Steroids Blog on Steroids RX.com

Steroids Are So Evil That Even Endangering the Life of a Toddler Doesn’t Even Begin to Compare According to the NBA

The Phoenix Suns have suspended guard Jason Richardson for one game without pay due to “conduct detrimental to the team”. The suspension means that Richardson will forfeit $111,111 out of his $12.2 million salary this year. Could this be the unfortunate fallout from another revelation of anabolic steroid use plaguing professional sports? The admission of steroid use by Major League Baseball’s superstar Alex Rodriguez has dominated the news for the past week. Does the National Basketball League (NBA) have its own problem with anabolic steroids and performance enhancing drugs?

Fortunately, the Phoenix Suns third leading scoring was not busted using steroids nor has anyone alleged that Jason Richardson uses anabolic steroids presently or anytime in the past.

Jason Richardson only received a single game suspension to be served on Tuesday, February 17th when the Phoenix Suns play the Los Angeles Clippers at the US Airways Center. The suspension is a relatively minor one compared to using anabolic steroids in violation of the prohibited substances clause of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) Anti-Drug Program.

If Jason Richardson had been busted using steroids, he would have faced a 10-game suspension for his first violation of the league’s steroid policy which would have cost him $1.1 million under the NBA Anti-Drug Program. A second violation would have resulted in a 25-game suspension or $2.8 million in lost salary. Richardson would have received a one-year suspension and forfeiture of his entire $12.2 million salary for a third violation.

The NBA has no tolerance for steroid users who are “convicted of (including a plea of guilty, no contest, or nolo contendere to) a crime involving the use or possession” of anabolic steroids. A steroid user who violates United States steroid laws will be kicked out of the NBA.

The good news is that Jason Richardson did NOT use steroids. There will be no asterisks included next to his statistics and no allegations of cheating. He did not commit the ultimate sin in professional sports – the use of anabolic steroids.

What relatively minor transgression did Jason Richardson commit to deserve the proverbial slap on the wrist? He was only arrested by the Scottsdale Police Department over the weekend for child endangerment, reckless driving, excessive speed, and failure to use a car seat while driving his 2008 Mercedes Benz 90-mph in a 35-mph speed zone – just 55-mph over the posted speed limit - with his 3-year old son unrestrained in the backseat of the vehicle. Eight weeks ago, Richardson was arrested by Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Police for driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol.

No big deal.

At least it wasn’t steroids.

If these youthful indiscretions by Jason Richardson were steroid-related crimes, the $12 million dollar player would have been humiliated by the media, subjected to ridicule by basketball fans, forfeited millions of dollars in salary, and faced banishment from the NBA.

Everyone knows that anabolic steroids are infinitely eviler than the lives of children and individuals potentially placed in harm’s way as the result of reckless driving and driving under the influence of alcohol. The hypocritical steroid laws and anti-doping policies make that clear.

Jason Richardson made a mistake. But society can take comfort in the fact that…

…at least it wasn’t steroids!

Sources

“Richardson suspended 1 game after charge,” February 17, 2009

“Phoenix Suns guard Jason Richardson accused of DUI,” January 5, 2009

“The NBA and NBPA Anti-Drug Program”

By Millard Baker

http://www.millardbaker.com

www.SteroidsRx.com

Jose Canseco Stops Using Steroids and Can't Win a Fight Against Danny Bonaduce

Former Major League Baseball player and former steroid user Jose Canseco fought to a three-round draw with Danny Bonaduce in a celebrity boxing match on Saturday, January 24, 2009. Promoter Damon Feldman, capitalizing on the public’s desire to see Jose Canseco “get beat up”, offered the down-and-out Canseco the opportunity to make some extra money by going against the former child star of the “Partridge Family”.

The capacity crowd of 2,000 mostly Bonaduce supporters booed and jeered Canseco throughout the match. The tale of the tape gave Canseco every physical advantage; Canseco at 6-4 and 260 pounds dwarfed Bonaduce who was 5-6 and 180 pounds. Yet Canseco was still unable to pull out a victory over Bondauce.

