My essay on BALCO, Steroids in Sport

[Millard Baker]

Let me know what you think...

http://www.mesomorphosis.com/newsletters/2004/12/06.htm

[Grizzly]

Not bad, man. What are you going to do with it? Certainly you intend upon sending it somewhere besides to us sympathetic people on the meso mailing list.

[MaxRep]

Well thought out. Perhaps it should go to editors of the editorial pages across the nation?

MaxRep

[Millard Baker]

I wrote it for the site and really haven't thought about distributing it elsewhere...

[Millard Baker]

You think? I thought it was too 'subversive' for any other place. Even people who think AAS use should be legalized still aren't too supportive of medically-supervised doping in sports.

But I will definitely consider doing this - at least it'll make me feel better

[MaxRep]

Originally Posted by administrator

You think? I thought it was too 'subversive' for any other place. Even people who think AAS use should be legalized still aren't too supportive of medically-supervised doping in sports.

But I will definitely consider doing this - at least it'll make me feel better

You may need to tone it down and shorten it to 1-2 succinct points but I think you're on the right track. Posting it only here is good but preaching to the choir.

MaxRep

[Bob Smith]

Good article.

There was a discussion on my local radio channel tonight about drugs in sports and whether the govt should get involved. Have any of you ever wanted to reach through the tv/radio/phone and want to slap someone for being so stupid? Thats how I felt on my entire drive home. Holy crap the things that people think!

[J DUB]

This is exactly the problem with this site. Admin, you are obviously a smart guy and know a lot about steroid laws, history, use, etc. Why not use this knowledge to actually try to make a change, as change will never happen if our ranting is confined to this board. Every time someone writes a bullshit article about steroids, e-mail them and let them know they are wrong and provide proof when possible. Be as active as possible.

In light of recent occurrences on this board, in the media, and the government, it is time that we fight back and make our voices heard, because as of now for every person who advocates or at least isn't bothered by steroid use, there are probably 1,000,000 (at least) who consider it evil just like heroin. They don't believe this from any rational approach, but rather from an indoctrination process created by the government and media. Hopefully this will change someday, but unless we start expanding beyond this board and getting our side of the story out there it never will and we will continue to go to prison and have our lives ruined by these laws.

[Millard Baker]

Well, thanks J DUB!

And yes, I agree with the need to be more vocal. Send letters and emails to editors and journalists. But don't be discouraged if they don't respond much less publish your letter. I've only written 1-2 dozen such letters with only one response (the sportswriter from the NY Times). OTOH, letters of support to journalists who share my point of view tend to always reply.

[Millard Baker]

Originally Posted by J DUB

Every time someone writes a bullshit article about steroids, e-mail them and let them know they are wrong and provide proof when possible. Be as active as possible.

Please do me a favor: post all such articles on AAS in this forum. I'll try to do the same. The more help we can get at tracking down the blatantly ignorant AAS propaganda, the better. I know we've been flooded with it recently, so please post the worst offenders.

[J DUB]

Don't worry, that is my plan. Hopefully others will help out too, as I don't think me and you can catch all the bad articles. The one you posted about the freshman girls, however, is going to be tough to beat.

[Duckhombre]

Journalists are making laws, there not looking to put you in jail, send it to your national, state and local representives. Let them know your a registered voter. Those are the people that need change their veiws.

[J DUB]

While I agree that the vast majority of elite Olympians use steroids, I am afraid that your argument for medically supervised doping will fall on deaf ears. In all honesty, I don't like the idea of steroids in sports, but it is in fact a reality today. While some sports like basketball are unaffected by steroid use, others like weightlifting (oly), track, and baseball are affected by the use of PED's.

While, as you argue, allowing steroid use would probably level the playing field since even with them being banned a few (or many) find ways to circumvent the tests, I don't think allowing steroid use in sports is the moral or practical answer. It is not the moral answer because kids should not feel like they have to use steroids to run a world record 100m dash. The last thing I want to hear my kid say someday is that he or she can't wait to get some juice so he or she can compete at an elite level. It is not the practical answer because let's face it, this will never happen.

What I think we are faced with is a comprimise that we need to find a way to achieve. The legislators, lobbysists, and media are primarily interested in teens and athletes, especially teen-athletes, who use steroids. The laws were created to prevent these two groups of people from using steroids, not a 30 year old gym rat who wants to gain a few pounds. However, the laws as they stand create a dragnet that excludes noone from them since steroids are controlled substances just like morphine and heroin, and thus the 30 year old Joe Shmoe is a criminal just as much as the Olympian who takes them.

Caffeine is a substance that is prohibited in most athletic competitions above certain levels, but is perfectly acceptable for use by the general public. Can we not push for steroids to be non-controlled, but prescription, drugs for the general public yet banned substances in sporting organizations? I think so, and I think this is what we are faced with. This would certainly make me happy, as it would prevent a normal guy with a job and family from being a convicted felon for using steroids. Any thoughts on this?

[Deacon]

excellent post bro and well written! send it to 20/20

[Millard Baker]

Originally Posted by J DUB

While I agree that the vast majority of elite Olympians use steroids, I am afraid that your argument for medically supervised doping will fall on deaf ears.

My proposal for medically supervised doping will likely be dismissed as you suggest. But it is still the right thing to do and the most practical solution.

Originally Posted by J DUB

It is not the moral answer because kids should not feel like they have to use steroids to run a world record 100m dash.

Children have nothing to do with the argument. There are many adult behaviors that we do not want our children to engage, but it's offensive to me to suggest that we should legislatively prevent adults from engaging in those behaviors... just so our children won't do them.

Originally Posted by J DUB

It is not the practical answer because let's face it, this will never happen.

It is the practical answer because it's the only one that will work.

Originally Posted by J DUB

The legislators, lobbysists, and media are primarily interested in teens and athletes, especially teen-athletes, who use steroids. The laws were created to prevent these two groups of people from using steroids, not a 30 year old gym rat who wants to gain a few pounds.

I disagree with you completely. These people rarely care about the children -the "protect the children" defense is always used by bureaucrats who wish to legislate morality and absolve responsibility from the parents to the government.

And athletes, please name all the pro athletes that have been criminally prosecuted for AAS use in the history of sports in the United States. NO one truly cares that athletes use AAS.

It's almost inevitably the recreational user of AAS that is affected by the AAS laws.

Quite honestly, it seems a stronger case can be made for pro athletes using AAS than non-competitors...

Using AAS because your ability to perform earns you millions and you want to be the best in the world at your event/position?

Or using AAS becasue you want to look a little better, be a little hornier, and lift a little more, in spite of the fact your income is <50K and not dependent on your AAS use?

Hmmm....