The MLB is on the right track in imposing drug testing for international prospects. The league sourced out most of its players from the Dominican Republic where most young athletes train hard hoping for a good job in the majors. However, doping is still a major issue among Dominican baseball players. One of the problems in the country is the availability of performance enhancing drugs which can be purchased anytime from health stores. This is a temptation for some athletes since anabolic steroids and other PED’s can provide them with the strength, bigger physique and endurance. Other PED’s even promise improvement in the skills of the player.

The Baseball America website reported recently that one of the many players aspiring for a slot in the Major League Baseball tested positive for an anabolic steroids. The top prospect Dominican outfielder Edwin Moreno tested for stanozolol which is more popular in the market as Winstrol. This could affect his bid to play in the majors if he will be tested positive again in the second round of testing. The test was also confirmed by his trainer Victor Baez. Three other players under his tutelage also failed the steroid test. They were Hector Veloz from Santiago, a power-hitting third baseman, lefthander Eduardo Ramos from Mao and lefthander Emmanuel DeJesus from San Francisco de Macoris.

However, Baez argued that he did not dope his players. He said that the players took an over the counter supplement from General Nutrition Centers. It was unintentional doping because the substance was not listed as one of the ingredients of the supplement. He admitted that he purchased the protein supplements from the GNC but denied that he injected them with anything like steroids.

Baez also pointed out that he would never do anything that will ruin the career of these young players. “What they’re doing with this kid is really, really unfair. This kid has worked since he was 13 with me to do what he does.” Under the MLB’s registration program, international prospects are subject to age verifications and required to be tested for banned substances. “I have signed 46 players officially. For the record, MLB has never found one fake age or one fake doping test. How can you say that, for my most expensive kid, that I would have him dirty in the doping test? I would be either very stupid or very naive,” added Baez.

It was also reported that 20 of the 40 players eligible to the international signing who registered with the league last month tested positive for performance enhancing drugs. The MLB’s representative to the Dominican operations declined to comment on the issue. Sandy Alderson said that the investigation is not yet complete and the results of the drug test are confidential. These are only made available to the player, parents, general managers and assistant general managers from the team. Baez told the media that he met with the parents of the players who tested positive for anabolic steroids.

Edwin Moreno could be playing with the Mets where a seven figure bonus is waiting for him. Moreno, who is a lefthander, has a wide range of skills. At 6′1″ and 183 pounds, he is considered a good runner and has a good approach to hitting. He might be positioned as a corner outfielder according to some scouts. However, his positive test for Winstrol will forever haunt him once the MLB gave him the chance.

The number of baseball players who made self-confessions is now on the upward trend. Former Phillies Lenny Dykstra was named in a book written by former Washington bureau chief of Forbes magazine Randall Lane. The Phillies player was previously accused of steroid use and was even named in the Mitchell report. But there was no confirmation on his alleged doping until Lane divulged the admission of Dyktsra on his steroid use. According to media reports, Lane was also a former business partner of Dykstra

The book entitled “The Zeroes: My Misadventures in the Decade Wall Street Went Insane” detailed the conversation between Lane and Dykstra sometime in February 2008. Excerpts from the book, which already came out in public, alleged that Dykstra admitted to Lane that he used steroid to improve his performance that help the Phillies into World Series.

It happened in a New York hotel room in February 2008 when Lane asked Dykstra to pay him $250,000. This is in connection with the publication of a magazine Lane was publishing at that time. It was also the time when an inquiry on the rampant steroid use in baseball is being conducted. Dykstra allegedly reacted on the cable news they were watching. “You know, I was like a pioneer for that stuff,” said Dykstra. Lane then asked the baseball player about his remarks. “The juice. I was like the very first to do that. Me and [Jose] Canseco,” Dykstra replied.

As a centerfielder, Dykstra tried to protect his job by relying on steroids. “You gotta understand, there were only 28 people who had my job in the whole world. And thousands of people wanted those jobs, and every year, there were guys trying to take my job.” He also added that he needed to do anything he could to protect his career and be able to take good care of his family’s needs. “Do you have any idea how much money was at stake? Do you?” Dykstra asked Lane.

Dykstra also revealed how easy it was to buy steroids at that time. If a player had a prescription, they can easily purchase steroids from pharmacies. “At first it wasn’t even illegal. Then, after a few years, I had to go to a doctor, and get a prescription. You know how I got my stuff? Just walking into a pharmacy, bro. It was as simple as that,” he said.

It was reported before that Dykstra was already confronted by Lee Thomas, the general manager of the Phillies, on his alleged steroid use. He categorically denied that he has done anything wrong. Thomas said that he has no power to do anything because the players are protected by the Collective Bargaining Agreement. The only thing that they can do is to tell the players not to do anything illegal.

His impressive performance in the National League prompted the Phillies to give him an almost $25 million 4-year contract. Dykstra finished second in the NL MVP voting with leading stats in the hits, walks, at bats and runs. Philly.com also reported that Dykstra was able to set a major league record with 773 plate appearances and had career highs in homers, RBI doubles, stolen bases, on base percentage and slugging percentage. However, in 1994 he was put on the disabled list and only played 84 games for the team. With so many health concerns like appendicitis and back problems, Dykstra was forced to retire at the age of 33.

