injuryupdate
03-08-2005, 04:31 PM
The background to the pro sports in Australia being forced to sign WADA is that GWB, whilst on the phone telling Johnnie Howard to send more troops to Iraq, asked little Johnnie to make sure the Aussie pro sports signed up to WADA as part of GWB's "Zero tolerance on drugs in sport". Little Johnnie of course obliged by threatening to remove all funding for aboriginal AFL and rugby league programs if the AFL and NRL didn't sign up and lo and behold, the football codes in Australia eventually rolled over.
What is happening in the good old U S of A, where George W. is on his "drugs in sport" crusade. One of his 'mates' has just tested positive for anabolic steroids, and, because he has said that he didn't take them intentionally, he has received a TEN DAY suspension!!!! That's right, you read it here correctly, he has been suspended for TEN DAYS for testing positive for anabolic steroids. Seems like our leagues, where you soon be copping 3-6 months for an unregistered Ventolin puffer, are going to be a little bit tougher than Major League Baseball. Of course, GWB believes his mate because he has told him "I didn't mean to take them".
Read more (from Fox Sports):
Cheat given Dubya's approval
From correspondents in Washington
August 3, 2005
US President George W. Bush has defended his long-time friend Rafael Palmeiro - the professional baseball player suspended for using performance-enhancing drugs.
President Bush said he is convinced by Palmeiro's assertions that he never intentionally used steroids.
"Rafael Palmeiro is a friend. He testified in public and I believe him," Bush said in an interview published today in several Texas newspapers.
"He's the kind of person that's going to stand up in front of the klieg lights and say he didn't use steroids, and I believe him. Still do," the US president said.
Bush's friendship with Palmeiro dates back to the early 1990's when he was a managing partner for the Texas Rangers and Palmeiro a player with the team.
Palmeiro, 40, is one of several professional athletes who in March of this year testified under oath before a US congressional committee that he had never taken steroids.
But the Cuba-born first baseman is the seventh player and first major baseball star to receive a steroid ban under a new policy agreed upon by owners and the players' union earlier this year - one that was harshly criticized by the US Congress as being too lax.
In a statement released yesterday after the suspension was announced, Palmeiro changed his claim to say he never "intentionally" has taken steroids.
Palmeiro received a ten-day suspension after failing the steroids test.
Barely two weeks ago he was hailed a hero in his sport for becoming one of only four players to have 3,000 career hits and 500 home runs.
Lawmakers in Congress expressed dismay at the news of Palmeiro's failed drug test, and suggested it may lead to serious legal repercussions for the baseball star, who could face perjury charges if a probe reveals that he lied to Congress.
"It's an unfortunate and sad day for baseball," said Representative Danny Davis yesterday (AEST), a Democrat on the House Reform Committee that questioned Palmeiro, as well as baseball stars Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Frank Thomas and others about steroid use.
Said Robert White, a spokesman for the committee: "If true, this is disheartening news for those of us who believed Mr. Palmeiro was a key ally in our efforts to rid sports of performance-enhancing drugs."
The panel's top Democrat, Henry Waxman issued a statement saying he was "surprised, disappointed and saddened" by the revelation.
"The positive test raises many questions for Mr. Palmeiro and baseball," Waxman said.
Agence France-Presse
What is happening in the good old U S of A, where George W. is on his "drugs in sport" crusade. One of his 'mates' has just tested positive for anabolic steroids, and, because he has said that he didn't take them intentionally, he has received a TEN DAY suspension!!!! That's right, you read it here correctly, he has been suspended for TEN DAYS for testing positive for anabolic steroids. Seems like our leagues, where you soon be copping 3-6 months for an unregistered Ventolin puffer, are going to be a little bit tougher than Major League Baseball. Of course, GWB believes his mate because he has told him "I didn't mean to take them".
Read more (from Fox Sports):
Cheat given Dubya's approval
From correspondents in Washington
August 3, 2005
US President George W. Bush has defended his long-time friend Rafael Palmeiro - the professional baseball player suspended for using performance-enhancing drugs.
President Bush said he is convinced by Palmeiro's assertions that he never intentionally used steroids.
"Rafael Palmeiro is a friend. He testified in public and I believe him," Bush said in an interview published today in several Texas newspapers.
"He's the kind of person that's going to stand up in front of the klieg lights and say he didn't use steroids, and I believe him. Still do," the US president said.
Bush's friendship with Palmeiro dates back to the early 1990's when he was a managing partner for the Texas Rangers and Palmeiro a player with the team.
Palmeiro, 40, is one of several professional athletes who in March of this year testified under oath before a US congressional committee that he had never taken steroids.
But the Cuba-born first baseman is the seventh player and first major baseball star to receive a steroid ban under a new policy agreed upon by owners and the players' union earlier this year - one that was harshly criticized by the US Congress as being too lax.
In a statement released yesterday after the suspension was announced, Palmeiro changed his claim to say he never "intentionally" has taken steroids.
Palmeiro received a ten-day suspension after failing the steroids test.
Barely two weeks ago he was hailed a hero in his sport for becoming one of only four players to have 3,000 career hits and 500 home runs.
Lawmakers in Congress expressed dismay at the news of Palmeiro's failed drug test, and suggested it may lead to serious legal repercussions for the baseball star, who could face perjury charges if a probe reveals that he lied to Congress.
"It's an unfortunate and sad day for baseball," said Representative Danny Davis yesterday (AEST), a Democrat on the House Reform Committee that questioned Palmeiro, as well as baseball stars Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Frank Thomas and others about steroid use.
Said Robert White, a spokesman for the committee: "If true, this is disheartening news for those of us who believed Mr. Palmeiro was a key ally in our efforts to rid sports of performance-enhancing drugs."
The panel's top Democrat, Henry Waxman issued a statement saying he was "surprised, disappointed and saddened" by the revelation.
"The positive test raises many questions for Mr. Palmeiro and baseball," Waxman said.
Agence France-Presse