[ashes@work]

Ive also been hearing talks of testing Nascar Drivers.... now thats a scary thing to do high!


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/25/sp...gewanted=print




May 25, 2005
McCain Offers Measure for Testing in Pro Sports
By LYNN ZINSER
WASHINGTON, May 24 - Senator John McCain, the Arizona Republican, unveiled the much-anticipated proposal for a Clean Sports Act on Tuesday, the culmination of a series of hearings full of discontent with steroid testing in professional sports. The legislation aims to require standardized testing procedures and stiffer punishments for athletes who test positive for banned substances.

McCain, joined by fellow Republican Congressmen Mark Souder of Indiana and Thomas Davis of Virginia and Democrats Henry A. Waxman of California and Elijah E. Cummings of Maryland, called at a news conference for the four major professional leagues to institute a system at least as tough as the one for the Olympics.

Earlier Tuesday, Olympics officials enjoyed being on the nonhostile side of this debate in a hearing conducted by McCain to review the annual federal government financing of the United States Anti-Doping Agency, which administers Olympic drug testing. Although McCain lauded the efforts of the agency, he stopped short of announcing that it should conduct the testing for the pro sports leagues.

"It's obvious that a vital component of this whole business is who does the testing," McCain said after the morning hearing. "U.S.A.D.A. seems to me to be a likely candidate for that, but I'm not dictating that nor do I think Congress should."

Five years ago, United States Olympic officials began tackling the problems that the N.F.L., Major League Baseball, the N.B.A. and the N.H.L. are being forced to face now in front of several Congressional committees. In 2000, the U.S.A.D.A. was formed to get the United States Olympic Committee out of the business of testing its athletes, the inherent conflict of interest the leagues are defending themselves against. The antidoping agency functions independently of the Olympic committee, which pays for 35 percent of the agency's financing; the rest comes from the federal government.

"If you want to address the problem, you have to address it across the board," said Jim Scherr, chief executive of the U.S.O.C. "And if you want an effective deterrent, there's no way to do it without an independent agency."

The antidoping agency has pursued drug users so aggressively, including using evidence from the investigation into the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative to prosecute 15 cases, that the sprinter Marion Jones has called it a "secret kangaroo court."

That diligence, though, has made the U.S.A.D.A. one of the most respected testing agencies in the world. It tests far more frequently than the professional leagues. More than half of its tests are conducted during surprise visits to athletes away from competition, using an accredited lab and an international appeal system. There is a two-year ban for a first offense and a lifetime ban for a second.

Kelli White, a sprinter who is serving a two-year suspension after she admitted using performance-enhancing drugs provided by Balco, told McCain that she regretted her choice to use steroids and supports Congress's interest in strengthening testing.

"It hurt our sport the most because it made it seem like we were all cheating, and I think all sports need to be held to the same standards," White said. "I think we have the toughest drug policy there is, especially punishment. I think it should all be fair and equal."

That is why Congressional leaders are pushing tougher standards on the professional leagues. Last month, the Florida representative Cliff Stearns, chairman of a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee, introduced similar legislation in the House. But whether the U.S.A.D.A. becomes the country's drug-testing clearinghouse remains an open question. Agency officials say it would need more money to take on extra responsibilities and that it needs more money now just to bring its research up to date.

"We're willing to work with any sport that has the rights of clean athletes in mind," said Terry Madden, chief executive of the antidoping agency. "One place where all professional leagues could step up immediately is in regard to research and education."

Dr. Don Catlin, head of the U.C.L.A. Olympic testing lab - the only internationally accredited lab in the country - testified that even Olympic testing lags behind the most innovative drug users. As an example, he cited the lack of a test for human-growth hormone despite 10 years of working toward one.

The agency spends $2 million a year on research, and Madden said as much as $15 million was needed.

Madden said that expanding the U.S.A.D.A. to cover the testing in all American sports would require more resources but not much else. The agency has plenty of experience testing professional athletes. It already tests pro cyclists - Lance Armstrong claims to be the most-tested athlete in the world - and track and field competitors. In addition, in the year before each Olympics, any pro athlete who wants to be considered for an Olympic team is subject to random testing by the U.S.A.D.A. That means American N.H.L. players a year before a winter Olympics, N.B.A., soccer, baseball and tennis players a year before a summer Olympics.