Now, Lenny Dykstra is no different from Mark McGwire, Alex Rodriguez, Jose Canseco and many baseball players who used steroids to perfect their game.

The man who formerly claimed that he was the largest steroid distributor in central Florida pleaded guilty to one count of felony. He admitted to the charges of possession of steroids with intent to distribute. Richard Andrew Thomas of Lakeland, Fla. was arrested by authorities last year after a raid in his home revealed several anabolic steroids and other prescription drugs like Valium. Several guns were also confiscated by the raiding officers. The anabolic steroids were imported from Slovakia.

The case of Thomas became a controversial one when he boasted that he supplied steroids to several players of the Washington Capitals and Washington Nationals. An inquiry was made but the leagues did not find any evidence that will link their players to Thomas. Players also denied that they purchased anabolic steroids from the Florida supplier.

This month, Thomas received 8 months of prison term plus three years of supervised release after prison. Thomas was also required to participate in a substance abuse program and undergo mandatory drug testing upon his release. According to authorities, the maximum penalty for his offense could reach up to 5 years but the plea agreement reduced the jail term. Thomas also agreed to cooperate with the police in investigating a Chiropractor who was involved allegedly in prescribing anabolic steroids to professional athletes including the Washington Nationals and Capitals players.

Thomas helped the investigators to tape phone calls with Douglas Nagel, a Washington based chiropractor who admitted that he treated several players of Washington Capitals. Thomas alleged that he supplied steroids to Nagel in several occasions. However, Nagel categorically denied that he prescribed illicit drugs to these players. Some of the players who availed the services of the chiropractor include Eric Fehr, Shaone Morrisonn and Matt Bradley. These players also denied that they received anabolic steroids from the doctor.

Nagel was also arrested by deputies from the Polk County in Florida and charged him with 7 counts of solicitation to deliver a controlled substance and a 1 count of conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance. He is expected to appear in the pre-trial this month.

Both the Major League Baseball and the National Hockey League conducted their own investigation on the alleged involved of their players with Thomas and Dr Nagel. Although they have not found any proof that these players used steroids, many are still suspicious. There are already many baseball players and other professional athletes who turn to chiropractors to help them recover from injuries. Most of the times the treatment includes the use of steroids.

The two Minnesota Vikings defensive players will likely enjoy another full season without worrying for 4-game suspension. The NFL’s appeal to expedite the decision on the enforcement of the suspension was denied by the court of appeals. Although the league was able to get a favorable ruling from the Hennepin court about their right to impose sanctions, the imposition of the suspension for Pat and Kevin Williams was still on hold because of pending appeals.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told the AP that the court noted that the NFL has the option to seek review sooner by filing a motion to vacate the trial court’s ruling blocking the suspensions. “We are studying the decision and will decide whether to pursue that option,” Aiello said. But the league may have to wait until the end of the season before they can get what they want.

In the decision of the Court of Appeals, they noted that the NFL has not demonstrated that the case should get higher priority than others. The court also added that it does not involve issues of statewide importance. The pending appeal will not affect both sides when it comes to financial issues.

The AP report estimated that the hearing for the NFL’s appeal could only push through next year. “Under court rules, it could be mid- to late August before both sides have filed their briefs. Then it typically would take another six to eight months for the appeals court to hold oral arguments. The court then would have up to 90 days to issue its decision,” said Steve Karnowski of AP. Pat and Kevin Williams could still play the whole season. And the most interesting part is that Pat Williams is now on his final year in the Vikings. He will be retiring on October. Even if the league wins the case, the sanction will be useless already.

Peter Ginsberg, the lawyer of the Williamses was optimistic that they will win the case. “We are confident that, no matter how many appeals the NFL files and no matter how much litigation the NFL pursues, the results will not change,” he said. One of the main issues raised by the Vikings players is the alleged violation of the Minnesota laws. The two players took Starcaps, a weight loss supplement. However, it contains a banned ingredient butenamide which can mask the use of steroids. The ingredient was not disclosed on the label but the league maintained its position that the players are responsible for whatever they are taking.

The league imposed a 4-game suspension on the defensive players but it was put on hold because of so many appeals and counter-charges filed by the Williamses. The suspension was supposed to be enforced in December 2008. The court battle between the two camps has made the Starcaps case a major issue in the league. According to profootballtalk.com, the meeting last week between NFL officials and WADA representatives could be centered on the league’s steroid policy. Under WADA rules, athletes caught using diuretics are allowed to explain before imposing sanctions while the NFL imposes an automatic suspension from the game.

Pat Williams and Kevin Williams were not the only players who used the Starcap supplement. Deuce McAllister, Jamar Nesbit, Will Smith and Charles Grant were also tested positive for the substance butenamide and they also received 4-game suspension. Some of them filed a lawsuit against the manufacturer of Starcaps for not disclosing all the ingredients contained in the product.

