NBA Steroids

Just say no?

 

don't know don't tell. sort of the like the gun policy in the NBA.

 

Not sure, but you would think that will all of the running/jumping, people would be a really high injury risk if they took HGH/Roids in the NBA

 

Basketball is one sport in which steroids would be a hindrance. That's especially true for guards/small forwards in today's perimeter game, which requires more quickness than ever. Plus, a lot of extra muscle mass can really mess up a jump shot. Steroids MIGHT help a power forward/center with rebounding, but half of rebounding is getting the right position. Also, I don't care how many needles they're sticking in their forearms, there is no amount of steroids that will give non-skilled slugs like Adonal Foyle and Erick Dampier better footwork or a decent hook shot.

Nobody knows the steroid policy, because it never comes up. The only NBA player I've ever heard being associated with steroids was Don MacLean. Of course, Charles Barkley had one of his most classic quotes ever about that.

"I've seen Don MacLean naked, and he doesn't use steroids."

 

steroids aren't just for building muscle mass. there are types that help build up your quick-twitch muscles to make you quicker, faster, and help you jump higher.

 

and they reduce time you're out with injury.

 

i really doubt roids would help much in an nba game. not only do you need fast reflexes, you need finesse to score, plus your cardio has to be pretty damn good.
if anything, weed probably helps better...at least you can play back-to-backs with less pain.

 

Roids can most certainly help in an NBA game. Someone already pointed it out, they serve all different purposes. People seem to have the general feeling that they only guild muscle mass. That's far from the truth. A lot of them are used to cut fat off your body, give you long, lean muscles (basketball muscles),ect......

Weed does not help injuries ,lol

 

yep remember justin gatlin world 100m champion tested positive

100m dash is all about quick reflexes

if you look at gatlin he is big, but def not bigger than the avg sf in the league, and not near as built as the dwight howards of the league

 

Not only that but you don't suddenly become a huge monster incapable of moving after taking a couple cycles of steroids. A 19 year old toothpick like Stephon Marbury can suddenly become the most muscular guard in the league after a year with a few cycles and then just do maintenance so as not to get any bigger.

 

Here's the section from the CBA regarding Steroids. It refers to SPED which stands for Steroids, Performance-Enhancing Drugs. It's pretty much the same as the league drug policy.


o) “SPED” shall mean any of the steroids, performance-enhancing drugs and masking agents listed on Exhibit I-2 to this Agreement.

(p) “SPED Program” shall mean the (i) testing program for SPEDs set forth in this Article XXXIII, and (ii) the education, treatment, and counseling program for SPEDs established by the Medical Director (after consultation with the NBA and the Players Association), which may contain such elements—including, but not limited to, urine, blood, breath or other testing for SPEDs (but not for any other Prohibited Substance)—as may be determined by the Medical Director in his or her professional judgment.


Section 9. Steroids, Performance-Enhancing Drugs and Masking Agents Program.
(a) Voluntary Entry.

(i) A player may enter the SPED Program voluntarily at any time by Coming Forward Voluntarily; provided, however, that a player may not Come Forward Voluntarily for a problem involving the use of a SPED (A) until he has been selected in an NBA Draft or invited to an NBA training camp; (B) during any period in which an Authorization for testing as to that player remains in effect pursuant to Section 5 above; or (C) during any period in which he remains subject to in-patient or aftercare treatment in the SPED Program.

(ii) If a player who has not previously entered the SPED Program, Comes Forward Voluntarily for a problem involving the use of a SPED, he shall enter the SPED Program.

(iii) No penalty of any kind will be imposed on a player as a result of having Come Forward Voluntarily for a problem involving the use of a SPED. The foregoing sentence shall not preclude the imposition of any penalty called for by this Article XXXIII as a result of conduct by the player that occurs after he has Come Forward Voluntarily.

(b) Treatment.

(i) A player who enters the SPED Program shall be required to submit to an evaluation by the Medical Director, provide (or cause to be provided) to the Medical Director such relevant medical and treatment records as the Medical Director may request, and commence the treatment and testing program prescribed by the Medical Director. Such program may include random testing for SPEDs and such non-testing elements as may be determined in the professional judgment of the Medical Director.

