penalties for drug use

[Big Reed]

I was just wondering if pro sports made the penalties for drug use as stiff as the track and field and olympic communities , would athletes think twice before using supplements?

 

Rodney Harrison is playing in the Super bowl the same year he was suspended for 4 games. Merriman made the pro bowl the year he was suspended . Whereas, Gatlin was suspended for 4 years essentually ending his career. the same with Johnson and Marion Jones.

 

What if baseball and football players were given 4 year suspensions rather than just 4 game and 25 game suspensions? if they knew their careers be on the line, or would come to an end, would they be less motivated to take the juice?

 

I think MLB has a great testing and treatment program. however, I believe the penalties for first time and continued use are very light.

[TooLiveBrew]

The problem for MLB is that the MLBPA has to agree to any such penalties. It was a small miracle that Selig & Co. got the penalties they did, sadly. I'm not sure how it works in the NFL. I'd be all in favor of making the first offense a one-year penalty, with a second offense 5 years, third lifetime ban. Those will probably never happen, though.

[Patrick425]

Rodney Harrison is playing in the Super bowl the same year he was suspended for 4 games. Merriman made the pro bowl the year he was suspended .

This is what kills me. I had no idea that these guys ever tested positive. If it was baseball, you can be sure that the whole world would know.

[brettac1]

The NFL is so far ahead of MLB at the PR game when it comes to PED's that it's not even funny. There's a huge number of guys using HGH and the like in the NFL, and no one even sniffs around it. And when they do, the story lasts for a day and goes away.

[Big Reed]

there was a small blurb two days ago about a buffalo bill being suspended for next season because it was either his third or fourth positive test. but like Ricky Williams, he can always apeal the suspension and come back and play early. When the entire Carolina panthers' defensive line tested positive after their super bowl, nobody cared at all. The year suspension was the first time i had heard the NFL impose such a lengthy suspension for drug /supplement use. then again, Publicity wise, the blurb went so fast as almost an afterthought, i didn't have the opportunity to catch his name and tommorow it will be forgotten.

 

I am proud of the testing now being accomplished in the NFL and MLB, but I believe the penalties should be a lot stiffer. I have to believe if the athlete thought his penalty might jeopardize his career, he might think twice.