was injected with steroids by his father for at least two years starting at age 13. Gahan, who shared custody of Corey in a divorce, started his son on a regimen of vitamins, human growth hormone and steroids after moving to Florida.

Annalisa Cucinotta: Another Italian female cylist caught juicing with steroids

Looks like those Italian female cycling races are very competitive...so much so that the female riders use male anabolic hormones to gain an advantage.

Another Italian cyclist tests positive for a steroid, WWOS reports:

Italian track cyclist Annalisa Cucinotta tested positive for an anabolic steroid in December, the Gazzetta dello Sport said on Sunday.

According to the sports newspaper, the 22-year-old failed the test after a World Cup event in Cali, Colombia on December 12.

Cucinotta becomes the second Italian woman cyclist after ex-road world champion Marta Bastianelli to test for a stimulant.

Bastianelli missed the Olympic Games in Beijing in August due to her offence.

Bastianelli''s story is found here.

Texas releases high school steroid testing results

 Texas released preliminary results of high school steroid testing over the weekend.  Headlines screamed that only 4 of  10,000 tests caught positive results.  Depending on your view this was proof that high school dope testing wastes time and money, or that the testing scared many potential users to come clean.

Too bad Texas doesn't record weights of players.  Likely all the data to evaluate the effectiveness of the program will not be collected.  Tim Warsinkey of the Cleveland Plain Dealer carries a reasoned opinion today:

 Nearly every time I venture into Ashtabula, I remember football player Benji Ramirez.

It was 20 years ago last October that Ramirez collapsed during practice and died at now-defunct Ashtabula High School. A story in Sports Illustrated that winter labeled Ramirez the first U.S. athlete to be killed by steroid abuse, a conclusion that was then and remains controversial. Some believe a heart condition and not steroids killed Ramirez.

 Two decades later, the real issue is steroids remain powerful, affordable, available, dangerous and, in terms of getting caught at the high school level, virtually risk-free.

High school steroid use is a hot topic once again because Texas just released preliminary results of its random steroid testing program. The first 10,000 tests produced just four confirmed cases of steroid use, the Associated Press reported last weekend. Another 22 cases were deemed "positive" results because student-athletes broke testing rules.

Proponents of the $6 million, two-year program labeled the results a victory because they say

The tests acted as a deterrent. Critics scoffed and said it's money wasted on a nonexistent problem.

Most experts contend ab out 2.5 - 4% of high school males and about 1.0- 1.5% of high school females use steroids at least once in their career.  Low, but important rate.

Of course there will be much denial and ignorance about the rates, and the effects.  However the Plain Dealer wraps this up well:

Florida, New Jersey and Illinois conduct more limited steroid testing. The Ohio High School Athletic Association surveyed its members about testing in 2007, and the overwhelming response was that schools cannot afford it and don't believe it is a panacea. The OHSAA has emphasized educating athletes about the health risks associated with steroid use.

Educators would rather spend money combating bigger problems such as alcohol and drug abuse. I agree with that sentiment, but at the same time worry steroid abuse goes virtually unabated among high school athletes. Since Benji Ramirez's death, we might be better educated about steroids, but what have we learned?

The Rocket near explosion status: Clemens target of grand jury probe

A federal grand jury will examine Roger Clemens's truthfulness under oath last year in the Congressional steroid hearings.  Regardless of anyone's opinion about the worth of the Congressional hearings, it should be agreed that lying under oath is not a good thing, even if you're a Hall of Fame caliber pitcher.  To the Washington Post:

A federal grand jury is investigating whether former pitcher Roger Clemens lied under oath to Congress last year when he denied taking performance-enhancing drugs, according to two sources familiar with the investigation.

The sources said the grand jury was convened several months ago in response to a referral in February by Congress asking the Justice Department to investigate Clemens's sworn statements in a deposition and his testimony during a hearing Feb. 13.

However, the grand jury probe was described by the sources as a routine part of such an investigation and that no indictment or other public action was imminent

The evidence that Clemens lied under oath appears over-whelming to laymen; however that doesn't mean an indictment if forthcoming:

Clemens told the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform during the Feb. 13 hearing that he had "never taken steroids or HGH [human growth hormone]" but that he had received injections of vitamin B12 and the painkiller lidocaine from team personnel over the years.

But his statements contradicted the testimony and assertions of other witnesses, including Brian McNamee, a former personal trainer who has been cooperating with federal authorities and who told the House committee he had personally injected Clemens with steroids and HGH at least 38 times between 1998 and 2001, at Clemens's request.

Two weeks after the hearing, the committee, headed by chairman  Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.) and then-ranking minority member Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.), formally asked the Justice Department to investigate Clemens. Through a spokesman, Waxman declined to comment yesterday.

There is speculation that Clemens and McNamee may have another chance to set the record right:

An attorney for Clemens, Lanny Breuer, did not respond to a phone message seeking comment. Clemens has filed a defamation suit against McNamee. Another attorney for Clemens, Rusty Hardin, was unavailable to comment because he is in trial, according to a receptionist at his Houston law firm.