(ii) If a player, within five (5) days of the date on which he was notified that he had entered the SPED Program and without a reasonable excuse, fails to comply (in the professional judgment of the Medical Director) with any of the obligations set forth in the first sentence of Section 9(b)(i) above, he shall be fined $10,000; if the player, without a reasonable excuse, thereafter fails to comply with such obligations (in the professional judgment of the Medical Director) within eight (8) days of such notification, he shall be fined an additional $10,000; and for each additional day beyond the 8th day that the player, without a reasonable excuse, fails to comply with such obligations (in the professional judgment of the Medical Director), he shall be fined an additional $10,000. The total amount of such fines shall not exceed the player’s total Compensation.


(c) Penalties.
Any player who (i) tests positive for a SPED pursuant to Section 5 (Reasonable Cause Testing), Section 6 (Random Testing), or Section 14 (Additional Bases for Testing), or (ii) is adjudged by the Grievance Arbitrator pursuant to Section 5(e) above to have used or possessed a SPED, shall suffer the following penalties:

(A) For the first such violation, the player shall be suspended for ten (10) games and required to enter the SPED Program;

(B) For the second such violation, the player shall be suspended for twenty-five (25) games and, if the player is not then subject to in-patient or aftercare treatment in the SPED Program, be required to enter the SPED Program;

(C) for the third such violation, the player shall be suspended for one (1) year from the date of such violation and, if the player is not then subject to in-patient or aftercare treatment in the SPED Program, be required to enter the SPED Program; and

(D) for the fourth such violation, the player shall be immediately dismissed and disqualified from any association with the NBA or any of its Teams in accordance with the provisions of Section 11(a) below.

 

I think HGH is an issue in the NBA and definitely the NFL. Steroids are tested for and players will get caught. There used to be a big gap between the cheaters and the testers but (supposedly) it has narrowed a lot. On the other hand, they may never create reliable tests for HGH, especially ones that the unions would agree to. Probably the only way to catch HGH use is to sting someone purchasing it, like with Rodney Harrison.

 

That makes sense, but then I wonder what sprinters like Ben Johnson and Marion Jones thought they would get out of it.

 

John Mcenroe took steroids when he played tennis -- they weren't illegal back then.

Steroids do not equate to bulking up and getting huge.

 

I believe the policy is immediate suspension for all roid users.

Except Tayshaun Prince. He's allowed to take roids.

 

I think Serena Williams is on roids.

 

There's 3 sections in the CBA which specify the conditions when a player can be tested. Under the random testing a player can be tested up to 4 times per season. Here's the 3 different ways a player can be tested:

Section 5. Reasonable Cause Testing or Hearing.
(a) In the event that either the NBA or the Players Association has information that gives it reasonable cause to believe that a player is engaged in the use, possession, or distribution of a Prohibited Substance, including information that a First-Year Player may have been engaged in such conduct during the period beginning three (3) months prior to his entry into the NBA, such party shall request a conference with the other party and the Independent Expert, which shall be held within twenty-four (24) hours or as soon thereafter as the Expert is available. Upon hearing the information presented, the Independent Expert shall immediately decide whether there is reasonable cause to believe that the player in question has been engaged in the use, possession, or distribution of a Prohibited Substance. If the Independent Expert decides that such reasonable cause exists, the Expert shall thereupon issue an Authorization for Testing with respect to such player.

(b) In evaluating the information presented to him, the Independent Expert shall use his independent judgment based upon his experience in substance abuse detection and enforcement. The parties acknowledge that the type of information to be presented to the Independent Expert is likely to consist of reports of conversations with third parties of the type generally considered by law enforcement authorities to be reliable sources, and that such sources might not otherwise come forward if their identities were to become known. Accordingly, neither the NBA nor the Players Association shall be required to divulge to each other or to the Independent Expert the names (or other identifying characteristics) of their sources of information regarding the use, possession, or distribution of a Prohibited Substance, and the absence of such identification of sources, standing alone, shall not constitute a basis for the Expert to refuse to issue an Authorization for Testing with respect to a player. In conferences with the Independent Expert, the player involved shall not be identified by name until such time as the Expert has determined to issue an Authorization for Testing with respect to such player.

