[vincesanity82]

Jim Bouton, the former big league pitcher of Ball Four fame, has an interesting idea for how to future-proof baseball against players using the latest and greatest performance-enhancing drugs. From his guest-post on the New York Times' Bats blog:
1. To avoid a continual race with the chemists, they need to ban performance-enhancing drugs not yet invented. How do they do that? Take annual blood samples from the players and keep them for future reference. When the newest performance-enhancing drug is discovered, these samples would be tested and players shown to have taken the drug would pay the price.

2. What kind of price? A lifetime ban from baseball. Why not? Far more games have been illegally impacted by drugs than by gambling. Why give suspensions? Do players accidentally inject themselves with steroids? No. It's a conscious decision to cheat. I say treat performance-enhancing drugs just like gambling. One strike and you're out!

Should MLB Give Cheaters a Lifetime Ban? - FanHouse - AOL Sports Blog

[Lefty Noob]

They should follow the NFL model. A lifetime ban should be an ultimate consequence, not an immediate one.

[EmpireWF]

You can't have a lifetime ban for one failed test. You may not like it but some over the counter substances are tainted and can cause a failed test.

After a third positive test, sure, ban the fool.

[LSC9901]

I know this is just for discussion but the question is way premature and any bans that may even be considered should be on a case by case basis.

[azrael492]

Why are there no repercussions being discussed for doctors that administer these drugs knowing they are banned? What should happen to them?

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by azrael492

Why are there no repercussions being discussed for doctors that administer these drugs knowing they are banned? What should happen to them?

No repercussions? I was under the impression that these guys were going to face criminal charges. Most of them, anyway.

[EmpireWF]

Originally Posted by azrael492

Why are there no repercussions being discussed for doctors that administer these drugs knowing they are banned? What should happen to them?

Bingo! That's a huge issue. Bringing it to pro wrestling for a moment, guys can always find a doctor willing to give them a prescription so they can act like "one of the guys." There will always be a doctor somewhere willing to give the pro athlete something.

But how can you combat that?

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

They should follow the NFL model. A lifetime ban should be an ultimate consequence, not an immediate one.

especially not as a result of just the freakin Mitchell report...

[LSC9901]

Gotta start somewhere.

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

especially not as a result of just the freakin Mitchell report...

[azrael492]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

No repercussions? I was under the impression that these guys were going to face criminal charges. Most of them, anyway.

Who are "these guys". This is what I want to know. Every player is named when a dirty test comes back. Where are the names of the doctors that are administering the drugs. Why are their names not made public? I would really want to know their names to make sure I wasn't a patient. The only one I recall is the one from Florida that got caught in the sting...I can't even remember his name the story was gone so fast.