Jose Canseco was willing to subject himself to this humiliation for a small appearance fee and $2 per internet pay-per-view customer. Canseco had previously shown his desperation to earn extra income in a boxing match with former Philadelphia Eagles football player Vai Sikahema. Canseco was ridiculed after being summarily knocked out by Sikahema. At least that embarrassment was accompanied by a $35,000 payday.

After Canseco’s public repudiation of the use of steroids, it should come as no surprise that he would struggle against the diminutive Bonaduce. Jose Canseco revealed in the A&E documentary “Jose Canseco: The Last Shot” that his natural testosterone levels were suppressed from using anabolic steroids for over two decades. He made the decision to permanently stop using steroids. And not surprisingly, Canseco experienced classical post-cessation symptoms of anabolic steroid induced hypogonadism (ASIH) such as low libido and depression.

“Well, when you have no testosterone level, you’re depressed, you lose muscle mass, no sex drive, no libido, you have nothing,” Jose Canseco described his life off steroids. “You’re kind of like tired, depressed all the time. You just don’t want to do anything.”

Canseco has desperately been trying to restore his endogenous testosterone levels. But misfortune continues to follow him. He was sentenced to probation after he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges related to smuggling 6 vials of HCG across the U.S - Mexico border. He told the judge that he was simply attempting to restore his endogenous hormone production by obtaining HCG from Mexico.

It wasn’t always this way. Once upon a time, Canseco celebrated the benefits of steroids. For 16 years as a Major League Baseball player, Canseco reaped the benefits of anabolic steroids and human growth hormone. The resulting enhanced athletic performance made Canseco a bonafide sports star and celebrity. The “godfather of steroids” and “bad boy of baseball” raved about the benefits of anabolic steroids in his bestselling book “Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant ’Roids, Smash Hits and How Baseball Got Big”.

“I believe every steroid out there can be used safely and beneficially - it’s all a question of dosage. Some steroids you cycle off and on, depending on the dose.” […]

“Steroids, used correctly, will not only make you stronger and sexier, they will also make you healthier. Certain steroids, used in proper combinations, can cure certain diseases. Steroids will give you a better quality of life and also drastically slow down the aging process.” […]

“I have no doubt whatsoever that intelligent, informed use of steroids, combined with human growth hormone, will one day be so accepted that everybody will be doing it.”

Canseco’s certainty about the benefits of steroids gave way to considerable doubt sometime in the past year. As his financial world collapsed around him, Jose Canseco chose to completely abandon his endorsement of anabolic steroids. In a stunning about-face, he rejected all the positive claims for steroids he made in the autobiographical book “Juiced.”

According to new anti-steroid Canseco, “Steroids and the use of steroids destroyed my life completely.” Every star’s fall from glory must have a convenient scapegoat. Canseco has chosen to blame steroids for the individual mistakes responsible for his current predicament.

Sources

“Jose Canseco fights to a draw with Danny Bonaduce in celebrity boxing,” January 25, 2009.

”Canseco apologizes, gets probation for drug charge,” November 5, 2008.

“Jose Canseco Suffering from Anabolic Steroid Induced Hypogonadism,” October 20, 2008.

“It's broke, scared & contrite Jose Canseco in TV documentary,” October 18, 2008.

“Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant ’Roids, Smash Hits and How Baseball Got Big,” February 14, 2005.

By Millard Baker

http://www.millardbaker.com

www.SteroidsRx.com

What Does President Barrack Obama Really Think About Anabolic Steroids?

Michael Fletcher, the reporter for the Washington Post, was one of thirteen journalists called upon by President Barrack Obama during his first presidential press conference. The hour-long press conference was carried in primetime by all major news network and cable outlets. Twelve of the questions answered by President Obama dealt with issues involving economic, domestic and national security issues. Then, there was the question by Mr. Fletcher, “What is your reaction to Alex Rodriguez's admission that he used steroids as a member of the Texas Rangers?” Seriously.

