Former Texas Ranger Rafael Palmeiro Tests Positive For Steroids

// August 3rd, 2005 // Life

Baseball and Steroids

On Monday, Major League Baseball announced that Baltimore Oriole and ex-Texas Ranger Rafael Palmeiro was suspended for 10 games after violating the leagues policy on banned substances. In light of the rash of suspensions by the league, I started to wonder if maybe the league rules were as strict as those imposed on our Olympic hopefuls by the US Anti-Doping Association, where even common heart and blood pressure medications are banned, and that the media, in typical fashion, was sensationalizing it by creating the impression that any banned substance was a steroid, much like they do when Olympians are similarly outed.

But today, reports citing sources inside baseball’s drug testing program are saying that Palmeiro tested positive for a steroid known as Stanolozol. Although the drug does have legitimate medical uses, it would appear medical-necessity wasn’t the case this time.

Palmerio’s recent comments before Congress, including his strident denial of having ever used steroids, is now farce. This news, together with widespread reports this past year about steroid use in baseball, have cast a pall over the game. Without a serious committment from the league and players association, fans, especially kids, will be driven away from the game.

Using steroids is cheating, period.

Professional baseball so far has been unimpressive in their handling of the steroid issue, especially in light of the more stingent rules imposed on players by the other major professional sports leagues. This sends a message to young ball-players that the punishment is worth the crime, if the result is becoming a stronger, more powerful, and possibly more well-paid player than one might otherwise be.

These players who use steroids are disrespecting the game and all who have gone before and played cleanly. I hope the league, pressured from without or within, takes real action against this abuse to restore the sanctity of the game and it’s historic legacy.

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