ÿþ<html> <head> <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1"> <title>OnlineColumnist&reg;.com: Duke's Damage Control</title> <meta name="generator" content="Adobe GoLive 4"> <style type="text/css"> .style1 { font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; } </style> </head> <body bgcolor="white" vlink="black"> <center> <table cool width="624" height="2719" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" gridx="16" showgridx gridy="16" showgridy> <tr height="79"> <td width="116" height="118" rowspan="2" valign="top" align="left" xpos="0"><a href="aboutdiscobolos.html"><img height="110" width="62" src="images/discobolos.logo.transp.gif" border="0"></a></td> <td width="24" height="118" rowspan="2"></td> <td width="465" height="79" colspan="2" valign="top" align="left" xpos="140"><img height="75" width="450" src="images/banner.GIF"></td> <td width="18" height="118" rowspan="2"></td> <td width="1" height="79"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="79"></td> </tr> <tr height="39"> <td width="182" height="39"></td> <td width="283" height="39" valign="top" align="left" xpos="322"><a href="aboutdiscobolos.html"><img height="14" width="267" src="images/divisionofNEW.GIF" border="0"></a></td> <td width="1" height="39"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="39"></td> </tr> <tr height="26"> <td width="624" height="26" colspan="6" valign="top" align="left" xpos="0"> <table border="0" width="100%" bgcolor="black" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td> <table border="0" width="100%" bgcolor="#99ffcc" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="4"> <tr> <td align="center"> <div align="left"> <a href="index.html"><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><strong>HOME</strong></font></a><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><strong> &#149; <a href="articlesindex.html">ARTICLES</a> &#149; <a href="books.html">BOOKS</a> &#149; <a href="teflon.html">THE </a><a href="teflon.html">TEFLON</a><a href="teflon.html"> REPORT</a> &#149; <a href="mailto:letters@onlinecolumnist.com">REACTIONS</a> &#149; <a href="aboutdiscobolos.html">ABOUT DISCOBOLOS</a></strong></font></div> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> <tr height="1"> <td width="116" height="2574" rowspan="2" valign="top" align="left" xpos="0"><img height="172" width="111" src="images/johninframe3.jpg"></td> <td width="489" height="1" colspan="3"></td> <td width="18" height="2574" rowspan="2"></td> <td width="1" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="1"></td> </tr> <tr height="2573"> <td width="489" height="2573" colspan="3" align="left" xpos="116" content valign="top" csheight="2573"> <font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="5"><b> <br /> Manny&#39;s Unpardonable Sin</b></font><p><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"><b>by John M. Curtis<br> (310) 204-8700</b><br> </font></p> <p><font size="2" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"><i>Copyright May 14, 2009<br> All Rights Reserved.</i></font></p> <p><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span class="style1">S</span>uspending Los Angeles Dodgers 36-year-old superstar Manny Ramirez May 7 for 50 games for testing positive for a banned substance, Major League Baseball violated any test of fairness or reasonableness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>When steroids erupted on baseball scene Feb. 14, 2005 with retired Oakland A s right-fielder Jose Canseco s controversial book<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> Juiced, MLB reluctantly admitted the problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> Canseco was slammed by former players for besmirching reputations of numerous ballplayers, including San Franciso Giant&#39;s homerun king Barry Bonds, retired St. Louis Cardinal s basher Mark McGwire, Texas Rangers ace Roger Clemmons and retired Baltimore Oriole slugger Rafael Palmeiro, to name a few.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>While all denied abusing steroids, Canseco s revelations have proven true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Despite the denials, Palmeiro tested positive and was suspended Aug. 1, 2005 by MLB for 10 games, a more measured punishment.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Ramirez tested positive in April for Human Chorionic Gonadotropin [hCG], a hormone given to women for weight loss and more recently fertility problems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> It s a dark day for baseball and certainly for this organization, said Dodger general manager Nick Colletti, accepting MLB s harsh verdict, banning Manny until July 3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> This organization will never condone anything that isn t clean, underscoring the slippery slope of hormones and nutritional supplements commonly taken to reduce injuries and improve health for professional athletes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>In Babe Ruth s day, keeping  clean meant eating hotdogs and drinking beer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Technological advances in nutritional science and exercise physiology have improved athletes health and longevity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> Media reports frequently call hormones and nutritional supplements  performance enhancing drugs but lack scientific proof.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>No scientific evidence exists proving that hormones and nutritional supplements increase strength, speed and hand-eye coordination necessary to improved performance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Ramirez didn t use the so-called  clear developed by BALCO, more closely related to Clomid, a commonly used fertility drug that boosts testosterone levels in men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Ramirez indicated he was prescribed hCG by a physician to treat erectile dysfunction, a personal problem for which he was given treatment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> Recently I saw a physician for a personal health issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>He gave me a medication, not a steroid, which he thought was OK to give me, said Ramirez after testing positive for elevated testosterone levels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>HCG, like the  clear,&quot; is known to boost testosterone, the male hormone associated with verility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Bodybuilders and power-lifter have experimented with various supplements to boost male sex hormone.