Richard Emery, a lawyer for McNamee, said yesterday his client has not been subpoenaed to testify before the grand jury, but welcomed the opportunity to do so. "Obviously, Brian has been a federal witness in this case and will continue to cooperate fully," Emery said.

Many players, trainers, and drug dealers could have something to say about Clemens's history, and it doesn't look good:

Multiple news organizations reported that the grand jury has subpoenaed Kirk Radomski, the former New York Mets clubhouse attendant who supplied McNamee with the drugs he allegedly administered to Clemens.

It is also possible pitcher Andy Pettitte, a longtime Clemens teammate and friend, could be called to testify. Pettitte, a free agent who spent last season with the New York Yankees, gave a sworn affidavit to the congressional committee in which he claimed Clemens confessed his HGH use to him 10 years ago. Pressed by committee members during the hearing about Pettitte's claim, Clemens said his friend "misremembered."

Prosecuting hearing isn't easy; Raffy Palmeiro received a pass despite his obvious inaccuracies about his steroid abuse years ago.  However the Post ends it's report with this important observation:

In the past year, baseball has seen the best hitter and best pitcher of the past quarter-century under federal investigation for lying about steroid use. Seven-time most valuable player Barry Bonds was indicted last year for perjury and obstruction of justice, stemming from 2003 grand jury testimony, and his trial is scheduled to begin next month in San Francisco.

Mickey Rourke juiced up for role in 'The Wrestler'; Actor hints strongly of steroids

Using steroids in preparing for a movie about a washed-up professional wrestler?  Innovative.  And recruit an actor known for drug and alcohol abuse to play the protagonist?  Interesting.

Actor Micky Rourke's art apparently mimics real life in his role as a age professional wrestler in 'The Wrestler'.  Appears he admits to roiding it up for the movie role.  To the New York Daily News:

Mickey Rourke really did those backflips and rope dives in “The Wrestler,” but probably not without a little help. Though he doubled his daily 80-minute workouts with an Israeli cage fighter and ate seven meals a day, Men’s Journal reports that he most likely took steroids. 

When asked, Rourke said: “When I’m a wrestler, I behave like a wrestler.”

Behaving like a wrestler would mean getting on the juice, along with some other stuff.

In the past Rourke spent time as a bodybuilder, and a boxer.  He knows about the 'program'.  He looks to be in pretty good shape for a 56 year-old hard-livin' actor.

Baseball doesn't pay attention to stimulant use, or does it?

The new MLB report on doping -- Performance enhancing drugs -- use in baseball reveals the number of Therapeutic Use Exemptions rose last year.  That increase concerns some experts, but not this blog.  If you know athletes you know that many exhibit symptoms of ADHD.  In fact an entire (yes entire) theory suggests that modern ADHD might be the "hunter-gatherers" who develop more physical skills but who flounder somewhat at pencil and paper task in a society where sitting on the arse at the desk takes up copious time.  To the LA Times:

The number of players approved to take attention deficit disorder medications under baseball's drug policy rose last season, even after the sport tightened its rules in response to criticism from Congress.

According to a report issued today, 106 therapeutic use exemptions for ADD drugs were issued last year, up from the 103 exemptions reported to Congress in 2007.

That 8% of players would require ADD medications dismayed Dr. Gary Wadler, a New York physician and adviser to the World Anti-Doping Agency. Wadler said the disorder is diagnosed in 3-5% of children and a smaller percentage of adults.

"There's nothing unique that would cause an epidemic of ADD in baseball," he said.

If we make up these rules on TUEs, then we can;t go around and criticize the players when they play by the rules.  As a physician who prescribes hundreds of drugs of ADHD, it doesn't surprise me int he least MLB player show ADHD.  Those players have every right to submit to medical treatments.  We agree with Manfred:

Rob Manfred, baseball's executive vice president of labor relations, said he was unaware of any study that indicated the prevalence of ADD among athletes and said baseball might fund one.

He said it made little sense to compare the diagnoses of ADD among the general population to those among young male professional athletes with access to high-quality medical care.

"That's just stupid," Manfred said.

The report continues on:

Of 3,486 tests administered last year, 19 resulted in a positive test, including five for performance-enhancing substances and 14 for stimulants, according to the report. The tests covered 1,348 players.

The issue of ADD drugs arose during a Congressional hearing last year, when it was revealed that the number of exemptions granted for those drugs had risen from 28 in 2006 to 103 in 2007, sparking concern that some players might be trying to circumvent a new amphetamine ban by using ADD medications.

In response, baseball tightened the rules covering exemptions, restricted team doctors from writing prescriptions for ADD drugs and refused to allow players to pursue an exemption after a positive test, even with a prior prescription.

Manfred said he was "encouraged" that the number of new exemptions -- as opposed to renewals -- dropped from 72 in 2007 to 56 last year.

"I think the changes we made have had some effect," he said. "We will look hard at the process again this offseason."

Rep. John Tierney (D-Mass.), who challenged baseball officials on the issue during last year's hearing, was not available for comment Friday, his office said.

Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Beverly Hills), whose committee called for that hearing, applauded the public release of test results.

