Philadelphia Phillies pitcher J.C. Romero, who was one of the team's heroes in last year's World Series championship, has been suspended by major league baseball for 50 games for a positive result in a drug test last August. From the Delaware Co. (Pa.) Daily Times:
"The banned substance that showed up in Romero's system is androstenedione, a carbon steroid hormone produced in the adrenal glands and the gonads. It is considered a performance-enhancing drug and so is banned by Major League Baseball.
"Romero's defense is that he didn't know he was taking it. The drug is not listed as an ingredient of 6-OXO, the dietary supplement recommended to him (either by his strength coach, his nutritionist or someone else.) It can be purchased over the counter in any GMC or Vitamin Shoppe in the country."
I've got no use for athletes who take steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs. I've got less use for sports teams, their owners and league commissioners who turned a blind eye to decades of substance abuse to keep the money flowing in.
But I'm more than a little troubled by this. Romero bought an over-the-counter supplement. If I bought it, the transaction would be legal and my employer wouldn't punish me. But Romero loses a big chunk of his season and his paycheck for the same "crime." That's not right.
We sure pick our rights and wrongs. Alcohol is perfectly legal to buy over the
counter. But one must not be found driving a car after having consumed it. Right?
I'm concerned that the FPD may not be testing
for steroid use...that beating caught on tape
looked like 'roid rage' to me.
Based on what you wrote Russ, I think that they are taking this a bit too far. Part of what makes something wrong is intent. "The drug is not listed as an ingredient of 6-OXO, the dietary supplement recommended to him..." If it is not listed, it is reasonable to assume he knew it was in there? No. I think the real wrong here is the vitamin maker that puts a steroid type drug in a dietary supplement without listing it for the consumer. Over the counter at GMC or Vitamin Shoppe means anyone, likely any age can be exposed to it. Now could Romero have known anyway? A nutritionist or a strength coach might have been aware but there is no way to prove it and we are supposed to be innocent until proven guilty right? The fact that it is not listed as an ingredient creates enough doubt that this one should be let go.
There are many centers for meth rehab in Colorado nowadays, given the alarming rise of this form of addiction in the state. So if you can get a center that specializes.
---------------------------------------------
Bob
http://www.substanceabusecenter.com/
"Baseball's substance abuse overkill? by Russ Minick February 17, 2009
3 (response) comments ...........February 17, 2009
1 (response) comment) ...........April 1, 2009
Why and how was it retrieved from "archives'? What is that 6 week hiatus all about?