The PED Suspensions Thread

[HalfSmokes]

True. Still not my point. Steroids are more performance enhancing. It's not about relative drug safety.

Can't see the ability to concentrate helping a hitter at all, no way that would help. Those guys taking them are totally risking their careers for no benefit

[whytev]

Can't see the ability to concentrate helping a hitter at all, no way that would help. Those guys taking them are totally risking their careers for no benefit

It does help. But it doesn't make a flyout into an upper deck shot.

[HalfSmokes]

It does help. But it doesn't make a flyout into an upper deck shot.

And plenty of people busted for testerone couldn't hit for crap either - what's your point

[whytev]

And plenty of people busted for testerone couldn't hit for crap either - what's your point

My point is hormones are more severe cheating than speed.

[HalfSmokes]

My point is hormones are more severe cheating than speed.

Based on what? Both are banned, both can be prescribed legally, both help performance

[whytev]

Based on what? Both are banned, both can be prescribed legally, both help performance

Based on common sense. Nobody who was coked out if his mind in the 80s broke Ruth's home run record.

[houston-nat]

Article by Ken Rosenthal about Chris Colabello and Daniel Stumpf searching for answers:
http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/chris-colabello-daniel-stumpf-ped-suspensions-positive-drug-tests-051416

They are seeking advice from a group of scientists, researchers, doctors, and experts, trying to figure out why they tested positive. They've asked MLB to run more tests to get a more granular analysis to help determine the cause of the positive. They genuinely sound innocent and trapped. Colabello talks about how he doesn't know what to change about his regimen in order to avoid another positive test, because all his supplements are certified and provided by the Blue Jays staff.

[HalfSmokes]

They should consult lance Armstrong about protesting loudly enough that people believe you

[NJ Ave]

Based on common sense. Nobody who was coked out if his mind in the 80s broke Ruth's home run record.

Ummmm, Hank Aaron admitted he used greenies, right? So someone on amphetamines DID break Babe Ruth's HR record in the 70s. Look, I think it's fine to have a personal opinion on which one is worse, but its important to understand that it's your opinion. There is pretty obviously as much evidence that baseball players believe amphetamines help their performance as there is that they believe steroids do. If they didn't, there wouldn't be an epidemic of fake adderall prescriptions in MLB right now.

[spidernat]

The new approach is to admit they tested positive but have no inkling of how it could've happened.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

The new approach is to admit they tested positive but have no inkling of how it could've happened.

oh, you mean what they call "Ortizing" about what happened?

[whytev]

Ummmm, Hank Aaron admitted he used greenies, right? So someone on amphetamines DID break Babe Ruth's HR record in the 70s. Look, I think it's fine to have a personal opinion on which one is worse, but its important to understand that it's your opinion. There is pretty obviously as much evidence that baseball players believe amphetamines help their performance as there is that they believe steroids do. If they didn't, there wouldn't be an epidemic of fake adderall prescriptions in MLB right now.

I admit it's my opinion. You're right re: Aaron. But how many more times was it broken in the 90s? 4? Let's get serious.

I feel bad for Chris Davis, for example. He had a prescription and an exemption, it expired, and he got pinched for Ritalin or whatever it was. That's ridiculous. He wasn't exactly Daryl Strawberry.

[houston-nat]

Injury/health expert Will Carroll thinks that a supplement producer has been selling pills tainted with 'roids. Not clear if players knew what they were getting, but he mentions that an MLBer who was suspended last decade was successfully able to sue a crooked supplement company.

https://www.fanduel.com/insider/2016/05/15/additional-mlb-suspensions-point-to-possible-explanation/

[dcpatti]

I admit it's my opinion. You're right re: Aaron. But how many more times was it broken in the 90s? 4? Let's get serious.

I feel bad for Chris Davis, for example. He had a prescription and an exemption, it expired, and he got pinched for Ritalin or whatever it was. That's ridiculous. He wasn't exactly Daryl Strawberry.

I don't feel sorry for him. He gets paid a crapload of money and part of his job is staying on top of these details. It's like feeling sorry for a truck driver who gets busted because his registration expired.

[NJ Ave]

I feel bad for Chris Davis, for example. He had a prescription and an exemption, it expired, and he got pinched for Ritalin or whatever it was. That's ridiculous. He wasn't exactly Daryl Strawberry.

Chris Davis may have a legitimate need for ADHD medication. Who knows. What I know is that (a) MLB has a problem with guys getting prescriptions for amphetamines for performance enhancement and (b) it's impossible to parse which guys have legitimate medical needs or not.

The facts about Chris Davis are the following:

1. Chris Davis got his first ADHD diagnosis and adderall prescription in 2008 as a 22-year old, the first year he entered the majors.
2. Chris Davis lost his Therapeutic Use Exemption because MLB decided he didn't really have a Therapeutic Use.
3. He took it again because, in his words, he couldn't see the ball as well.