President Obama released an audible sigh of exasperation at Fletcher’s question. Obama would not have been faulted for ducking such a stupid question. Yet he dignified the question with a 70-second response.

Comments on anabolic steroids by the President of the United States give both steroid law reformers and anti-steroid crusaders alike insight into the President’s thoughts about steroid policy. Former President George W. Bush’s decision to prioritize anabolic steroids in his 2004 State of the Union address inspired policymakers and law enforcement to aggressively “get rid of steroids.” President Obama’s comments will similarly be interpreted by all parties with an interest in steroid law and anti-doping policy.

First, the public learned during the press conference that steroid use by professional athletes depresses President Obama. “I think it's depressing news on top of what's been a flurry of depressing items when it comes to Major League Baseball,” President Obama lamented. “And if you're a fan of Major League Baseball, I think it -- it tarnishes an entire era to some degree.”

Secondly, President Obama’s perfunctory and obligatory condemnation of steroid use appealed to public fears that children will use steroids because their favorite athletes set a poor example.

“And the thing I’m probably most concerned about is the message that it sends to our kids. What I’m pleased about is Major League Baseball seems to finally be taking this seriously, to recognize how big of a problem this is for the sport, and that our kids, hopefully, are watching and saying ‘You know what? There are no short cuts.’ That when you try to take short cuts, you may end up tarnishing your entire career. And your integrity’s not worth it. That’s the message I hope is communicated.”

President Obama believes steroid use in sports is wrong and that athletes who use steroids are poor role models for children. However, Obama’s February 10, 2009 comments on steroids do not unequivocally support a change in steroid policy in either direction.

On the other hand, an October 2, 2008 interview on ESPN Radio’s “Mike & Mike in the Morning“ clearly indicates that Obama believes that the federal government has far more important things to worry about than steroids.

“I gotta admit that seeing a lot of congressional hearings around steroid use is not probably the best use of congressional time. Kids are watching sports. They’re modeling themselves on athletes. It’s a serious problem, but it’s one that you want to see the leagues themselves handle in a more appropriate way. We’ve got nuclear weapons and a financial meltdown to worry about. We shouldn’t be worrying about steroids as much as I think sometimes we do.”

Advocates of steroid law reform and fiscal conservatives interpreted Obama’s comments as supportive of the reduced use of federal resources in steroid law enforcement or an effective end to the federal government’s war on steroids.

Unfortunately, Obama’s suggestion that the congressional obsession with anabolic steroids was a waste of time and government resources contradicts statements made by Barrack Obama’s presidential campaign in an interview with USA Today on May 9, 2008. Obama was specifically asked what he would do about the “possession, use and distribution of performance enhancing drugs” and whether he supported the “increased attention the Justice Department has been paying to prosecutions in this area”.

“As a father and an avid sports fan, I understand the dangers that performance enhancing drugs pose for athletes, as well as the teenagers who seek to emulate them, not to mention the effect that these drugs have on the integrity of sports. As president, I would use the bully pulpit of my office to warn Americans about the dangers of performance enhancing drugs, and I would put greater resources into enforcement of existing drug laws. I would also convene a summit of the commissioners of the professional sports leagues, as well as university presidents, to explore options for decreasing the use of these drugs.”

In his most explicit statement to date regarding anabolic steroid law enforcement policy under a President Barrack Obama administration, Obama advocated the INCREASED USE OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RESOURCES to enforce existing steroid law.

Steroid law reformers like to pick and choose specific statements to show that President Obama may call for an end to the government’s war on steroids either through a change in steroid policy and/or reduced government resources devoted to steroid prosecutions. Such exuberance may be overly optimistic given Obama’s entire record of statements regarding steroids. Additionally, Obama’s partnership with Vice President Joseph Biden, the architect of the Anabolic Steroid Control Act(s) of 1990 and 2004, does not bode well for steroid law reform.