"I remain concerned about the large number of therapeutic-use exemptions given to players and hope that MLB will look carefully at the process for providing these exemptions," Waxman said in a statement.

"But overall, I am pleased with the steps taken by MLB and the players' union to strengthen their drug testing program and eliminate the use of steroids and other performance enhancing drugs."

We generally agree with those stances.  Make the rules, and play by the results.  Or what was it we said, we didn't pay attention...

Bill Romanowski just spitting to get Denver Broncos on steroids

Spitting Bill Romanowski says he is in training for the head coaching position of the Denver Broncos.  What does he offer:

• A fine understanding of steroids, HGH, and every other faddish nutso training gimmicks guaranteed to advance NFL careers;  great connections to BALCO
• A great mentoring with the NFL's most successful franchise -- the Oakland Raiders
• Prior experience as a coach of his son's pee wee football team where he assaulted the other team's coach.
• Experience with using a spouse as an excuse to get out of a drug charge
• Beating hell out of a teammate (see photo, below right)

The Sporting News carries the story:

Bill Romanowski has the perfect coaching candidate in mind for the Denver Broncos, a dark horse, somebody out of the blue who's on nobody's radar -- himself.

The former Pro Bowl linebacker who spends his post-playing days running a nutrition company and dabbling in broadcasting and acting told The Associated Press on Thursday night that he's serious about wanting a chance at coaching his old team.

He said he sent Broncos owner Pat Bowlen a lengthy PowerPoint presentation touting his credentials and outlining the fresh ideas he would bring to the job that Mike Shanahan held for 14 seasons before his stunning dismissal last week.

"I can't stop thinking about this," said Romanowski, who played for San Francisco, Philadelphia, Denver and Oakland during a standout 16-year career in the NFL that was marred by a bad temper and his admitted use of THG, the designer steroid at the center of the BALCO scandal.

"This may be a complete fantasy and that's all right ... At the end of the day, nothing may happen from it."

Fantasy is right.  Fantasy on steroids.

Romanowski has no official NFL coaching experience, just a knowledge from the players' perspective.

"For Pat to do something like this, it would take him being a visionary, thinking outside the box," said Romanowski, whose coaching experience includes helping with his son's football team. "Him hiring me, it's a long shot. I understand that. I know that."

The Broncos met with Miami Dolphins secondary coach Todd Bowles on Thursday, the seventh candidate to interview for the job. All are current NFL assistant coaches. Team spokesman Patrick Smyth said there were no other candidates scheduled to interview for the vacancy, one of the most coveted in all of football.

The Broncos had no comment on Romanowski's interest in the coaching vacancy.

Romanowski is hopeful that Bowlen gives him even a courtesy call because he's certain he can win him over.

"I truly believe that I'd be the best person in the country for the job. That's me being confident in my abilities," Romanowski said.

Romanowski does have a plan.  Wonder if that plan includes steroids and Star Caps supplements?

In his more than 30-page presentation that he zipped off to Bowlen, Romanowski outlined how he'd run things if he were in charge. He would hire a new defensive staff.
and revamp the player personnel department, analyzing the college scouting system in a new way, he said.

"I'd take the top 60 colleges in the country that produce pro prospects and I would treat those 60 like they were their own league and start looking at freshmen when they come in," Romanowski said. "When 80 percent of your talent comes from 20 percent of the colleges, I think you ought to have a pretty strong focus on those colleges."

Romanowski would also hire a full-time nutritionist and recruit some of the world's elite strength and conditioning coaches, he said.

"I'd have literally a full-time person mixing up protein shakes every day," said Romanowski, who is president and CEO of a nutritional company called Nutrition53. "The business is football, which is having fast, strong, explosive players."

He'd also have on staff someone to keep an eye on the emotional well-being of the players, he said.

"In the NFL now, nobody touches (that)," Romanowski said. "They only try to fix it when it breaks, when someone ... has trouble with alcohol or drugs. How about a performance coach?"

Bowlen fired Shanahan after the Broncos blew a three-game lead with three weeks left in the season and finished 8-8, missing the playoffs for the third straight year, something that hadn't happened in Denver since 1980-82.

Romanowski thinks he can help get the team back on track.

"I laid out a whole game plan on how I'd do these things," he said. "I love what I do now. It's not like I have to have the head coaching job for the Denver Broncos. I happen to be pretty confident in my abilities and I know what I could do there."

A coaching plan on steroids.  Great.  This sicko should not be allowed anywhere near an NFL team.

Entire Cypress soccer team suspended for steroid use

Not quite the entire team, but 13 members of a Cypress soccer (football) team will be facing doping charges based on anabolic steroid use.  The team's coach and trainers are included in the number to face allegations of doping.  To USA Today:

Thirteen football players and officials at Cypriot 1st Division side APOP Kyniras face disciplinary action for alleged steroid violations, an official said Thursday.

Anti-Doping Committee member Michael Petrou said all 13 -- including five players and the manager -- face a maximum four-year ban.

He said the Cyprus Football Association decided to summon all 13 to a disciplinary committee after a probe found they allegedly breached domestic and international anti-doping rules.