"We've tested the biggest stars in the world," Madden said. "We've tested Shaquille O'Neal."



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[tomlunt]

Let me see - privately owned sports teams and leagues, and the US Govt. Hmmmm.... not really a public safety issue either.

To any and all elected officials out there - GET BACK TO DOING REAL WORK AS DEFINED BY THE CONSTITUTION. John McCain is an idiot.

(sorry, i just had to get that off my chest).

Tom

[linskyjack]

I agree that we should really get back to getting our guys out of Iraq, but the case can be made that since these kids seem to idolize these dope fiends, that the government has a responsibility to make sure that the youth of America knows that taking steroids is against the law and that people will get punished for it.

[bassetman]

I agree that we have more important things to worry about IMO!

[coderitr]

I was at home with my son yesterday and watched a little of the testimony before the house subcommittee. I've never seen anyone dance around an issue the way Bud Selig did. Everyone in America -- including him -- knows that MLB is the worst violator of them all. Everyone in America -- including him -- knows that MLB's testing and disciplinary policies are completely meaningless. If you're not doing random surprise testing you're wasting your time. Why is that so hard to comprehend?

That said, the bill they were talking about is too harsh. Two year suspension for a first offense. I remember when Julius Peppers (Carolina Panthers' linebacker) had to sit out the last 4 games of his rookie season because he tested positive for a banned substance. He was not taking steroids, it was a dietary supplement or something innocuous like that. A two year suspension in that case is completely inappropriate and any policy that does not allow for narrowly defined exceptions is flawed.

Just my $.02

[coderitr]

Hi Ashley. How's everything in your world today?

[ashes@work]

Hey codepunk!! feelin better today..thanks!!!!!

You?

[Gibble]

Originally Posted by linskyjack

I agree that we should really get back to getting our guys out of Iraq, but the case can be made that since these kids seem to idolize these dope fiends, that the government has a responsibility to make sure that the youth of America knows that taking steroids is against the law and that people will get punished for it.

You flew so far off the handle you need a map to find the pan!

You're calling them "dope fiends", holy crap...

While I don't condone drugs in sports, there ARE laws against using aren't there? And the teams are private companies, why is the government regulating their rules?

There are laws against drug use allready in place. Why punish these players? If I'm caught using steroids are you going to prevent me from working at my desk for two years? If the law can't CATCH the players, hey, guess what, they are like any other citizen, and considered innocent.

You can't have two sets of rules. You can't vilify some business, and not others. This entire joke is just that, a joke.

Yes, players are bigger, stronger and better than the past. But drugs were rampant in the past as well. The REAL difference, like it or not is their dedication to their workout schedules. These guys train hard. Don't get me wrong, the leagues should crack down on it, but not the bloody government., the LEAGUES.

If the gov't thinks it's a big problem, survail players thought to be "using drugs", and charge them like any other citizen. Allthough I still think there are better things the gov't can waste it's time on.

[linskyjack]

Originally Posted by Gibble

You flew so far off the handle you need a map to find the pan!

You're calling them "dope fiends", holy crap...

While I don't condone drugs in sports, there ARE laws against using aren't there? And the teams are private companies, why is the government regulating their rules?

There are laws against drug use allready in place. Why punish these players? If I'm caught using steroids are you going to prevent me from working at my desk for two years? If the law can't CATCH the players, hey, guess what, they are like any other citizen, and considered innocent.

You can't have two sets of rules. You can't vilify some business, and not others. This entire joke is just that, a joke.

Yes, players are bigger, stronger and better than the past. But drugs were rampant in the past as well. The REAL difference, like it or not is their dedication to their workout schedules. These guys train hard. Don't get me wrong, the leagues should crack down on it, but not the bloody government., the LEAGUES.