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>MLB only recently implemented a zero-tolerance steroid policy under heavy pressure from Congress, threatening tough new legislation should self-policing not have any teeth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Congress meant for MLB to implement a responsible enforcement program not for overkill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Suspending Manny 50 games far exceeds anything envisioned by Congress or any other anti-doping body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>While there s nothing wrong with implementing a tough anti-drug policy, there s something terribly wrong with scapegoating one player.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Punishments should be commensurate with the extent of the crime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Ramirez was under doctors orders when he took the hCG for what he said was a personal medical problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>As long as steroids, precursors, supplements and super-foods are legally prescribed, players should be allowed to follow medical advice, unless strictly prohibited.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Manny has been treated worse than if he tested positive for heroin, cocaine or methamphetamine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> Boosting testosterone with exercise or nutritional supplements should not b e banned under MLB anti-doping policy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Former St. Louis Cardinal slugger Mark McGwire routinely used androstendione, a legally sold supplement designed to boost male sex hormone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; It&#39;s unrealistic to ban </span> technologically sophisticated exercise or nutritional programs, since each athlete decides what to eat and how hard to work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>If players with autoimmune diseases, e.g., lupus and fibromyalgia, take steroids under medical supervision, it currently violates today s ban.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> Taking harmless supplements or hormones to boost testosterone levels doesn t put other players on an uneven playing field.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>All ballplayers should be allowed to following the advice of doctors, execicise or health professionals.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Suspending Manny for 50 games goes over the top in MLB s quest to implement a reasonable and fair anti-doping policy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Beefing up muscles with technologically advanced exercise equipment or nutritional routines should be a personal choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Taking upplements or hormones to boost testosterone or any other drug or hormone should be left to athletes and their medical doctors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> I want to apologize to Mr. McCourt, Mr. Torre, my teammates, the Dodger Organization and to the Dodger fans, Manny read in a prepared statement to the media.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> LA is a special place to me, and I know everybody is disappointed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>So am I.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>I m sorry about this whole situation, hoping the organization and fans would show forgiveness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>MLB should stop scapegoating ballplayers and revisit its current overkill anti-drug policy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Punishments should fit the crimes not prevailing riptides of public opinion.</p> <p><u><b>About the Author</b></u></p> <p><b>John M. Curtis</b> writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news.&nbsp; He&#39;s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of <a href="books.html">Dodging The Bullet </a>and <a href="books.html">Operation Charisma</a>.<u><br> </p> <p></p> </td> <td width="1" height="2573"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="2573"></td> </tr> <tr height="1" cntrlrow> <td width="116" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="116" height="1"></td> <td width="24" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="24" height="1"></td> <td width="182" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="182" height="1"></td> <td width="283" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="283" height="1"></td> <td width="18" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="18" height="1"></td> <td width="1" height="1"></td> </tr> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="2" width="597"> <tr> <td><font size="1" face="Arial,Geneva,Helvetica"> <hr noshade size="1"> </font><a href="index.html"><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><strong>Home</strong></font></a><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><strong> || <a href="articlesindex.html">Articles</a> || <a href="books.html">Books</a> || <a href="teflon.html">The Teflon Report</a> || <a href="mailto:letters@onlinecolumnist.com">Reactions</a> || <a href="aboutdiscobolos.html">About Discobolos</a></strong></font> <div align="left"> <p><font size="1" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular">This site designed, developed and hosted by the experts at</font><font size="2" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"> <a href="http://www.cmeonline.net" target="_blank"><img height="30" width="138" src="images/cmelogoANIM.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"></a></font></p> </div> <p><font size="2" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular">&copy;1999-2002 <a href="aboutdiscobolos.html">Discobolos Consulting Services, Inc.</a><br> (310) 204-8300<br> All Rights Reserved. </font></td> </tr> </table> </center> </body> </html>