"The fact that 13 athletes and officials from the same team will face a disciplinary committee on doping allegations is unprecedented for Cyprus," Petrou said.

The group also includes Bulgarian manager Eduard Eranossian's two assistants and two physiotherapists. The CFA identified the players as Angelos Efthymiou of Cyprus, Yiannis Sfakianakis of Greece, Dmytro Mykhailenko of Ukraine, Samir Bengeloun of France and Bernardo Vasconcelos of Portugal.

APOP Kyniras, from the western resort village of Peyia, is 6th in the standings.

Even though the team doped, they are currently in 6th place.  Priceless...

Two APOP players initially tested positive for the banned steroids oxymesterone and methyl-testosterone in November, prompting the CFA to investigate doping within the team.

European pony primed with painkiller: Rubbing gel contaminated with lidocaine

A European champion pony and his teenage rider lost medals due to a positive doping tests revealing lidocaine.  The tribunal called to render justice seems to have spit the bit though. Horsetalk.com tells the tale:

The 16-year-old rider who won bronze at the 2008 European Pony Championships has lost her medal and been suspended from competition for two months by the FEI after her pony tested positive for a prohibited substance.

A sample from Tim, the pony of Swedish dressage rider Elin Aspnas, was found to reveal the presence of Lidocaine, a local anaesthetic that can be used to reduce pain and stiffness in soft tissues. It is classified as a Prohibited Substance under the Equine Prohibited List (VR Annex III, the "Equine Prohibited List"), in the class "Medication A" .

At the preliminary hearing, Aspnas said that she had used only one substance, Arnika Gel, which had been regularly used to give the pony relaxing massages. Arnika Gel was sold by a Swedish Company and on its package it was presented as "Natural Product for Massages" and as "approved for veterinary use". She said that as a result, she had been confident that the substance was legal.

However, testing of three different bottles of Arnika Gel - including the bottle used by the rider - revealed Lidocaine was found in the bottle used by the rider, but not in the two new bottles.

Aspnas said that neither she nor her team had added any substance to the Arnika Gel used on the horse.

One more example of a contaminated commercial product.  The rider's lawyer presented evidence that sabotage might also play a role:

Her counsel also argued that the security provided at the FEI International Event in Falsterbo, where Tim had competed two weeks before the event, had been insufficient and that the family of the rider, since spring 2008, had felt hostilities towards them from other families in the circle around the Swedish national pony team, and had also received handwritten anonymous threats.

Aspnas said that a criminal investigation had been initiated in Sweden three days before the hearing with respect to those threats. She said she could not prove that any other person had added the Prohibited Substance to the bottle used by her, but that it was not unlikely that this could be the explanation for the findings.

The tribunal decision is presented below.  Essentially the court ruled that the rider as responsible -- despite the contaminated balm, and the low security.  Odd.

One would think for a first time offense, especially with extenuating circumstances the tribunal would show more mercy, and perhaps mete out a probation.  A bit Draconian, eh?

In its decision the Tribunal said that it could not find that Aspnas has met that burden of proof to show that she bears No Fault and No Negligence according to its Equine Anti-Doping and Medication Control Rules ("EADMCR"). "The analysis of the bottles containing Arnika Gel, together with the described hostilities, may suggest that somebody from outside the PR's team might have tampered with the Rider's bottle of Arnika Gel, but the Tribunal cannot accept this as a decisive proof."

It also said that lack of stable security "is not an excuse in doping cases and the PR is to ensure sufficient stable management and proper security over any horse used in international events in order to ensure that they are not administered any prohibited substances either negligently or willfully."

The tribunal ruled that Aspnas and Tim be disqualified from the event, and forfeit all prize money, points, and medals. The rider has also been suspended for two months effective immediately. She has also been ordered to contribute 1000 Swiss francs ($NZ1540; $US914) towards legal costs.

Ken Burns returns to PBS: HIstoric records blown away by steroids; Is this America?

Filmmaker Ken Burns last documented baseball in 1994, with a series of documentaries, 9 in fact, looking at the game and looking at America.  Burns returns to PBS with an extra-innings special in 2009.  His thesis: Hallowed records blown away by steroids-fattened players. Jere Hester writes on NBC:

Sometimes adding a new chapter to a classic film series after a decade or more layoff produces results that don't quite live up to everyone's expectations (see Jones, Indiana; and Wars, Star).

But documentary filmmaker Ken Burns, ever the boyishly enthusiastic storyteller, is gamely heading back to the plate, adding to his nine-part 1994 PBS series, "Baseball." The new film, to be called "The 10th Inning," will cover the National Pastime from 1993 to 2008, and air on PBS next year.

"So much has transpired in baseball since we last examined the game and all of its many nuances," Burns said in a statement -- or rather, an understatement.

Cal Ripken earned away Lou Gehrig's Iron Man title in 1995. Mike Piazza's dramatic home run in the first game played after 9/11 gave the country something to cheer about, if only for a fleeting moment. The Red Sox finally reversed the Curse of the Bambino in 2004.

Baseball is idyllic right?  Well...

