Say it ain't so - Rafael Palmeiro suspended for steroid use

[pchang]

10 days. Can they get him for lying to Congress?

[Imran Siddiqui]

Probably... if they wanted. But then you'd have to prove he intentionally took them rather than inadvertant and it'd be a mess.

[gjramsey]

and poof goes the Hall of Fame possibility for Raffy

[DanS]

This is getting lots of play hereabouts. It's a very interesting development, coming so soon after 3,000 hits and the congressional testimony.

[Guynemer]

Shameful.

[Guynemer]

And there goes that Viagra endorsement.

[snoopy369]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Probably... if they wanted. But then you'd have to prove he intentionally took them rather than inadvertant and it'd be a mess.

Actually you'd have to prove that he knew he had taken them, and that it occured before the hearing.


It really depends primarily on the date of the test - if the test was pre-hearing, or post. It is presumably post-hearing, but it was long before now (the announcement came after an arbitrator ruled that the player, i.e. Palmeiro, did not have enough proof that he didn't knowingly or negligibly take steriods; the suspension was secretly enforced a while ago - but not announced (yet) how long ago.) He probably was told about it immediately after the test, or close to the date of the test at least.

However, the House is unlikely to prosecute one of their staunchest allies in the public fight against steriod use. They'll simply write this off as an 'accident' and he'll say a few things about how he's appalled that his supplement contained such things, that his doctor didn't do his job or something, that rules should be in place to prevent future mistakes by others, and it'll be all over ...

Too bad he only gets 10 days. I'd like to see half season suspensions to start with, even for 'accidental' users. You're payed $X million a year and can't take the time to ask your doctor to check your supplements?

[asleepathewheel]

Originally posted by Guynemer
And there goes that Viagra endorsement.

Why? One would think that Viagra would court the roidheads. Maybe not too openly though.

[Anaximander]

He'll still make the Hall of Fame....eventually. I don't think he was a first balleter before this scandal but his numbers are good enough to get him in on the second or third round and the steroids stigma won't bother that many of the voters.

[pchang]

It will be interesting to see the vote counts in 5 years or so.

[Imran Siddiqui]

He'll still make the Hall of Fame....eventually.

Ditto.

[asleepathewheel]

Will Clark
Rafael Palmeiro

[Winston]

10 days, that's ridiculous.

2 year suspension for first time offense, suspension for life on second offense is how it should be.

Of course this is presuming we are serious about wanting to get rid of performance enhancers in sports...

[The Emperor Fabulous]

He goes on Suspension on a Monday

The last day to switch players on our rosters is Sunday

I lose him for the entire week

[asleepathewheel]

yup. 10 days should really be 10 games, at a minimum. I like the Bud Selig 50 games, year, lifetime ban proposal much more than the current wrist slap.