I think what USA Today was getting at was that there was no steroid testing policy in place prior to 2002. In effect, steroids were banned, but players could not be tested for them UNLESS the player admitted to using illegal drugs (see page 3 of the link you provided).
As some people know, I absolutely despise Barry Bonds; however, this whole new thing that Bud has come up with this Mitchell guy is a freaking joke. It is like Tim Kurkijian (sp?) said - baseball only does something when they get pressed to do it. And how Seelig has lasted as long as he has might be the biggest joke of them all.
Talking like a lawyer When I heard Conte's comment, that is what came to my mind. I am surprised that more people did not pick up on it. Also itn could be he that he did not give Barry steroids but HGH. By that, Conte is telly the "truth". The funny thing about Senator Mitchelle's investigation is that all investigation are biased - no matter who is leading it. We are human beings and we take side - it is in our nature. I wonder how the senator would react when he finds out that the Commish knew about this problem as far back as 1995/96? Would he expose him? Is the senator trully independent of the Commish's office? What if more owners are found wanting? What if [god forbid] the web gets to involve President George W. Bush as someone who knew something but never said anything to authorities then? Remember the President owned the Rangers from 1989 to 1998. Bush has denied knowing anything about the steriod use Jose Canseco detailed in his new book, while Bush owned the Texas Rangers. Canseco and Palmero played for him. Former FBI agent, Stejskal, stated that he warned MLB's security office as well as the "Lords of the game" about Canseco's steroid use and the possibility of that many more players may be using it as well in the mid to late 1990s but they all turned the other way. My love for baseball is enormous - I just love it. But I cannot hide the fact that baseball is the sport with the most embarrassing and dirty linen. I am not proud of baseball history because it is not really worth defending or being proud. I just enjoy the game and try not to let its filty history and ways get me down. Anyway, lets wait to see what the Senator's investigation will bring up. I really think it is kinda silly for the investigation to go ahead because it will further embarrass the game I love. I fear this investigation will bring out somethings that exposes a lot of bad things and I am not sure I am ready for it.....
Really. If I were down there visiting my sis we would have to go out for a drink or bite to eat but I'm stuck here in lowly Jonesboro.
Very true. Fehr & the MLBPA fought testing as long as they could, and MLB didn't try much at all to press the issue until it became necessary, PR-wise. I was just trying to make it as clear as possible that steroids have been against the rules in baseball for well over a decade. USA Today writing "Before 2002, Major League Baseball had no official policy on steroid use among players" is simply wrong.
It's the official MLB policy on drugs, issued by the commissioner's office. Doesn't get much more ruley than that.
Man what is going on -- the more I hear about all this nonsense the more I side with Bonds. Why am I starting to have sympathy for this guy? Someone please explain.
He has lasted so long because everyone is making tons of money on his watch. Even with the balance of power tilted soooo far toward the players that it is silly, the owners are still making a killing despite handing out quarter billion dollar contracts. When everyone is getting rich, why would they want to get rid of the commish? Also, isn't commisioner of baseball a lifetime apointment?
