REPORT: Barry Bonds failed a drug test

[hudsonharden]

Barry Bonds failed an amphetamine test last season and tried to blame it on a teammate, according to a report in Thursday's New York Daily News.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2727325


More to come as the story develops.

[Skin & Bones]

That's it. Ban him from Baseball and the Hall Of Fame.

<Sarcasm>

[Ubiquitous]

Well I guess Barry really is like Hank Aaron and Willie Mays afterall.

[Dravecky43]

The article I read says that when players fail a first amphetamine test, the name is not made public. But with the second failure a 25-game suspension is levied.

MLB has not suspended Barry, so who blurted this one out?

[Skin & Bones]

For a guy who's supposedly an expert when it comes to undetectable PED's, he sure as hell messed up this time because Undetectable Amphetamines are out there.

Apparently he never read this article...http://quicktime.cnnsi.com/2006/writers/john_donovan/08/25/amph.friday/2.html

[Old Sweater]

What a Rat Fink!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ESPNFan]

For a guy who's supposedly an expert when it comes to undetectable PED's, he sure as hell messed up this time because Undetectable Amphetamines are out there.

Apparently he never read this article...http://quicktime.cnnsi.com/2006/writers/john_donovan/08/25/amph.friday/2.html

Yes I'm sure they are everywhere. :rolleyes:

When a guy who alledgedly took strides to conceal his alledged Steroid use with undetectables reportedly tests positive for greenies it certainly calls the availibility and or effectiveness of these "undetectable" amphetamines into question.

[Skin & Bones]

Yes I'm sure they are everywhere. :rolleyes:

When a guy who alledgedly took strides to conceal his alledged Steroid use with undetectables reportedly tests positive for greenies it certainly calls the availibility and or effectiveness of these "undetectable" amphetamines into question.

Right...whatever you say Doc :cool:

[ESPNFan]

Right...whatever you say Doc :cool:

Don't have to be a Doctor to follow basic logic. Agenda's tend to cloud one's vision however. :waving

[ESPNFan]

Anybody else find it very disconcerting that alledgedly Orza was on the horn to sweeny to cover up the evidence?

[SwissRedSoxFan]

Does that surprise anyone in here???:eek:

What surprises me is only, the fact that he is so dumb to fail a routine test. And Amphetamine?? This is an old trick and it's very dangerous and has many side-effects like nose-growing, chin-growing etc.

This guy is desperate...

In Europe, if one fails a anti-doping test like that he is immediately banned till the B-test proves he is not guilty. But I never heared one was positive on an A-test and negative on the B-test...

This guy should be banned for life as everyone should if proven guilty.

[Zito75]

Does this shock anyone?

[Captain Cold Nose]

Does that surprise anyone in here???:eek:

What surprises me is only, the fact that he is so dumb to fail a routine test. And Amphetamine?? This is an old trick and it's very dangerous and has many side-effects like nose-growing, chin-growing etc.

This guy is desperate...

In Europe, if one fails a anti-doping test like that he is immediately banned till the B-test proves he is not guilty. But I never heared one was positive on an A-test and negative on the B-test...

This guy should be banned for life as everyone should if proven guilty.
Shall we just make up/change punishment as we go along based on convenience or umbrage?

[Brian McKenna]

Anybody else find it very disconcerting that allegedly Orza was on the horn to sweeny to cover up the evidence?

Funny, I didn't get that from the article. I got that an authority figure told a player that it was inappropriate to have questionable items in his locker and advised him that in this day and age athletes should not be sharing said items as it will lead to questions he may not be able to answer fully and could possibly be held accountable for. Sounds like sage advice from Orza and definitely appropriate from a head of operations.

What did strike me is the levels of Bonds' character flaws. He will continue to blame everyone and everything - teammates, trainers, doctors, girlfriend, his own mother if need be, some flaxseed oil b.s. or the manufactures of OTC arthritis cream if possible. Some damn fools will believe the plausibility of his accusations but most just see them as more layers of guilt and continued efforts to weasel out of trouble.