But real story of baseball over the last 15 years is steroids: records smashed by impossibly big sluggers who looked like little men testifying before Congress; and the ongoing saga of an all-time home run king who is a walking, under indictment, asterisk.

Baseball is America, and America is baseball, unless you live in Kansas City...

Burns will do well to stick to his simple, possibly overblown -- and very probably true -- thesis that the story of baseball is the story of America. The last 15 years have given us tales of perseverance, resilience -- and illusion-shattering cheating.

Baseball, like life, is unpredictable, with narratives that can't always be neatly tied up with a bow  -- as the late George Carlin noted in his classic routine about the differences between baseball and football: "Baseball has no time limit: we don't know when it's gonna end - might have extra innings!"

So Burns' challenge is different than those of filmmakers who revive movie fantasy characters or aged action heroes. It's more akin to the "Seven Up" documentary series where British youngsters, first interviewed at age 7, are revisited every seven years (they're up to 49). The return of "Baseball" is a welcome visit from an old friend with new stories to tell.

Meanwhile, Burns' and Lynn Novick's original Emmy-winning series -- with new commentary by Burns -- is being rerun on the new MLB Network. Not a bad way to wile away the winter, waiting for another Opening Day.

"Guess those steroids wore off": Jason Giambi to the Oakland A's

The San Francisco Examiner's Bruce Jenkins writes on Jason Giambi's return to the Bay area.  No, not for the Raiders but for the As.

It's official now: Jason Giambi has signed for a second stint with the A's. What a grim, borderline-terrible bit of news.

Listen, there were few scenes greater than the A's clubhouse during Giambi's prime. I don't care what he put in his body, OK? I mean, I don't care at all. Baseball was a juicers' game back then. If you weren't loading up, big-time, you were way out of step. Of course it was wrong, unethical and disturbing; the trend also went completely ignored by Major League Baseball, and most of that era was unencumbered by drug testing. So measure the men, and their performances, in the context of that era -- and Giambi was among the top five must-have players in the game.

He was hip, he was funny, he ruled the clubhouse both physically and emotionally, and he was a pleasure to watch. Over his last four years in Oakland (1998-01), he cleared 100 RBIs with plenty to spare. He twice led the league in on-base percentage, but more than that, he was just one hell of a hitter (.315, .333 and .342 before leaving for New York). Everything about Giambi was magnetic; players, fans, friends,everyone gravitated toward him.

And now? He's 38 years old, a hopeless option at first base, a very average hitter and a man with "Guess those steroids wore off" written all over him. That's quite an unfair tag, but it's the image he must bear.For Giambi's sake, I hope he comes through with a few clutch hits, resurrects a bit of the old magic. But no such revival will last for long. I can't imagine many A's fans getting excited about this.

Hey these numbers aren't that bad for 2008...those roids must still have an effect...

32   96  .247 

First woman to be suspended in tennis for steroid use -- Sesil Karatantcheva -- back in action

Sesil Karatantcheva who became the first women in tennis to be suspended for a positive steroid test returned to action in Australia.  The Bulgarian sat out two years for a positive nandrolone test.  When she tested + for the drug she claimed the result was due to pregnancy.  To The Age:

With a name as unwieldy as her disposition, Bulgarian Sesil Karatantcheva was once considered the wild child of tennis.

As a 14-year-old, she once threatened to kick Maria Sharapova's "butt off" because of a perceived slight during practice.

But Karatantcheva, 15-year-old French Open quarter-finalist in 2005, is more commonly known for becoming the first woman to be suspended for steroid use.

The then 16-year-old tried to blame the positive test on being pregnant.

Banned for two years, the brash blonde is finally back on the professional circuit and playing in Australia - a favourite destination - for the first time since 2005.

Karatantcheva says it was her own stupidity that helped her make it through the other side of the two-year ban.

"In my case, I had nothing else to do, so I just kept practising," she says.

"It takes to be kind of stupid."

Despite the 2 year absence from tennis, the athlete attracts much attention:

Out on the court, the outspoken blonde is still turning heads.

A potential spot in the quarter-finals of the Brisbane International beckons after Karatantcheva downed her higher-ranked opponent in a qualifying match.

The 2004 junior French Open champion fought back from a set down to beat Czech Iveta Benesova 1-6 6-4 6-2.

Not too shabby for a tennis player who admitted to having to re-read the rule books.

"I kind of feel like a rookie again which is not bad, I kind of like it," she said...

At a career high, Karatantcheva was ranked No.35 in the world and while she considers herself "Grandma Sesil" now, she believes anything is possible.

"You probably think I'm slow and old, but I still have some fightback," she said.

Doping suspension dogs salivating Sofia player Pavlov

Sofia Locomotive midfielder Nikolai Pavlov will not be salivating over a 2 year suspension handed out when the Union of European Football Associations found nandrolone in his doping test.  To the IHT:

Lokomotiv Sofia midfielder Nikolai Pavlov must serve a two-year doping ban after his appeal against suspension was dismissed, UEFA said Tuesday.