(c) Immediately upon the Independent Expert’s issuance of an Authorization for Testing with respect to a particular player, the NBA shall arrange for such player to undergo testing for Drugs of Abuse (if the Authorization for Testing was based on information regarding the use, possession, or distribution of a Drug of Abuse), for mar1juana (if the authorization for Testing was based on information regarding the player’s use, possession, or distribution of mar1juana), or for SPEDs (if the Authorization for Testing was based on information regarding the player’s use, possession, or distribution of a SPED) no more than four (4) times during the six-week period commencing with the issuance of the Authorization for Testing. Such testing may be administered at any time, in the discretion of the NBA, without prior notice to the player.

(d) In the event that the player tests positive for a Drug of Abuse pursuant to this Section 5, or tests positive pursuant to Section 4(c)(iii), (iv) or (v) above in connection with testing conducted pursuant to this Section 5, he shall immediately be dismissed and disqualified from any association with the NBA or any of its Teams in accordance with the provisions of Section 11(a) below. If the player tests positive for mar1juana or a SPED pursuant to this Section 5, he shall enter the Program and suffer the applicable consequences set forth in Sections 8 or 9 below, as the case may be. If the player tests positive for a Diuretic, he shall suffer the applicable consequences of a positive test for the Prohibited Substance for which the Authorization for Testing was issued.

(e) In the event that either the NBA or the Players Association determines that there is sufficient evidence to demonstrate that, within the previous year, a player has engaged in the use, possession, or distribution of a Prohibited Substance, or has received treatment for use of a Prohibited Substance other than in accordance with the terms of this Article XXXIII, it may, in lieu of requesting the testing procedure set forth in Section 5(a)-(d) above, request a hearing on the matter before the Grievance Arbitrator. If the Grievance Arbitrator concludes that, within the previous year, the Player has used, possessed, or distributed a Prohibited Substance, or has received treatment other than in accordance with the terms of this Article XXXIII, the player shall immediately be dismissed and disqualified from any association with the NBA or any of its Teams in accordance with the provisions of Section 11(a) below, notwithstanding the fact that the player has not undergone the testing procedure set forth in this Section 5; provided, however, that if the Grievance Arbitrator concludes that the player has used or possessed mar1juana or a SPED, he shall enter the Program and suffer the applicable consequences set forth in Sections 8 or 9 below, as the case may be.


Section 6. Random Testing.
(a) In addition to the testing procedures set forth in Section 5 above, a player shall be required to undergo testing for Prohibited Substances at any time, without prior notice to the player, no more than four (4) times each Season. The scheduling of testing and collection of urine samples will be conducted according to a random player selection procedure by a third-party organization, and neither the NBA, the Players Association, any Team or any player will have any involvement in selecting the players to be tested or will receive prior notice of the testing schedule; provided, however, that it shall not be a violation of the foregoing for the third-party organization (or a specimen collector for the same) to provide advance notice of a scheduled collection to an NBA Team Security Representative, so long as such notice does not identify the player(s) who will be tested and seeks merely to facilitate access of the collector to the testing location.

(b)

(i) In the event that a First-Year Player who tests positive for a Drug of Abuse pursuant to this Section 6, he shall immediately be dismissed and disqualified from any association with the NBA or its Teams for a period of one (1) year, his Player Contract shall be rendered null and void and of no further force or effect (subject to the provisions of Paragraph 8 of the Uniform Player Contract), and he shall enter Stage 1 of the Drugs of Abuse Program. Such dismissal and disqualification shall be mandatory and may not be rescinded or reduced by the player’s Team or the NBA.

(ii) During any period while a First-Year Player is dismissed and disqualified from the NBA under Section 6(b)(i) above, and so long as such player is in compliance with his in-patient or aftercare obligations under the Program (as determined by the Medical Director), he shall receive from his Team a reasonable and necessary living expense stipend to be agreed upon by the NBA and the Players Association which (A) shall not exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the Salary that the player would otherwise have been entitled to earn for the period of his dismissal and disqualification and (B) shall not be payable for more than one (1) year from the date of such dismissal and disqualification.

