[Phils20]

Holy crap folks...

Very dissapointing.

I'm posting the article, and highlighting some spots.

Opinions? I'm usually pretty firm about players breaking the rules, but it does seem something is amiss here.

I won't complain about it, but I do think this is a bit screwy.

Phils' Romero denies wrongdoing on eve of suspension

By Phil Sheridan
Inquirer Columnist
An anguished J.C. Romero wanted to tell his side of the story before Major League Baseball announces his 50-game suspension today. Once that happens, he knows, people will assume he's just another big-leaguer who had to cheat to compete. "One thing I'm going to say, I'm a man and I'm accountable for my actions," the Phillies reliever said in a telephone interview. "If I'm guilty of something, you know what? I will face it. But I'm not guilty, and I'm not letting people that don't really know me judge me over something and accuse me of something that I didn't do."
Romero's situation is much more complicated than MLB's curt boilerplate announcement will acknowledge. He was not accused or found guilty of knowingly using a banned, performance-enhancing substance. Baseball and Romero agree that he used only an over-the-counter supplement he bought in a retail store in Cherry Hill. Romero is being suspended for 50 games and losing about $1.25 million in salary because, an arbitrator ruled, he was "negligent" in not knowing what was in the supplement.
Most players, when suspended, release a statement acknowledging their mistake and apologizing to their teammates, their organization, baseball and the fans. In the current highly charged environment, where MLB has been embarrassed by Congress for its years-long failure to police itself, many players fear repercussions if they speak out.
Not Romero, the 33-year-old lefthanded reliever who won two World Series games for the Phillies - including the title-clinching Game 5. He feels he owes it to himself, his family and his teammates to explain how this suspension came about.
"If people are intimidated because Major League [Baseball] is a big organization, so be it," Romero said. "But they are not going to make an example of me thinking that I'm just a [dumb] Puerto Rican. It's not going to happen. It's not the way I'm built.
"For me to keep my mouth shut? That's not the right thing to do. If they want to bump me out of the game, so be it. What am I going to do, just sit back and take it? When I know in my heart I'm innocent? That doesn't fly well with me and it doesn't fly well in my house, either."
Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. declined to comment on Romero last night. A spokesman for Major League Baseball also would not comment.

A new supplement

Romero said he went to the store to look for a supplement in July, the time of year he typically starts weight training again. He went to the shelf where his usual supplement was stocked and noticed a new product, 6-OXO Extreme, next to it. Because the familiar supplement required him to take eight large pills a day, he was intrigued by the other product. The Major League Baseball Players' Association has told players that supplements purchased in U.S. retail stores should be safe and within the guidelines of baseball's drug-testing program. The union acknowledged giving that advice in a letter it sent out to players and their advisers in November. That letter, which arrived too late to help Romero, informed players that three over-the-counter supplements were found to create positive tests under baseball's drug program.
In July, Romero showed the new supplement to Phillies strength coach Dong Lien, who recommended that Romero get a second opinion before using it. Romero then showed it to his personal nutritionist, "the guy I've been working with since I've been in major-league baseball," Romero said.
That nutritionist checked the product's label and saw nothing on MLB's banned list. Romero began taking the supplement at that point.
Meanwhile, according to the arbitrator's report, Lien sent a sample of the supplement to MLB for testing. The tests showed the supplement contained a substance that could result in a positive drug test. A copy of those results was sent to commissioner Bud Selig's office in July.
Considering it was the first time a banned substance was found in an FDA-regulated, over-the-counter supplement - one available to every major-leaguer and millions of youths - that should have sounded alarms. But no one from MLB, the players' association or the Phillies told Romero that there was a problem with the supplement.
So where was the negligence? With Romero? With Lien? With MLB? With a union that told Romero and other Latin players they could trust products in U.S. stores such as Vitamin Shoppe (where Romero purchased the supplement) or GNC?
On Aug. 26, Romero gave a urine sample for a routine random drug test. On Sept. 19, during a road trip to Miami, he submitted another sample for a random test. It was not until four days later - after being tested randomly a second time - that Romero was told the Aug. 26 sample tested positive for a banned substance. He said he immediately stopped using the supplement.
According to sources close to Romero, baseball then offered the pitcher a deal. He could accept a 25-game suspension, beginning immediately, or face a longer suspension in 2009 after going through an arbitration process. Romero declined the deal for three reasons.
First, he believed accepting the suspension meant acknowledging wrongdoing. Second, he was hearing from union attorneys that the circumstances made it seem likely that he would win at arbitration. Third, the suspension would have prevented Romero from playing in the postseason.
"It wasn't a tough decision to make at all," Romero said. "I knew I wasn't going to accept that. Me accepting a 25-game suspension meant I was guilty of something. I knew in my heart I wasn't guilty."
Arbitration during Series
MLB scheduled his two-day arbitration hearing in Tampa, Fla., before the first two games of the World Series. So Romero had to go to the hearing in the morning and then report to Tropicana Field to prepare for the biggest games of his life. Somehow, he managed to pitch very well in four World Series appearances, earning the wins in Games 3 and 5.
"Only God can do something like that," Romero said. "My faith. I knew in my heart I was innocent. It was my dream to be in the World Series. So I kind of separated the two of them. Early in the morning before I got to the field was a nightmare, but once I got to the field I was all about baseball."
Romero got the impression from players' association lawyers that the hearings went very well for him and that he would likely get off with a warning. Clearly, he had taken a supplement he believed was OK and MLB seemed to grasp that.
"They knew the intention wasn't there, " Romero said. "They knew I wasn't taking steroids. They continued to pursue the fact that they thought it was negligence to not send my supplements in and going with my nutritionist, the guy I've been working with since I've been in major-league baseball. They made a big issue of that."
Romero became caught up in two separate subplots beyond his control or understanding. Baseball, because of its embarrassing mishandling of the steroid issue in the 1990s, is under pressure to catch cheaters and create the impression it has improved its policing techniques. At the same time, the FDA has had enormous enforcement issues with federal laws regarding the ingredients in over-the-counter supplements.