[Brian McKenna]

In Europe, if one fails a anti-doping test like that he is immediately banned till the B-test proves he is not guilty. But I never heared one was positive on an A-test and negative on the B-test...


I'm a little confused by baseball's policy as well. Fail one test, no penalty, so we come back and re-test.

I might be wrong but aren't the A and B tests in Europe taken from samples taken at one time. So if A fails, sample B is tested to ensure the validity of A.

In baseball one sample fails so they revisit the player at a much later time?? Sounds like an asinine approach and one steeped in doubt. The A-B method sure seems more appropriate if one's going for validity and definitely more timely.

[Brian McKenna]

Does this shock anyone?

No but just wait until the SF contingent gets in here and starts spinning.

[hiddengem]

The way the current MLB drug policy reads is that a first offense for amphetamines is a "slap on the wrist" The second offense is where penalties come into play(50 games). The Minor League policy on the other hand, is 50 games for the first offense of any performance enhancing substance. Go figure.

[Brian McKenna]

Go figure.

That's because of the consistent refusal a major league players and their union to ever address the plight of minor leaguers. Amusing really when you consider where MLers came from.

[Sliding Billy]

:) Well I guess Barry really is like Hank Aaron and Willie Mays afterall.
Good one!

[hiddengem]

That's because of the consistent refusal a major league players and their union to ever address the plight of minor leaguers. Amusing really when you consider where MLers came from.

I'm not really sure where to place the blame there. I wonder what owners would say if the union went to the table wanting to raise the minium wage in the minor leagues to a paltry 30k a year? I'm sure they'd throw a fit, crying "we can't afford to give "little johnny" 30k a year, we just got done giving "Joe Blow" 15million a year":evil

I believe at this point MLB is in charge of what happens to minor league players, as far as drug policies, and what we can and can't do. Another stupid rule, minor leaguers get fined a pretty large amount for chewing tobacco, not big league guys. Who do the kids look up to more? Minor Leaguer, or Major Leaguer? Most cases the latter.

Sorry for the rant and Thread Jacking...back to the topic:o

[DoubleX]

I'm curious to see how many other players failed the amphetamine test as well. This is a good example of everyone wanting to find any reason whatsoever to dump on Bonds (as if there isn't enough out there already). But what a lot of people don't realize is that greenies have been prevalent in baseball for decades. That doesn't condone it, but I also don't think this the smoking gun against Bonds that everyone is so desperately looking for.

[KCGHOST]

For whatever reason, the use of amphetamines doesn't trip my trigger. Not shocked Bonds is/was using them. Not shocked he tried to blame it on someone else.

[TonyK]

How would you like to have a locker next to Barry's and be dragged into his problems? The security camera tapes in the locker room might shed some light on what is happening behind closed doors.

Whatever it takes to beat Aaron's record must be Bonds' motto.

How many hits is he behind Pete Rose? Now that would be an interesting rat race between two rodents extraordinaire.

[Dravecky43]

No but just wait until the SF contingent gets in here and starts spinning.
Excuse me? Thanks for the shot at my (our?) character.

[Mattingly]

I'm not sure if Bonds alone had failed (not likely) or he was singled out because he's got a huge load of luggage accompanying his name.

According to the main NY Daily News article, Barry got this from teammate Mark Sweeney:

Failure leaves a testy Barry
Passes blame to teammate (http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/story/487685p-410640c.html)

==================

The ever-critical Yankee hater Mike Lupica chimes in with a Ralph Nader-esque headline:

Baseball unsafe at any speed (http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/story/487684p-410639c.html)

[W_Marone]

If youre going to get caught doing something Barry at least Sack up to it, be a man about it, dont throw your teammate under the bus....what a man Barry is, just show's the type of person Barry is, yet another example that is.

[hudsonharden]

How many hits is he behind Pete Rose? Now that would be an interesting rat race between two rodents extraordinaire.

Quite a few, Bonds doesn't even have 3,000 hits

[iPod]

Excuse me? Thanks for the shot at my (our?) character.

This is the first time you've heard something like that? People have been saying crap like that about us for years on this board.

