If the medication he took was really prescribed to him by a doctor, then the suspension isn't warranted.
The MLB's stance is you're responsible for what you put in your body regardless of what a doctor prescribed. It's a tough call whether to believe these athletes or not. I'm sure some are innocent, but others will use that as an excuse to not accept responsibility. Sucks all around for the sport though.
That's so stupid though, because it's not like steroids were created for the sole purpose of cheating in baseball. They are very useful to a lot of people in the world to recover from some sorts of illnesses. I, myself, have been prescribed steroids and taken them to get better.
Sucks for Manny if it really wasn't his fault. I personally think the MLB has far too strict of a drug policy, and really needs to look a little deeper in certain situations when it's supposedly a doctor prescribed medication.
I agree it is stupid to put the onus on the players. If a licensed doctor's expert opinion is to take drug 'x' for an ailment you have to trust his advice. If he's being unethical then the doctor should lose his medical license, get fined and spend time in jail. An update to the story, the substance wasn't HGH (I thought they couldn't test for this?) or steroids.
Apparently Manny could have gotten permission from MLB for Doctor prescribed medication, but he never did. But I agree with you, it's too much to ask for a player to be worried about the, most likely, hundreds of banned substances. If they can provide a prescription for the medication they test positive for, then they should be let off the hook.
Manny's got a decent story but with the new rules about what you can/not use I find it hard to believe that players don't check to see if substances they're prescribed are allowed. This guys making tens of millions of dollars and at no point does anyone check up on whether the stuff hes taking is allowed? Not him, not the doctor, not his agent? You have to assume that these guys know exactly what they're putting into their body and at the very least they have someone check for them whether certain things are allowed or not. They've got a very strict policy but at the same time, their sport is a joke. Nearly all of the biggest stars of the last couple decades are assumed to be steroid users by the general public. They've got to show people that they're not bullshitting any more. I dunno, like I said above, I find it hard to believe that players will take the risk of just taking whatever they're (allegedly) prescribed. They know they could get a huge suspension and they're reputation/HOF potential will be demolished. I just don't see it being very feasible that they wouldn't get permission from the MLB if that was a possible route or, like I said, have SOMEONE (if not themselves) check the godamn list of what is and is not allowed. Seems like too much to risk because of laziness or whatever, especially when I'm sure they have agents, assistants, team trainers, personal trainers, even doctors who all ought to be able to check whether the substance is allowed or take the appropriate measures to get permission.
I want to give Manny the benefit of the doubt. In the pat 5 years, he has passed 15 tests. This wasn't a steroid he tested for, but a drug that is usually used to get the testosterone cycle back to normal after a steroid cycle. However, it is also a drug that tries to correct penis failure. I'm giving Manny the benefit of the doubt.
I wonder if Manny appeals this. Word is he put on it, but took it back. I hate the Dodgers, but they are fun to watch with Manny.
The thing that really bothers me about this is Manny tested for a sex drug that has been linked to steroid recovery, but Aroid tested positive for steroids and doesn't get suspended. That is a joke. EDIT: By the end of next year, Pujols' dirty test will come out. No way that dude is clean.
They can't suspend him from something he tested positive for over 4 years ago when they didn't have any substance abuse policy in place. As for Pujols, I hope he isn't dirty. That would be terrible for the game.
MLB has forms where you can request to use drugs for "therapeutic use" that are prescribed by a doctor. It makes it so you can take a normally banned substance if it is prescribed by a legitimate doctor. These forms are there so something like this wouldnt happen if Manny was taking a legitimate prescription. Manny is trying to blow smoke up our collective asses
There's a new twist to this story today. Apparently MLB knew about this 3 weeks ago and were "monitoring the situation" during spring training. The timing of this announcement takes place just in time for the return of A-Fraud to the Yankees. Media is wondering why MLB waited this long to announce the suspension. You also have to wonder how many Dodger fans would have renewed season tickets or if Manny would even be a Dodger if this story came out during MLB's initial "monitoring of the situation."