The supplement's creator

Here is where Patrick Arnold comes in. The man who first brought androstenedione to the U.S. marketplace and was the chemist behind the development of THG - the designer steroid distributed by Balco - also runs a major supplement business called ErgoPharm. Arnold created and marketed the supplement Romero was using. In an e-mail exchange, Arnold said there was nothing in his supplement that should have created a positive drug test.
"We have funded two independent clinical studies (one done at Baylor University) that have been peer reviewed," Arnold wrote. "These studies demonstrated the efficacy and safety of the product. We also have funded studies that have demonstrated the compound's compliance with FDA regulation. Furthermore, we funded another study at [the University of Illinois] in Chicago using classical protocols that demonstrated that 6-OXO is absolutely not an anabolic steroid."
Andro, which first drew notice when it was spotted in Mark McGwire's locker, can generate positive test results because of metabolites similar to those created by use of the steroid Nandralone. Arnold said that should not happen with his supplement. It is not clear what baseball or the players' union found in their testing of the supplement.
What is clear is that Romero is being suspended, not for shooting steroids into his backside like the players whom baseball chose to ignore for a generation. He is being suspended for not knowing the chemical composition of a very sophisticated over-the-counter supplement he bought in a mall in Cherry Hill.
It looks as if MLB, the players' union and the Phillies' staff were at least as negligent as Romero, but none of them are being punished.
"Having people who don't know me criticize me, it's kind of sad," Romero said. "I've been exhausted for the last 21/2 months. I'm drained right now."
Either baseball believes Romero cheated and allowed him to compete in the World Series, or it believes he made an innocent mistake and is suspending him 50 games anyway.
Which would be worse?

[azrael492]

This is a touchy mess. He asked people if it was OK, but he never asked MLB before taking them. If there was any doubt, he should have had them tested before putting one pill in his mouth

[Phils20]

Originally Posted by azrael492

This is a touchy mess. He asked people if it was OK, but he never asked MLB before taking them. If there was any doubt, he should have had them tested before putting one pill in his mouth

I sure can't argue that.

Like I said, I'm not gonna cry about it if this suspension is upheld.

The ESPN article also states that there was a letter sent out to all teams stating that all over the counter supplements were OK for use.

Sticky indeed.

I guess players are going to have to stick to vitamins, hard work, and prayer from now on!

[Full Cougar]

Well it is tough, he talked to coaches and other parts of the Phillies organization, and they said it was OK. However I think we have seen coaches and trainers recommend bannded drugs for a player, so it could be possible there was some known facts about this drug in the organization. Had Romero shown this to the MLB and they had approved it, then this would be different entirely.

I have to side against Romero here, sure, it's unfair he has to take this punishment even though he didn't know, but he most likely willingly took those drugs even though he did not know what was in them. Therefore it could possibly result in an unfair advantage against other teams, which is cheating. So even though he didnt know, if the MLB had rules against it, he should probably serve his suspension.

Think of it this way, if you parked in an illegal parking area, and didn't bother to read the sign placed in front of it, do you still deserve the ticket? That should give you the answer to this one. My opinion atleast.

[Phils20]

BUT, the players union said it was OK, he had it tested by a chemist, and it wasn't banned by baseball until November 21rst, when they sent a memo out to the teams.

In other words, they didn't know about it, or ban it, until JC took it.

I would just ask folks to read all that stuff before commenting.

Like I said, the penalty is black and white, but JC was lead down the wrong road by lot lot of folks that are supposed to be in his corner.

He didn't just buy it and start taking it.

It's not like he asked the cop if he could park there, was told no, and did it anyway, in other words.

Not really a good analogy on your part.