[hubkittel]

Captain Renault: I'm shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!
[a croupier hands Renault a pile of money]
Croupier: Your winnings, sir.
Captain Renault: [sotto voce] Oh, thank you very much.
[aloud]
Captain Renault: Everybody out at once!

[SamtheBravesFan]

I'm curious to see how many other players failed the amphetamine test as well. This is a good example of everyone wanting to find any reason whatsoever to dump on Bonds (as if there isn't enough out there already). But what a lot of people don't realize is that greenies have been prevalent in baseball for decades. That doesn't condone it, but I also don't think this the smoking gun against Bonds that everyone is so desperately looking for.

That's pretty much what I think. :) My opinion is usually reiterated somehow by someone. :laugh

[Skin & Bones]

The reaction from fans on an ESPN poll...

1) Do you care that Barry Bonds, according to a report in the New York Daily News, tested positive for amphetamines last season?


55.8% Yes

44.2% No


2) Do you believe the report that Bonds tested positive for amphetamines?


92.2% Yes

7.8% No


3) If the report is true, do you believe Bonds could have taken the substance from a teammate's locker without knowing what they were?


89.5% No

10.5% Yes


4) What is your take on the use of amphetamines in sports?


36.6% Just as big a deal as steroids; they're all performance-enhancing drugs.

36.1% Not as big a deal as steroids, but a positive test is still a big deal.

27.3% Not in the same league as steroids; athletes have been using amphetamines for decades.


5) Does the Daily News report change your opinion of Bonds?


88.8% No, I already thought he used performance-enhancing drugs.

7.6% No, I still believe he's never intentionally used performance-enhancing drugs.

3.6% Yes, I was giving him the benefit of the doubt until he tested positive for something.


6) Should MLB have an official ceremony to honor Bonds if he breaks Hank Aaron's all-time home run record this season?


66.4% No

33.6% Yes


7) Based on all the information currently available to voters, do you believe Barry Bonds would be elected to the Hall of Fame in his first year on the ballot?


74.4% No

25.6% Yes


8) Based on all the information currently available to voters, do you believe Barry Bonds would be elected to the Hall of Fame at any point during his eligibility?


63.0% Yes

37.0% No




http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/sportsnation/polling?event_id=2739&action=1&question20166=81794&question20167=81796&question20168=81799&question20169=81806&question20170=81802&question20171=81804&question20172=81810&question20173=81808

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

That's it enough's enough!

WHEN WILL SELIG finally see this guy's a cheat!!!:grouchy

[Skin & Bones]

That's it enough's enough!

WHEN WILL SELIG finally see this guy's a cheat!!!:grouchy

What do you want Selig to do? A first positive test for Greenies doesn't warrant a suspension...

[digglahhh]

Okay, just play along for a second. I'm not defending Bonds, but playing devil's advocate and commenting on what I think is an interesting thought process going on here.

Okay, so Bonds fails the amphetamines test and this is used as evidence to support the presumption that he took steroids. But, why? Couldn't it be seen the other way around too?

Couldn't the fact that he was unable to mask his amphetamine use (and I'm assuming he was taking the "undetectables") give some form of credibility to the fact that he never failed a steroid test? I mean, he can mask one, but not the other?...

Now, I don't really believe this argument. I think this is more along the lines of Al Capone getting nailed for tax evasion, but it is interesting that nobody has tried to offer that argument yet.

If people wanted to give Bonds the benefit of the doubt, I bet you'd hear this story spun that way. It is a potential conclusion and I think that this draws more support to the notion that "evidence" is often specious and that people look to use whatever information that comes along, after their opinion is already formed, to bolster their already-formed opinion. That is to say that, many people, don't seek the truth, just the potential for reassurance.

[hiddengem]

I'm curious to see how many other players failed the amphetamine test as well. This is a good example of everyone wanting to find any reason whatsoever to dump on Bonds (as if there isn't enough out there already). But what a lot of people don't realize is that greenies have been prevalent in baseball for decades. That doesn't condone it, but I also don't think this the smoking gun against Bonds that everyone is so desperately looking for.