Baseball slugger Barry Bonds has proven that the federal prosecutors will be having a hard time pursuing the perjury case against him. At this time, it can be considered as a right decision for Bonds not to plead guilty on the charges filed against him. The perjury case was based on the allegation that Barry Bonds lied to a federal grand jury during an inquiry in 2003. Bonds testified that he did not use or inject any performance enhancing drugs during the time when he was breaking home run records.

Prosecutors were able to present evidences but the district court ruled that some of the evidences are inadmissible. The prosecutors appealed the case but the ruling favors Bonds and remanded the case to the lower court. Last Friday, the option left for the prosecutors to ask the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reconsider its decision already lapses.

Though they have gathered these evidences from the key people involved in the alleged doping of Barry Bonds, the court ruled that it cannot be used in court without the presence of Bonds’ trainer, Greg Anderson. The trainer already refused to testify against Bonds and even accepted a jail term for his refusal. Other evidences that the prosecutors have were the alleged 3 steroid positive tests from 2000 and 2001.

Now that the prosecutors did not request for reconsideration, the case is expected to go on trial. This is the first option for them but with the evidences that they have it will surely put too much burden for them to put the slugger into jail. Bonds’ lawyers are confident that they can win the case if it proceeds to trial in the lower court. According to the lawyers, the hearing could proceed sometime in July under Judge Susan Illston of San Francisco District court.

The last option for the prosecutors is to drop off the perjury case against Barry Bonds. This could finally end the court battle which already lasted for a couple of years. According to media reports, the federal prosecutors declined to comment on the case or give any information on their next legal action. It will be known when they meet again in July. For the meantime, Bonds can have a respite from this case and wait for more positive news about the case when the trial begins.

Bonds was charged with 10 counts of perjury and 1 count of obstructing justice for allegedly lying to a federal grand jury in December 2003 about his use of steroids. He pleaded not guilty on these charges. The trial was set on March 2009 but judge Illston barred the inclusion of crucial evidences presented by the prosecutors.

The long list proving Bonds used anabolic steroids include the allege positive tests and syringes used to inject steroids (which were contested by Bond’s lawyers saying that those were fabricated evidences) journals, testimonies from other baseball players, testimony of BALCO former Vice President James Valente, and the testimony of Bonds’ former mistress.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. asked for an Olympic style blood testing to know if Manny Pacquiao is really using any performance enhancing drug like steroids. The first talks between the two camps failed because of unsettled testing terms. The Mayweather camp started the allegation that Manny Pacquiao is using steroids. However, up to this time, the Mayweather camp can’t even provide proof that the current boxer of the decade is taking PED’s.

The negotiation is again opened between the two camps but it seems that the fight will not happen soon. Pacquiao already agreed on the Olympic style blood testing as requested by Floyd Mayweather Jr. but the later said in an interview that he wants to take a break from boxing for awhile. Boxing experts believe that aside from the specific terms of the blood testing, another problem for the two camps is who will receive a bigger share in the fight.

If the two boxers agrees on the Olympic style blood testing, can we say that they are really clean of any performance enhancing drug? The former BALCO owner who developed many designer steroids believes otherwise. Floyd and Manny could still beat the Olympic style testing if they know what to do. In the interview of the BoxingScene’s Leave It In The Ring radio show, Victor Conte shared his views on the Floyd-Manny fight and the issue of using anabolic steroids in boxing.

Conte said that the random Olympic style blood testing can be easily circumvented if the boxers know how to deal with them. Before his conviction in the BALCO case, Conte supplied many professional athletes with designer steroids and human growth hormones including Shane Mosley and Olympian track and field athlete Marion Jones. Some of his prescribed performance enhancer is EPO. He said that EPO can be used without being detected during drug test.

In the world of cycling, many cyclists including Floyd Landis and Armstrong allegedly went on to compete in world championships without being detected for EPO. So, the statement of Conte could be true. The Examiner quoted Allan Spencer of Philly saying Conte is more reliable than the USADA or the NSAC when it comes PED’s because he doesn’t have a vested interest in how testing in the sport plays out. “The USADA aren’t credible because they want the business and the NSAC want to remain in control,” he added.

In Conte’s opinion, the success of both fighters in climbing into different weight classes is highly suspicious. “Going up that many weight divisions and not only maintaining but increasing the strength and power. It’s just not something you see. Is he possibly just a genetic freak? I guess that’s possible, but its certainly highly suspicious.”

The training that the boxers were doing to make them leaner but with great skills were something to look at. “Moving up five or six weight classes and becoming faster and more powerful, yet [staying] very lean. Without the use of performance enhancing drugs….just the stories I hear alone about training for five or six hours a day….you just can’t do that,” said Conte.

Although the Olympic style blood testing is considered as the world’s most advanced method in detecting anabolic steroids and other performance enhancing drugs, it is not yet 100% effective. The NSAC’s implementation of steroid testing, on the other hand, is more of a ‘for show and tell only’ according to Conte.