If you just tell me "the rules say 50 games, and that is what he got", I'm good with that.

I agree.

But to act like he just bought it and started taking it shows me that you just haven't done much reading on the subject.

In fact, he isn't isn't being suspended for a banned substance.

The reason for the suspension is being called "negligence".

In other words, they are saying that they know he didn't take it to try and get over, and that they believe that he took it thinking it's safe.

Again blowing your analogy out of the water.

Do some reading, then come back to comment.

[Full Cougar]

OK, if what you are saying is true, then maybe this is a different story. However you said you highlighted some key points. That is what I read believing that is what you wanted to comment about. Sorry about the GREAT GRIEF that must have caused you.

[Phils20]

Originally Posted by Full Cougar

OK, if what you are saying is true, then maybe this is a different story. However you said you highlighted some key points. That is what I read believing that is what you wanted to comment about. Sorry about the GREAT GRIEF that must have caused you.

Feel free to read the whole thing. I don't mind someone commenting, but I'd like em to get the "facts" straight.

Who knows if the things being reported right now are correct.

But it is all we have to go on.

If you think he deserves 50 games for this, based on what's been reported, fine.

The rule is black and white, with no wiggle room.

BUT, MLB offered him 25 games if he would just admit wrongdoing, so maybe there is room.

Seems to me they are more interested in embarrassing him than punishing him.

To offer 25 as opposed to 50 if he kisses Bud's ring is lame.

[BillMcG]

"Maximum testosterone booster - FOR HARDCORE USERS ONLY." That is the way 6-OXO Extreme is marketed. Go do a search, then comment on Romero's "I didn't know I was doing anything wrong," crybaby excuse.

[Phils20]

Originally Posted by BillMcG

"Maximum testosterone booster - FOR HARDCORE USERS ONLY." That is the way 6-OXO Extreme is marketed. Go do a search, then comment on Romero's "I didn't know I was doing anything wrong," crybaby excuse.

Wow, and you're form Philly.

I do think he deserved the susupension for the way the rule is stated, but crybaby excuse?

Hardly.

Hey, these players are athletes, not scientists.

When you ask you trainer and nutritionist, and have been advised by the union that ANY over the counter supplement is OK, I think that to just say "crybaby" and move on is a bit rediculous!

But then, we all know he great MLB is at catching wrongdoers!

I know that neither them or the union could possible share some blame in this.

[Full Cougar]

Originally Posted by BillMcG

"Maximum testosterone booster - FOR HARDCORE USERS ONLY." That is the way 6-OXO Extreme is marketed. Go do a search, then comment on Romero's "I didn't know I was doing anything wrong," crybaby excuse.

WOOHOO! Two points for McG over here. Great point.

[Phils20]

Originally Posted by Full Cougar

WOOHOO! Two points for McG over here. Great point.

Yep, and so well thought out too.

And I thought we came here to actually TALK sports, not just throw out cute one liners!

Ah well, I guess I'll take what I can get.

[BillMcG]

The point of taking banned performance substances is often to raise the level of testosterone. Exactly what this product explicitly promises. Are you suggesting Romero did not know that ? And are you suggesting that Romero did not know that artificially raising his testosterone levels is not prohibited by baseball ?

[Full Cougar]

Originally Posted by Phils20

Hey, these players are athletes, not scientists.

Well that is what he is saying, it is obvious what is in the bottle.

[Phils20]

Originally Posted by Full Cougar

Well that is what he is saying, it is obvious what is in the bottle.

It's obvious what is in it now that it's banned.

A letter went out to all the teams on Nov 21 stating that in spite of the fact this supplement was previously approved, that status has changed.

Hmmmmmmmm, that is after JC used it, and they found out what was in it.

Really folks, what is so hard about this?

Why do you think they offered to let him plead to 25 games?

Why do you think they didn't suspend him immediately?

Why do you think they called his suspension "negligence", as opposed to a more inflammatory charge?

Again, I think they should have just suspended him on the spot, if they thought he was guilty.

IF, IF, IF this stuff was so evil and obvious, why didn't the Phils trainer, and MLB, and the MLBPA just tell him not to take it.

He did ask, and he asked several sources several times. And the Phils trainer changed his story a bit after the heat got turned up.

So again, I ask for folks to read read read about the specifics about this one particular case.

When I see some evidence of that, I''ll post on this again.

Until then, bye! See you on another thread.

[Phils20]

Originally Posted by BillMcG

The point of taking banned performance substances is often to raise the level of testosterone. Exactly what this product explicitly promises. Are you suggesting Romero did not know that ? And are you suggesting that Romero did not know that artificially raising his testosterone levels is not prohibited by baseball ?

I'm suggesting that this product wasn't banned, and as stated by me many times, he asked several sources about the product.

Including the Phils trainer, his nutrtionist, the MLBPA, and all those folks also checked the list of banned products.