Well, there went my faith in the USOC as an organization dedicated to rooting out doping! This quote disturbed me most: "... As the initial founding partners, the USOC, USADA, MLB and NFL have collectively committed to contribute $10 million to the project. Each founding partner will have one representative on the board of governors, which will oversee the research. ..." [Link]Hello? Didn't they try a similar arrangement in Las Vegas during the 1950's when the mafia had at least one representative on the board of governors at each casino so as to keep both the gamblers and the casinos honest?
Like the Mafia, the NHL, the NFL, and the MLB, they will look out for their interests only and not those who are interested in eliminating doping all together. As board members they will stall, threaten to eliminate funding, and forewarn any and all zillion-dollar athletes who generate kajillion-zillion-dollars for the league that they are suspect.
FACT: The MLB and NFL have had widespread doping for the last half-century and they knew it. NFL doping reference: [Link] MLB doping reference: [Link]
Above is before-and-after photos of Barry Bonds post his Balco make-over
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Initially your concern seemed to be very justified, but upon reflection and some rereading of the news release this does seem to be good news for those of us who want sport to be rid of performance enhancing drugs. It needs to be emphasized this represents funding for new research and not, say, professional sports buying control of USADA itself. Consequently it's only right the founding members (and contributors) have a say in what priorities the research should take as the members all have differing problems to be addressed. It would be nice to see other professional sports elsewhere such as European football and the IOC follow their lead and create parallel programs. After the recent scandals have shown even professional sport can take a black eye from doping the powers that be are starting to realize in hindsight the initial boost in popularity from improved performances isn't worth it.
Bud Selig, the commissioner of baseball, is about to get spanked again by congress. I think it is an monetary offering to appease the 'Gods' and that any board member they install will be plants.
In my opinion they will never suspend a player for 2 years or give a lifetime ban.
I agree 100% with you the Major League's contribution into this research partnership is part penance for past transgressions. But still, what do we care? Enough money is now available to finance a major effort to hinder current doping efforts. Since my primary concern is for 'amateur' sport I don't particularly mind how the various professional leagues use the knowledge resulting from this partnership. Could they tamper with the research? As sitting board members they could but the political fallout if exposed is, in my opinion, far too great to be seriously considered as a possibility.
They won't tamper with research and they won't suspend athletes for 2 years or ban offending players either. Also, I suspect that WADA won't be testing the players but rather the MLB, NFL, NHL etc will still conduct the testing.
You will see bans for marijuana and cocaine but I think the majority of players will get away with steroid abuse.
I am cynical enough to believe that any research info released to the board members will also pass on to the athletes or their trainers and new masking agents will be developed.
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