Steroid Nation

Marlins catcher Ronny Paulino suspended for PED use: ?weight loss product?

Apparently another professional athlete doesn't understand ingredients in weight loss preps violate the steroid policies of professional leagues.  Marlins catcher Ronny Paulino faces a 50 game suspension for what he ways was a weight loss supplement.  From the Palm Beach Post:

MIAMI GARDENS — The Marlins will play the rest of this season without catcher Ronny Paulino, who Friday began serving a 50-game suspension for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance under Major League Baseball's drug policy.

"I am horrifically embarrassed," Marlins President David Samson said of the organization's first failed drug test by a player on the 25-man roster.

Samson said owner Jeffrey Loria immediately ordered a review of the club's drug-education policies to try to prevent a recurrence. Samson said that review will encompass "everything we do, from the Dominican League up to the major leagues."

Baseball operations president Larry Beinfest added, "One is more than we would ever want."

Paulino, who appeared in 91 of the Marlins' 120 games through Thursday, will miss another 41 games this season and the first eight games of 2011. He will forfeit approximately $272,000 during his suspension.

Paulino, who is 6-feet-3 and 250 pounds, blamed weight-loss medication for failing the test.

"To control my weight this season, I used a dietary pill," Paulino, 29, said in a statement released by the team. "I recently learned that the dietary pill contained a substance banned under Major League Baseball's drug policy.

"I am ashamed and saddened for disappointing and distracting my family, my teammates, the entire Florida Marlins organization and baseball fans."

Generally the illegal substances in weight loss compounds are related to ephedrine.  Those drugs not only are related to meth, but to other 'psychostimulants' which reduce appetite.

It is baffling why a pro athlete would not consult with a trainer, or dietitian, or physician on weight control.

Roger Clemens indicted for obstruction of justice during Congressional steroids hearing in 2008

In a House of Representatives chamber in 2008, Roger Clemens assured the gathered congressmen that he never took steroids.  US federal attorneys are accusing Clemens of not representing the truth in his testimony.  (from the AP)

Roger Clemens was vehement: "Let me be clear. I have never taken steroids or HGH," he told a House committee in 2008. Now, instead of the Hall of Fame, baseball's seven-time Cy Young winner could go to prison after being indicted by a federal grand jury Thursday for allegedly lying to Congress.

The case writes a new chapter in one of baseball's worst scandals, the rampant use of performance-enhancing drugs in the 1990s and early 2000s, and leaves Clemens' legacy in jeopardy.

The six-count indictment alleges that Clemens obstructed a congressional inquiry with 15 different statements made under oath, including denials that he had ever used steroids or human growth hormone.

Virginia Congressman Tom Davis relates this about the Rocket:

"Clemens was not under subpoena. He came voluntarily," Davis said. "And I sat there in the office with (committee chairman) Henry Waxman and said, 'Whatever you do, don't lie.'"

Clemens was sticking to his story Thursday. He insisted he was telling the truth, again denying any wrongdoing on or off the field.

Through his lawyer, the veteran Rusty Hardin, Clemens claims  he neither lied, nor took HGH or steroids.  Clemens turned down a plea bargain.

Clemen's ex-trainer Brian McNamee reports he administered PEDs to the Rocket.  One would think that the Government has ascertained other witnesses or other evidence to Clemens' PED use.

Baseball's Mitchell Report mentioned Clemens a few times -- like 82.

WADA underwhelmed with MLB's HGH test plans

WADA boss John Fahey says major league baseball's new HGH testing program needs to grow some.  Fahey criticizes MLB hard for dragging feet on PED use. 

Not to mix apples and baseballs, MLB and other professional sports owner to different music than the Olympic sports.  Owner, unions, and local authorities all complicate the pro sports PED testing.

Major League Baseball announced plans last month to begin testing for HGH in the minor leagues, but that's not enough for the World Anti-Doping Agency. John Fahey, the head of the agency, said Monday that the sport's integrity was at stake, and that if the league doesn't bring their testing up to WADA specifications that fans will eventually stop coming to the ballpark.

"Baseball is the most recalcitrant (American sport league)," he said. "You had the Mitchell inquiry and clear and concise recommendations from it and they effectively did nothing."

Fahey's frustration seems to stem mostly from the fact that the NFL works fairly closely with the agency while developing it's drug policy, while baseball's rarely solicits the organization's advice. The truth is that the league has stiffened the policy greatly in the last 10 years and it will again come up for debate when the current collective bargaining agreement expires after the 2011 season.

Court of Arbitration for Sports reduces Italian Gianni Da Ros's cycling suspension from 20 years to 4 years

Think of all the cyclists who doped themselves into oblivion including Floyd Landis, Alejandro Valverde, Tyler "Chimera" Hamilton, Ivan Basso, David Millar, and Bernhard Kohl.  How many years suspension did these elite world class athletes receive?  Couple generally.

Consider 23 year-old Italian cyclists Gianni Da Ros.  This skinny kid was nailed with a number of PEDs, apparently including HGH, and most likley an EPO.  What length ban did he receive?  20 years!!!  Twenty -- that's right.

The CAS rescinded 16 of those years the other day.  Perhaps when this kid can compete again, he can pack on some weight.

Italian Gianni Da Ros will not have to serve a 20-year suspension for trafficking in banned substances, the Court of Arbitration for Sport decided.

The court partially upheld the appeal by Da Ros, who asked to have the ban reduced to two years.

Da Ros was arrested in March, 2009 as part of a large operation by the Italian police to stop the distribution of doping products in fitness clubs.

In November, 2009, the Anti-Doping Tribunal of the National Olympic Committee of Italy (CONI) found him guilty of several WADA code violations, including the use, possession, trafficking and administration of banned substances and imposed a 20-year ban.

The CAS said it "confirmed the existence of the infractions committed by the Athlete", which reportedly included the use and distribution of Human Growth Hormone.

However, the court "considered that a twenty-year ban was not justified and has reduced it to a period of four years which corresponds to the standard suspension provided by Article 10.3.2 of the World Anti-Doping Code."

Da Ros will be eligible to race again March 11, 2013...

What is the saying...The NCAA was mad at Kentucky so put Eastern Carolina on suspension...

Jose Juiced Canseco injected into Texas minor league team

Juiced author and broke entrepreneur Jose Canseco will report to a Texas minor team -- the Laredo Broncos.  Apparently Canseco cannot sell enough steroid books to cover his  bills.

Note the comment by the league president.  He thinks that having a washed up irresponsible ex-major league All-Start is a league highlight.  Celebrity once again trumps intelligence.

LAREDO, Texas -- Jose Canseco has signed a contract with an independent minor-league team in south Texas.

The 46-year-old Canseco, a central figure in baseball's steroid era, was introduced Monday as a member of the Laredo Broncos -- one of six teams in the United Baseball League.

Canseco says he'll play designated hitter, serve as a bench coach and pitch for the team. He'll play in Laredo's remaining six home games this season.

The former slugger named names and detailed steroid use around major league baseball in two memoirs. In one, he admitted using steroids and claimed that up to 85 percent of players also did.

Canseco hit 462 home runs in 17 major league seasons. He was the AL Rookie of the Year in 1986 and MVP in 1988, after he hit 42 home runs and stole 40 bases.

"My first step was getting back into the game, in whatever way, shape and form," Canseco said. "I don't know how I'll perform physically, since I'm 46 and haven't played at this level in a long time. We'll see what happens."

Byron Pierce, the UBL president, said luring Canseco was "one of the highlights of our league."

In the 1960s there was a TV series about Texas Rangers called 'Laredo' staring William Smith.  Smith looks like he could have taken Canesco.