The 21-year-old Pavlov tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid nandrolone after the first leg of the Bulgarian club's UEFA Cup qualifying match against Borac Cacak in Serbia on Aug. 14. Borac advanced 2-1 on aggregate.

European football's governing body said its appeal panel judged Pavlov had "significant" responsibility for the doping offense.

The panel upheld the verdict delivered by UEFA's disciplinary committee last October, banning Pavlov from all levels of football until Sept. 11, 2010.

Pavlov' suspension was only the 5th nandrolone ban to dog UEFA history:

It was the fifth case involving nandrolone that UEFA has dealt with since 1994, and the fourth case of anabolic steroid abuse since its current anti-doping program began in 2005.

World Series star Phillies JC Romero says supplement caused his steroid policy troubles

To the 'Supplement Defense' again for Philadelphia Philly reliever JC Romero.  The left-hander says MLB will announce his steroid policy suspension due to taking a contaminated supplement.  To Philly.com:

An anguished J.C. Romero wanted to tell his side of the story before Major League Baseball announces his 50-game suspension on Tuesday. Once that happens, he knows, people will assume he's just another big-leaguer who had to cheat to compete.

"One thing I'm going to say, I'm a man and I'm accountable for my actions," the Phillies reliever said in a telephone interview. "If I'm guilty of something, you know what? I will face it. But I'm not guilty, and I'm not letting people that don't really know me judge me over something and accuse me of something that I didn't do."

Romero's situation is much more complicated than MLB's curt boilerplate announcement will acknowledge. He was not accused or found guilty of knowingly using a banned, performance-enhancing substance. Baseball and Romero agree that he used only an over-the-counter supplement he bought in a retail store in Cherry Hill. Romero is being suspended for 50 games and losing about $1.25 million in salary because, an abritrator ruled, he was "negligent" in not knowing what was in the supplement.

Romero bucked a trend (he says) of keeping quet about suspensions:

Most players, when suspended, release a statement acknowledging their mistake and apologizing to their teammates, their organization, baseball and the fans. In the current highly charged environment, where MLB has been embarrassed by Congress for its years-long failure to police itself, many players fear repercussions if they speak out.

Not Romero, the 33-year-old lefthanded reliever who won two World Series games for the Phillies - including the decision in the title-clinching Game 5. He feels he owes it to himself, his family and his teammates to explain how this suspension came about.

"If people are intimidated because Major League [Baseball] is a big organization, so be it," Romero said. "But they are not going to make an example of me thinking that I'm just a [dumb] Puerto Rican. It's not going to happen. It's not the way I'm built.

"For me to keep my mouth shut? That's not the right thing to do. If they want to bump me out of the game, so be it. What am I going to do, just sit back and take it? When I know in my heart I'm innocent? That doesn't fly well with me and it doesn't fly well in my house, either."

Romero claims he cleared the supplement -- 6-OXO Extreme -- with his trainer.  The story -- found after the jump -- says the supplement is FDA regulated, which we don't think is true.  4-Etioallocholen-3,6, 17-Trione is the aromatase inhibitor in the supplement.  That means it inhibits the conversion of androgenic steroids to estrogen (thus preventing Nitro's problem).

Rather than regulated, the ingredient made the FDA's warning list as an adulterated compound.  So why was a professional athlete using the supplement?  And why didn't his trainer know the supplement was poison?  And why doesn't someone pull the stuff from the shelf?  (to Wiki)

Baylor University conducted an eight-week study to determine the effects of 300 mg or 600 mg of 6-OXO in resistance-trained males. Compared to baseline, free testosterone increased by 90% for 300 mg group and 84% for 600 mg group, respectively. Also dihydrotestosterone and the ratio of free testosterone to estradiol increased significantly. ^[8][9].

In a warning letter dated July 7, 2006, the FDA argues that marketing of 4-AT (aka, 6-OXO) violates the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and as such products containing it are adulterated by legal definition.

On June 18, 2008, Health Canada issued a warning that 4-AT and 6-OXO had a health risk related to blood clotting and recommended all users immediately cease use.

American Gladiator's Nitro confesses that steroids blew up his manboobs

Medically called gynecomastia, and induced by anabolic steroids, former NFL lineman Dan Clark claims anabolic steroids caused his breasts to swell up so much he needed reduction surgery.  However, he looked good in a bikini on muscle beach.

As a side effect of the estrogenic effects of steroids, gynecomastia results when the glands present in male breast tissue reacts with hypertrophy.  Plastic surgeons now find themselves busy reducing the body-builders and athletes who abuse the drugs so much they suffer this side effect, as well as the testicular shrinkage effects.  To the Examiner:

After just 10 weeks of injecting steroids, former Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Dan Clark gained 32 pounds of muscle. But after 20 years of using the drugs — when he was Nitro on "American Gladiator" — he also got shrunken testicles, major man boobs and dull throbbing pain during sex.

Page Six reports that Dan's tell-all memoir, "Gladiator: A True Story of 'Roids, Rage and Redemption," reveals that his breasts got so big he had to have reduction surgery.  Dan writes in his book:

Bitch tits, man boobs, breast-chesticles is what they're called on the street. Gynecomastia is the scientific name. No matter what you call it, I [had] it. I hate[d] taking off my shirt."