Sources

”Obama’s First News Conference Covers A Range Of Issues,” February 9, 2009

“Press Conference by the President,” February 9, 2009

”Obama Differs from McCain on Steroids,” October 2, 2008

”Where the candidates stand on sports issues,” May 9, 2008

By Millard Baker

http://www.millardbaker.com

www.SteroidsRx.com

BALCO Prosecutors Plotting Next Phase of Steroid Inquistion in Spite of President Obama's Concern with More Important Issues

United States District Judge Susan Illston sentenced former NFL defensive tackle Dana Stubblefield to two years straight probation for lying to federal investigators about his use of performance-enhancing drugs obtained from the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative (BALCO). Federal prosecutors have become accustomed to the lenient sentences handed out by Judge Illston to athletes convicted in the BALCO investigation. Federal prosecutors have recommended harsher sentences only to be thwarted by judge-mandated sentences involving little or no prison time. But in the case of Dana Stubblefield, federal prosecutors got exactly what they want: straight probation and no prison time or home confinement. Why were prosecutors so generous with Stubblefield?

Court documents reveal that former NFL player Dana Stubblefield provided “substantial cooperation” that includes the names of football players and trainers involved in “ongoing” anabolic steroid use and distribution. The information obtained from Dana Stubblefield suggests the BALCO investigation may be far from over if left up to BALCO prosecutors. Court documents give a good indication to the next phase of the BALCO investigation. Federal officials may be plotting a steroid inquisition in the National Football League (NFL) utilizing the information provided by Stubblefield. The nature of the information was explicitly detailed in a February 2, 2009 sentencing memorandum filed against former NFL player Dana Stubblefield.

The BALCO investigation, whose primary target has been MLB home run king Barry Bonds, has cost taxpayers in the United States over $55 million and counting. Expanding the steroid witch-hunt into the National Football League could result in the waste of several additional millions of dollars during one of the deepest economic recessions in the history of the United States.

Joseph Russoniello, Matthew Parrella, Jeffrey Nedrow, et al. in the United States Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of California (San Francisco Division) apparently have no intentions of stopping their anti-steroid crusade in professional sports. Sadly, the prosecutors have spent millions of dollars of other people’s money on steroid investigations arising out of the BALCO steroid scandal with very little to show for it. Perhaps the internal metric used to measure the successes of the BALCO prosecutions is based on the number of athletes they can publicly link to anabolic steroids rather than the number of convictions with meaningful sentences?

“When you step back, you really do have to wonder what’s going on,” Professor Carl Tobias of University of Richmond School of Law reacted to the continuing steroid inquisition. “Why are they so aggressive? Why have they spent so much money, and to what end? I don’t know what the point is anymore.”

President Barrack Obama made it very clear that he believes the federal government has significantly more important issues to face rather than identifying steroid users in professional sports. “We’ve got nuclear weapons and a financial meltdown to worry about,” Obama explains. “We shouldn’t be worrying about steroids as much as I think sometimes we do.”

During his presidential campaign, Obama expressed the belief that the federal government should focus on more important priorities like the economy and national security rather than the identification of individual steroid users. Many expected President Obama would instruct the U.S. Attorney’s Office to stop spending inordinate resources investigating anabolic steroid users in sports. Instead, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of California has shown a blatant disrespect for President Obama.

President Obama is eventually expected to shift Justice Department resources away from steroids in sports investigations. Many experts believe that once key leadership positions in law enforcement are filled, they will re-evaluate the steroid investigations by federal prosecutors. In the meantime, steroid crusading prosecutors are targeting steroids in the NFL. The tentacles of the BALCO investigation continue to meander throughout professional sports while Obama seems to be dragging his feet.

Sources

“Steroids in the NFL Next Target for Government Witch-Hunt,” February 7, 2009

”Stubblefield cooperating in feds’ probe,” February 6, 2009

“Focus on Bonds Misses the Big Picture,” February 5, 2009

“United States of America v. Dana Stubblefield: Sentencing Memorandum CR 08-0004-SI,” February 2, 2009

”Obama Differs from McCain on Steroids,” October 2, 2008

By Millard Baker

http://www.millardbaker.com

www.SteroidsRx.com

Did the Government Illegally Leak Evidence Linking A-Rod to Steroids?