The 3rd part is hard - all players benefit from taking adderall, the same way all college students do. Of course taking adderall makes it easier for Chris Davis to concentrate at the plate, that's the whole point of the drug.

As many have pointed out, there are a million signs that this is a problem in MLB, the most glaring of which is that baseball players don't really seem interested in the non-amphetamine forms of ADHD medication. Wonder why...

[whytev]

Chris Davis may have a legitimate need for ADHD medication. Who knows. What I know is that (a) MLB has a problem with guys getting prescriptions for amphetamines for performance enhancement and (b) it's impossible to parse which guys have legitimate medical needs or not.

The facts about Chris Davis are the following:

1. Chris Davis got his first ADHD diagnosis and adderall prescription in 2008 as a 22-year old, the first year he entered the majors.
2. Chris Davis lost his Therapeutic Use Exemption because MLB decided he didn't really have a Therapeutic Use.
3. He took it again because, in his words, he couldn't see the ball as well.

The 3rd part is hard - all players benefit from taking adderall, the same way all college students do. Of course taking adderall makes it easier for Chris Davis to concentrate at the plate, that's the whole point of the drug.

As many have pointed out, there are a million signs that this is a problem in MLB, the most glaring of which is that baseball players don't really seem interested in the non-amphetamine forms of ADHD medication. Wonder why...

Do the non-amphetamine ones work?

[NJ Ave]

Do the non-amphetamine ones work?

For improving your pitch recognition? I don't know.

[HalfSmokes]

Do the non-amphetamine ones work?

Fatigue is one of the primary side effects - probably not the best for professional athletes

[whytev]

For improving your pitch recognition? I don't know.

I mean for A.D.D.

[Lintyfresh85]

Chris Davis may have a legitimate need for ADHD medication. Who knows. What I know is that (a) MLB has a problem with guys getting prescriptions for amphetamines for performance enhancement and (b) it's impossible to parse which guys have legitimate medical needs or not.

The facts about Chris Davis are the following:

1. Chris Davis got his first ADHD diagnosis and adderall prescription in 2008 as a 22-year old, the first year he entered the majors.
2. Chris Davis lost his Therapeutic Use Exemption because MLB decided he didn't really have a Therapeutic Use.
3. He took it again because, in his words, he couldn't see the ball as well.

The 3rd part is hard - all players benefit from taking adderall, the same way all college students do. Of course taking adderall makes it easier for Chris Davis to concentrate at the plate, that's the whole point of the drug.

As many have pointed out, there are a million signs that this is a problem in MLB, the most glaring of which is that baseball players don't really seem interested in the non-amphetamine forms of ADHD medication. Wonder why...

Oddly enough as someone with ADD... I actually played better when I didn't take Adderall, using my meds made me think too much.

[Minty Fresh]

Just freaking legalize the crap and move on. 

[Elvir Ovcina]

Article by Ken Rosenthal about Chris Colabello and Daniel Stumpf searching for answers:
http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/chris-colabello-daniel-stumpf-ped-suspensions-positive-drug-tests-051416

They are seeking advice from a group of scientists, researchers, doctors, and experts, trying to figure out why they tested positive. They've asked MLB to run more tests to get a more granular analysis to help determine the cause of the positive. They genuinely sound innocent and trapped. Colabello talks about how he doesn't know what to change about his regimen in order to avoid another positive test, because all his supplements are certified and provided by the Blue Jays staff.

I don't have a scintilla of sympathy for these guys who are shoveling feed bags full of supplements down their gullets and then act shocked - shocked! - when one of their lab creations of a shady, unethical industry contains something banned.  That's like taking corporate PR from a major bank at face value.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Thus reminds me a bit of the Clenbuterol stuff, where it permeates the meat in Mexico and other countries.  Various sports federations have cleared athletes from low level positives, while others get nailed.  IT would not surprise me if there is a trove of positives due to an MLB-approved supplement that in fact is tainted.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

http://velonews.competitor.com/2016/05/news/retests-reveal-31-doping-positives-beijing-olympics_406150

Reanalysis of 454 doping samples from the Beijing Olympics resulted in 31 positive tests across six sports, the International Olympic Committee announced Tuesday.

The sample retesting was targeted at athletes who are likely to compete at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The IOC has initiated disciplinary action against the 31 athletes, who hail from 12 different countries. They will be barred from competing in Rio if the results are upheld.

Read more at http://velonews.competitor.com/2016/05/news/retests-reveal-31-doping-positives-beijing-olympics_406150#zZLcpsVyqbxvD4eA.99

[imref]

Marlon Byrd. 162 game suspension.