If the gov't thinks it's a big problem, survail players thought to be "using drugs", and charge them like any other citizen. Allthough I still think there are better things the gov't can waste it's time on.

Wow----Gribbel is really showing his ignorance of how the legal system works.
If you are caught using steroids (an illegal substance) you will be arrested and you will probably either be put in rehab for your first offense, and probably jailed for the next! You will be fired! Its against the law genius! Gibbel, you need to stop opining on a America until you get the vaguest idea of how our system works.
Stick with Canada!

[Gibble]

Originally Posted by linskyjack

Wow----Gribbel is really showing his ignorance of how the legal system works.
If you are caught using steroids (an illegal substance) you will be arrested and you will probably either be put in rehab for your first offense, and probably jailed for the next! Its against the law genius!

That's what I was saying! There ARE laws, so why doesn't the gov't use it's legal system to attempt rehab and punish these players, rather than creating a second set of rules!!!

[coderitr]

Originally Posted by ashes@work

Hey codepunk!! feelin better today..thanks!!!!!

You?

Doing well. Thanks for asking

[linskyjack]

Okay, let me continue the education of our winger from the north---Major league sports, protect their players, particulalry their stars! They hate bad publicity and thus tend to sweep everything under the rug! No police chief wants to send his crew into Barry Bond's locker room and bust him! Too much money involved! By the way, Major leagues sports is probably the only business in AMErica that if an employee gets busted, he doesn't lose his job! They are very lax on drug testing! Thats why we need the BILL-----------Dahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

[Gibble]

Originally Posted by linskyjack

Okay, let me continue the education of our winger from the north---Major league sports, protect their players, particulalry their stars! They hate bad publicity and thus tend to sweep everything under the rug! No police chief wants to send his crew into Barry Bond's locker room and bust him! Too much money involved! By the way, Major leagues sports is probably the only business in AMErica that if an employee gets busted, he doesn't lose his job! Thats why we need the BILL-----------Dahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Since when do major league sports have the power to protect their players from the law? Why should they be able too? The blame is on the gov'ts selective enforcement of it's laws. Not the league. The league shouldn't have to police it's players. My boss doesn't police me. Hey, I can do drugs if I want, as long as it doesn't adversely affect my performance at work, they won't care. And hence, major league sports players drugs ussually don't adversely affect a players performance, they don't care. Like almost any other employer. It's the law enforcement agencies job to catch me, not my boss'.

By promoting this bill you're merely promoting the creation of social classes! Something I would think you would be vehemently against?

[ashes@work]

You know I care


and... humm.... are there legal streroids?

[linskyjack]

Originally Posted by Gibble

wow...won't all those actors, models, directors, etc in hollywood be shocked to learn they could lose their jobs if they use drugs

Since when do major league sports have the power to protect their players from the law? Why should they be able too? The blame is on the gov'ts selective enforcement of it's laws. Not the league. The league shouldn't have to police it's players. My boss doesn't police me. Hey, I can do drugs if I want, as long as it doesn't adversely affect my performance at work, they won't care. And hence, major league sports players drugs ussually don't adversely affect a players performance, they don't care. Like almost any other employer.

By promoting this bill you're merely promoting the creation of social classes! Something I would think you would be vehemently against?

Okay, the education continues-

1. Tell us Gibbel, what drugs are you doing that don't adversely effect your work---are you a psychdelic artist, an acid rock musician--I mean please, give us a break.

2. If you really think that taking drugs doesn't effect performance--look at Jason Giambi and look at whats happened to many NFL players whose bodies broke down from drug use. Have you heard of Lyle Alzado?

3. Corporations run huge risks of liability if they know that someone is on drugs and they don't fire them---Corporations also realize that you can't get top-notch peformance out of drug fiends although Gribbel claims to be immune to performance hits.

You are so absurd. Hey Gibbel, go have a couple of joints, down a couple of pints and then go drive Mom home. If you really think that drugs dont effect performance, judgement etc, then you really live inside a Dali painting.
Better yet, hire a coke addict to work for you!


Having said that, I am for the legalization of all drugs. You cant stop addicts so why not make some money off them.