Alex Rodriguez, the Major League Baseball’s (MLB) highest paid player, allegedly tested positive for anabolic steroids in 2003 according to a report by Sports Illustrated (SI) reporters Selena Roberts and David Epstein. The ongoing steroid witch hunt has, for all intents and purposes, finally taken down baseball’s $275 million man. While this may be troubling for baseball fans, government watchdogs are concerned that government officials may have illegally leaked the name of Alex Rodriguez to SI. Furthermore, a federal court may ultimately decide that the government seizure of Alex Rodriguez’ positive steroid test itself may have been illegal.

Rodriguez has survived virtually unscathed by steroid allegations during the contemporary steroids in baseball hysteria. The much maligned whistleblower Jose Canseco did everything he could to implicate A-Rod in his book entitled Vindicated. “Hell, if you ask me, I did everything but inject the guy myself," Canseco wrote; but few people found the allegations credible given the lack of any first-hand evidence by Canseco.

Four anonymous sources confirmed to SI that Rodriguez tested positive for testosterone use (elevated testosterone:epitestosterone ratio) and Primobolan (methenolone) in 2003 as part of a player drug testing program.

A collective bargaining agreement between Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) and the MLB Commissioner resulted in steroid testing for baseball players for the first time in 2003. The MLB’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program introduced non-disciplinary and anonymous steroid testing that would result in mandatory steroid testing ONLY if the number of players testing positive exceed 5% of the samples. The players were promised that they could not be penalized as a result of a positive test result in 2003. The anonymous testing resulted in 104 steroid positives. This number exceeded the threshold for the mandatory testing provision. The collective bargaining agreement called for the positive samples to be destroyed. This did not happen for unknown reasons.

The MLB list of steroid positives was seized by the federal agents during a raid of Comprehensive Drug Testing Incorporated (CDT) in Long Beach. CDT is the company responsible for steroid testing under the MLB joint drug program. The search warrant was executed as part of the investigation into the distribution of performance-enhancing drugs by the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative (BALCO) to MLB players; specifically, federal agents were seeking information on 10 MLB players when they stumbled upon a spreadsheet listing of 104 players testing positive.

The Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA), led by lead attorney Ethan Atticus Balogh, promptly sued the United States government for illegally seizing the list of steroid positive players and samples. The super-secret list of name of 104 MLB baseball players who tested positive for anabolic steroids has remained a closely guarded secret since the judge imposed a gag order against all parties legally involved in the case. The case of Major League Baseball Players v. United States of America has reached the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals where arguments were heard by an eleven member panel of judges in December 2008.

There are strong indications that the Court will rule against the government seizure of MLB steroid users.

Judge Milan Smith was quoted in that story saying the idea that the government is allowed to seize computer databases containing all types of information while on narrowly focused investigations "would probably be frightening to the public because there's no end to it."

Alex Rodriguez is only one out of 104 baseball players on the list of individuals who tested positive for anabolic steroid use. Only a handful of individuals could have leaked Rodriguez’ name including the federal government, MLBPA, Alex Rodriguez, or friend, family, business associates or teammates of Rodriguez. Some speculate that the most likely source of the leak is a federal official(s). Perhaps, the government is frustrated that they’ve spent of $50 million dollars on a steroid investigation that has produced very few results aside from a few lenient sentences.

One would be hopeful that there would be significant outrage at such an irresponsible waste of taxpayer resources on a ridiculous witch-hunt especially during a troubled economic times. But thus far the government has apparently not underestimated the number of Americans who feel anabolic steroids in sports are a major threat facing our nation.

Sources

“Sources tell SI Alex Rodriguez tested positive for steroids in 2003,” February 7, 2009

“One BIG question remains: Who ratted out Alex Rodriguez?,” February 9, 2009

“Fate of steroid test list mired in ongoing court battle,” February 8, 2009

“Result for Rodriguez Revives Testing Controversy,” February 8, 2009

By Millard Baker

http://www.millardbaker.com

www.SteroidsRx.com