More Bonds

[RedBean]

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Not saying that Bonds did or didn't take steroids(or other performance enhancers), BUT the big issue with the CLEAR was that it was undetectable.


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"The Clear", aka THG has been detectable through urine sample since 2003, and MLB has been testing for it since the inception of the program.

Bonds has not failed any of these tests.


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Also tests for HGH are still unreliable(NFL doesn't test for it).

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I agree with you on HGH, but the majority of substances alleged in the GoS book are easily detectable via urine sample. (Winstrol, Stanzonol, THG, Clomid, etc.)

And none of those substances have been detected in Bonds tests since they began testing in 2003.

As for HGH specifically, they will never test for HGH in any of the major sports, unless one can be developed that works reliable on urine samples.

Samples are being saved in case future tests emerge than can retroactively test.

Bonds will not fail these either.

As for more reliable testing on HGH, the MLBPA has staunchly disallowed any sort of blood testing. The same guys who are telling the newspapers they want to clean up the game (ie..Schilling, etc) are the same guys who are fighting through their player reps to not allow blood sample testing for banned substances.

They caved on Amphetamines, but stood firm on blood tests for HGH.

Blame the MLBPA.

FWIW, Bonds is the only player who is voluntarily not a member of the MLBPA.

Which means, oddly enough, you can lay the blame for the current testing program not being as stringent as the WDA (blood tests) on every single player in MLB, except for Bonds and Kevin Millar (SCAB!).

Anyway, as for Bonds specifically...if you postulate that he is "still using but somehow beating the tests", then you'd have ignore the reality of the immense scrutiny he is currently under from the federal government and every investigative journalist with a hope of writing a book.....from his financial habits, his daily routines, etc....it's not like the folks in the Federal DA's office don't have him under a microscope looking for anything and everything he does for the past 4 years.

I'm pretty sure he isn't just buying some good stuff from the corner-man in broad daylight.

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Never testing positive does not mean a guy can't be guilty.


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Um, that's exactly what it means according to the rules governing banned performance enhancing substances in Major League Baseball.

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Look at the other major sports where doping is huge and how long it takes for a guy to slip up and test positive.

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I give up, how long does it take before a guy slips up? Two years? Four years? Twelve years?

Has this actually been quantified?

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I think our eyes would truly be opened if the MLB adopted a real testing procedure like track and field or cycling.

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I agree, and I wish it would happen, but oddly enough, the players fight it, and major media like SI are too busy trying to crucify Bonds instead of pushing that cause.

And how funny would it be if there was more stringent testing, and more and more players started testing positive....but Bonds kept passing tests?

What then? Do we poo-poo the strict testing away too, because it doesn't achieve the desired result?

Remember, people were happy in 2003 when MLB adopted the current testing, saying then that we would be "surprised at the results".

There were smatters of smug opinion pieces from envious hacks cheering along that Bonds had "nowhere to run, nowhere to hide" with the new testing. (Verducci again.)

Of course, when their expected results didn't come, they don't change their misguided expectations...instead they attempt to discredit the very testing process they previously applauded.

Funny how that works, huh?