The good news is, Dan finally quit doing steroids, got some therapy, and is now a consultant on the new "American Gladiators."

Amazon.com will ship "Gladiator: A True Story of 'Roids, Rage and Redemption" Feburary 10.

Suppose he could have used a sports bra when he took off his shirt.  Even 'Nitros' plastic fiugure shows some gynecomastia.

Spanish Mr. Universe 2003 -- Manuel Manchado -- convicted of steroids trafficking

Manuel Manchado, Mr Universe 2003, will be strutting his stuff in jail according to a Spanish article found here.

A man who was nominated ‘Mister Universe 2003' has been sentenced in a court in Madrid for his illegal dealing in anabolic steroids. Manuel Manchado operated his own gymnasium within the capital, as well as an internet shopping site and a store that sold sporting supplements. It is discovered that he used his business concerns to sell products under the brand ‘Steromax Spain'.

Guardia Civil have been investigating the movements of Manchado and four accomplices over a period of months, and finally arrested them with over half a million doses of illegal products in their possession. Magistrates offered them a ‘Get out of jail' card in exchange for fines of 5 760 euros each.

You can check out his website here.  It would be more appropriate for the music to be something like Folsom Prison Blues...

More details here:

The National Court of Spain sentenced IFBB pro bodybuilder Manuel Manchado Lopez and six co-conspirators to two years in prison for steroid trafficking as part of “Operation Mazas”. Manchado was one of four defendants given the option of avoiding prison by paying a fine of €5,760 euros for his “crimes against public health” (”Champion body builder sentenced for steroid trafficking,” December 31).

Operation Mazas started when postal officials discovered two parcels containing illegal anabolic steroidsCondenan a Míster Universo 2003 a 2 años de prisión por tráfico de anabolizantes,” December 31). in La Línea de la Concepción (Cádiz) in June 2003. The ensuing investigation implicated various bodybuilders and a Spanish supplement company in selling “illegal substances used for the development of muscle mass and strength” (”

Congress presses pro wrestling (WWE) on steroids and doping issues; Vince McMahon says he doesn't pee for anyone

Congress released a report on drug testing in the pro wrestling world -- which means Vince McMahon's WWE.  The results show those pro wrestlers like to get high, and sometimes juice and speed.  McMahon -- who obviously looks too good for his age -- doesn't submit to dope testing.

The Congressional report his here, and a story in the New York Daily News here.

The results look somewhat suspicious because the numbers don't add up, perhaps because of extenuating circumstances.  It looks like there were 479 tests, with 58 positives.  (That amounts to 4.2 tests per wrester).  However most positives contained marijuana.  There appear to be 9 positives for anabolic steroids (2 nandrolone, 5 testosterone, and 2 Winstrol), yest only 6 suspensions.  There were 3 other suspensions, 2 for coke, and one for a narcotic.

A bit ludicrous that only a few positive tests dribbled out considered the way the WWE wrestlers look pumped and primed, including the sleazy CEO.

Obviously the WWE did not test for HGH, insulin, EPO, and several other anabolic drugs.  And California Representative Henry Waxman continues to be interested in WWE doping issues.

Henry Waxman fired one more anti-steroid salvo as outgoing chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, shifting his focus from baseball to professional wrestling, a sport with a long history of alleged steroid and drug abuse.

In Friday's letter addressed to the director of the government's Office of National Drug Control Policy, Waxman (D-Calif.) requested that ONDCP chief John Walters "examine steroid use in professional wrestling and take appropriate steps to address this problem."

The Oversight Committee began its own investigation into pro wrestling's doping problem a year ago, interviewing sport officials and examining drug testing policies for World Wrestling Entertainment and its competitor, Total Nonstop Action.

In 2005, the Oversight Committee lambasted baseball during a congressional hearing, prompting MLB to enact stricter drug testing policies and more severe punishments for offenders. But Waxman suggested in his letter Friday that pro wrestling has a long way to go toward eradicating its doping culture, starting with the woefully inadequate drug testing programs in place.

"In the first year of WWE's testing program, which began in March 2006, 40% of wrestlers tested positive for steroids and other drugs, even after being warned in advance that they were going to be tested," wrote Waxman.

Waxman continue on his rant:

Waxman also detailed how wrestlers who test positive for performance enhancers receive light punishment and can often participate in wrestling events even after steroid violations. The committee investigation also uncovered how easily wrestlers can secure therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs) - permission to take banned substances for medical reasons - so they can continue performing while using steroids. When Waxman's staff interviewed Dr. Tracy Ray, a physician contracted by WWE, Ray claimed there was "shadiness in almost every (TUE) case that I've reviewed."

Interesting how the physician for the WWE indicates corruption.  Also note the obvious dodge by Vince McMahon who run the a very corrupt operation.

"(Ray) stated that he does not examine wrestlers, discuss their medical conditions with their doctors, or conduct detailed reviews of their medical conditions before granting (TUEs)," wrote Waxman.