(iii) Any First-Year Player who tests positive for mar1juana or a SPED pursuant to this Section 6, shall suffer the applicable consequences set forth in Sections 8 or 9 below, as the case may be. Any First-Year Player who tests positive for a Diuretic pursuant to this Section 6, shall suffer the applicable consequences set forth in Section 9 below.

(c) In the event that a Veteran Player tests positive for a Drug of Abuse pursuant to this Section 6, he shall immediately be dismissed and disqualified from any association with the NBA or any of its Teams in accordance with the provisions of Section 11(a) below. If the player tests positive for mar1juana or a SPED pursuant to this Section 6, he shall enter the Program and suffer the applicable consequences set forth in Sections 8 or 9 below, as the case may be. If the player tests positive for a Diuretic pursuant to this Section 6, he shall enter the SPED Program and suffer the applicable consequences set forth in Section 9 below.

(d) In the event that any player tests “positive” pursuant to Section 4(c)(iii), (iv) or (v) above in connection with testing conducted pursuant to this Section 6, that positive test result shall be considered a positive test result for a Drug of Abuse, and the player shall immediately be dismissed and disqualified from any association with the NBA or any of its Teams in accordance with the provisions of Section 11(a) below.


Section 14. Additional Bases for Testing.
(a) Any player who seeks treatment outside the Program for a problem involving a Prohibited Substance shall, as directed by the NBA (after notice to the Players Association), submit himself to an evaluation by the Medical Director and provide (or cause to be provided) to the Medical Director such medical and treatment records as the Medical Director may request. The Medical Director may, in his or her professional judgment, also require such a player, without prior notice, to submit to testing for Prohibited Substances, provided that the frequency of such testing shall not exceed three (3) times per week and the duration of such testing shall not exceed one (1) year from the date of the player’s initial evaluation by the Medical Director.

(b) Any player who is a subject to in-patient or aftercare treatment in the Program and is formally charged with “driving while intoxicated,” “driving under the influence of alcohol,” or any other crime or offense involving suspected alcohol or illegal substance use shall, provided that the NBA has advised the Players Association, be required to submit to a urine test, to be conducted by the NBA, within seven (7) days of being so charged.

(c) If, pursuant to Section 14(a) above, a player (i) tests positive for a Drug of Abuse; (ii) tests positive pursuant to Section 4(c)(iii), (iv) or (v) above; or (iii) refuses or fails to submit to an evaluation or provide (or cause to be provided) the information requested by the Medical Director, but does not Come Forward Voluntarily within 60 days of being requested to do so by the NBA (with notice to the Players Association), or if, pursuant to Section 14(b) above, a player tests positive for a Drug of Abuse, then, in either case, the player shall advance two stages in the Drugs of Abuse Program—i.e., the player shall enter Stage 2 of the Drugs of Abuse Program (if the player had not previously entered Stage 1 of such Program), and the player shall be dismissed and disqualified from any association with the NBA or any of its Teams in accordance with the provisions of Section 11(a) above (if the player had previously entered Stage 1 or Stage 2 of such Program).

(d) If, pursuant to Section 14(a) or (b) above, a player tests positive for mar1juana or a SPED, he shall suffer the applicable consequences set forth in Sections 8 or 9 above, as the case may be. If, pursuant to Section 14 (a) or (b) above, a player tests positive for a Diuretic, he shall suffer the applicable consequences set forth in Section 9 above.

(e) If a player is or, within the previous six (6) months, has been in possession of any device or product used or designed for substituting, diluting, or adulterating a specimen sample, that player shall be required to undergo testing for Prohibited Substances no more than four (4) times during the six-week period following his notification by the NBA of the commencement of such testing. If the player tests positive for a Drug of Abuse, he shall be dismissed and disqualified from any association with the NBA or any of its Teams in accordance with the provisions of Section 11(a) above. If the player tests positive for mar1juana or a SPED, he shall suffer the applicable consequences set forth in Sections 8 or 9 above, as the case may be. If the player tests positive for a Diuretic, he shall suffer the applicable consequences set forth in Section 9, above.

(f) Nothing in this Section 14 shall limit or otherwise affect any of the provisions of Section 5 (Reasonable Cause Testing).