From the vibe I got, amphetamine use didn't slow down very much at all ( it is more widespread than steroids, and has been since the days of Mantle) unless you were not on the 40 man roster. The players new that the first offense was without consequence and if they happened to get popped, like Barry supposedly did, then they'd probably slow it down.

I'm curious as to how this supposedly "private information" has leaked out.

[Ubiquitous]

The interesting thing here is going to be 2007. IF you tested positive for amphetamines once that result was kept private but you now had to bested 6 times a year. So this year is key, because we don't really know who tested positive last year and if anybody got caught last year they are going to be tested a whole lot this year. So speed use could go down dramatically this year or a lot of players could be caught this year.

[DoubleX]

From the vibe I got, amphetamine use didn't slow down very much at all ( it is more widespread than steroids, and has been since the days of Mantle) unless you were not on the 40 man roster. The players new that the first offense was without consequence and if they happened to get popped, like Barry supposedly did, then they'd probably slow it down.

I'm curious as to how this supposedly "private information" has leaked out.

Jim Bouton talked about the use of greenies in Ball Four like using them was almost to be expected, and that was back in 1969. So Bonds getting caught for amphetamine use doesn't really change my opinion of him, though I'm sure a lot of people will make this out to be more than it is and think that this is the smoking gun connecting to steroids.

Do you think a lot of other players got caught last year as well and do you think all this attention now on amphetamine use will cause it to be cut down next year?

[Williamsburg2599]

What is he, a toddler? Does he just walk around the Giant's clubhouse and stick things into his mouth and himself? The "my teammate did it" excuse, has already been used, and it didn't work. He's dragging in someone who has nothing to do with this. And the scary thing (for Bonds, anyways) is he is coming to Boston and New York this year. Can't wait to see what the Fenway faithful have to say about him. Someon on ATH had a good point, if he is doing greenies while there testing for it, what was he doing when they weren't testing for anything?

[Old Sweater]

How would you like to have a locker next to Barry's and be dragged into his problems? The security camera tapes in the locker room might shed some light on what is happening behind closed doors.
.

Anybody know if security cameras are legal in a locker room?

I don't think so myself.

If so they would have had proof on a lot of players years ago.

[SwissRedSoxFan]

Look. I woudn't be surprised if Selig wouldn't ban him. Bonds is for the show. Selig for the money. And show creates money.

Here in Europe we have the Tour de France. Biggest cycling race in the world. It is better known as "tour de farce". Everybody knows that 80% of the participants of that race take doping. But the chief of the race doesn't help the many anti-doping agency to make the tests they want. Because he doesnt want to make the sportsmen angry. And there are also huge sponsoring contracts. What if they officially know the are sponsoring a fake?

In the whole world, 4-5% are asthamtic. 2005 75% of the participants of the tour de France were asthamtic.:eek:
And why? Very simple: If you are asthmatic, your doctor is allowed to give you a medicament, that enlarge the quantity of air you can get by one breath in your lung. So clearly you have more energy to climb the mountains with your bycicle.

Sport is being a joke. Get over it. I hate cycling. I hate pure-endurance sports. Because there you can be 100% sure, there will be dopers. In Baseball it's also talent to play the game to hit the ball.

Well the chief of the Tour de France has now many criticers. Television is pushing that they do not want no longer show to the people a sport, in which doping is the rule. Now mister Tour de France must make something. Because spectators are walking away.

If I was in America, I would make a demonstration and tell the people not going to the game, till Bonds is banned and there is a drug policy, that secures a clean game. Because we are those who make the game to what it is. The spectators, the fans, they give the money to the baseballplayers and the MLB.

NO FANS. NO MONEY.

[TonyK]

Anybody know if security cameras are legal in a locker room?

I don't think so myself.

If so they would have had proof on a lot of players years ago.

Players have had gloves and other personal items stolen out of lockers so I imagine every team has a security system of some kind.

One talk show host had a good comment about Bonds ratting on Mike Sweeney. First, if Sweeney didn't have greenies in his locker then Bonds went and accused an innocent teammate (and jeopardized his career). Second, if Sweeney did have greenies in his locker then Bonds ignored the unwritten rule that players keep these private matters out of the public eye.