WWE chairman Vince McMahon comes off even less flattering in his interview. McMahon told the committee he is "not subject to the WWE substance abuse policy," even though he still performs in WWE events.

"When asked whether steroids could cause impairment and risks to wrestlers and others in the ring, Mr. McMahon indicated that he had never considered the question," Waxman wrote.

Waxman will become chairman of the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee this month. Walters could not be reached for comment. Calls left with WWE were not returned.

 

Not enough is enough: Bonds continues to dream of baseball comeback

Barry Bonds wants to return to baseball.  Yeah, the big (now smaller with better steroid testing) show.

Bonds, about 38 home runs short of 800, and about 200 mg short of 1 million testosterone, wants to inject more offense into his career (and yes that was meant on several levels).  However Bonds recently underwent hip surgery, that might delay any comeback. 

You wonder if Bonds considered the legal entanglements he faces in 2009: a major perjury trial in federal court, and legal challenges to MLB?

To CBS5:

Barry Bonds still wants to play baseball, but recent hip surgery may delay his return even if a team wants to pick him up, the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper reported.

The former San Francisco Giants superstar underwent a hip operation that wasn't considered major, reportedly conducted by Dr. Arthur Ting, according to the Chronicle. They cited a source familiar with the operation.

Ting, as you recall, was involved in 'roiding  possibly with other athletes including his kids, who played football at USC.

Bonds isn't expected to return before spring training in six weeks, but could be fully recovered and ready for opening day, the published report said. He hasn't played in a major league game since Sept. 26, 2007, the end to his 15 years as a Giant.

Bonds, 44, holds the Major League Baseball record with 762 home runs. He needs another 38 home runs to reach 800 and 65 hits to reach 3,000.

And the scheduled trial:

He faces a March 2 trial on charges of lying to a federal grand jury in 2003 and obstructing justice regarding the use of steroids in the BALCO case. Bonds has pleaded not guilty to 14 counts - since reduced to 10, and has maintained he never knowingly took performance-enhancing drugs...

While waiting outside a Los Angeles restaurant on Dec. 15, Bonds told celebrity news Web site TMZ.com that he would not retire from the game, his first comments since a public appearance in October in San Francisco, at which he said he was enjoying life away from baseball.

"I had fun," Bonds said then, "but I like my freedom."

Back in October, the MLB Players Association said it had evidence that teams conspired against signing Bonds last season, but the union reached an agreement with commissioner Bud Selig's office to delay the filing of any grievance.

Like Lance Armstrong and other high profile athletes, Bonds is one of these guys who cannot gently relinquish the spotlight.  But hey, after hip surgery, Bonds might be able to legally use steroids.

Dwain Chambers threatens to quit unless someone hires an ex-drug cheat

Dwain Chambers, fastest man in England, says he needs money, and he needs it now.  The UK's top sprinter who feasted on a BALCO regimen of steroids, HGH, and the other BALCO PEDs now cannot run in international track meets due to bans on ex-drug users.  Seems it isn't fair to ban a guy who cheated once, and may still benefit from the long term effects -- although it has been some time since he used PEDs.  Chambers also owes payback for earnings during his doping days.

To the Sporting Life:

Former drug cheat Dwain Chambers admits he could quit athletics if he cannot make it pay financially in 2009.

As a result of his two-year drug ban, Chambers is currently barred from competing in over 50 meetings organised by the Euro Meetings Group including those staged in this country.

The 30-year-old is also burdened by having to repay to the International Association of Athletics Federations over £100,000 pounds he earned during the period he was using the banned substance THG, beginning in 2002.

UK Athletics (UKA) have now welcomed the sprinter back into the fold after unsuccessfully preventing him competing in a British vest at last year's World Indoor Championships where he shared the 60metres silver medal.

That will see the Londoner initially bid for a place in the national side for the European Indoor Championships in March and then the World Championships in August.

But Chambers is hard up and must start earning cash in the next few months, otherwise he will have to retire from the track.

"I'm able to continue competing as long as my lady is still in a job," Chambers told PA Sport. "I have no one other than Leonie supporting me."

Chambers is currently searching for money paying races, particularly in Europe, and continued: "The duration of my career will depend on how well I'm treated by the meet promoters.

"But it's not going to be easy. If I can't earn anything next year then I'll have to seriously consider finding some other kind of living."

Sorry about that Dwain, we all have to earn a living at some point in time.

However, he insists that although he is banned from competing at Olympic level after his drug offence, he will try every possible avenue to continue.

Chambers was Europe's quickest 100m sprinter last summer and he has been hammering out the training in his bid to bring more medals home for the Norwich Union GB side at next year's major championships.

Chambers said: "I plan opening my season at the Birmingham Games in January, then the trials as I want to run in the European Indoors and at the World Championships in the summer.

"I'm the man - I want to win medals for my country. I can achieve that and get the job done."

Meanwhile he is hoping to have a meeting with UKA chief executive Niels de Vos and see if there is any possibility of competing in the Aviva-sponsored British meetings.

"I'll try and arrange a meeting with Niels de Vos in the New Year and we'll see what happens."

Too bad 'the man' was a drug-cheat, huh?