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SycoShaman
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 Posted: Mon, 1st Aug 2005 23:08 Post subject: Orioles' Palmeiro suspended 10 days for violating steroids.. |
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Orioles' Palmeiro suspended 10 days for violating steroids policy
By RONALD BLUM, AP Sports Writer
August 1, 2005
AP - Aug 1, 1:08 pm EDT
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NEW YORK (AP) -- Rafael Palmeiro was suspended 10 days Monday following a positive test for steroids, less than five months after the Baltimore Orioles first baseman emphatically told Congress: ``I have never used steroids. Period.''
The 40-year-old Palmeiro became the highest-profile player among the seven who have failed a test under the toughened major league policy that took effect in March, rules criticized by Congress as not being stringent enough.
On July 15, Palmeiro joined Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Eddie Murray as the only players with 3,000 hits and 500 homers. Baseball would not say when the positive test occurred.
The players' association challenged the suspension, which was secretly assessed by the commissioner's office earlier this year but held in abeyance until arbitrator Shyam Das decided Monday not to overturn it.
During a telephone conference call, the four-time All-Star said he never intentionally took steroids and left the impression that the banned substance was contained in a supplement that was not prescribed. He said it was an ``embarrassing situation'' and that he still did not know what caused the positive test.
``Why would I do this in a year when I went in front of Congress and I testified and I told the truth?'' he said. ``Why would I do this during a season where I was going to get to 3,000 hits? It just makes no sense. I would not put my career on the line. I would not put my reputation on the line, everything that I've accomplished throughout my career. I would not do that. I'm not a crazy person.''
Palmeiro will lose $163,934 of his $3 million salary during the suspension. Because the penalty was delayed, it meant baseball's arbitration panel -- which includes Das, a management representative and a union representative -- initially found there was a ``reasonable basis'' for the challenge.
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``The evidence in this record is not sufficient for the player to meet his burden of establishing that his positive test result was not due to his fault or negligence,'' the panel said in a statement released by the union. The panel also said ``our decision does not equate to a finding or belief that Rafael Palmeiro -- whose testimony in many respects was quite compelling -- was untruthful in his testimony.''
Appearing with Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa and other baseball stars before a congressional committee on March 17, Palmeiro made an opening statement in which he said: ``Let me start by telling you this: I have never used steroids. Period. I don't know how to say it any more clearly than that. Never.''
Palmeiro was so emphatic in his denial of steroid use that he pointed his index finger at the panel, and expressed indignation over accusations made by former slugger Jose Canseco, who cited Palmeiro as a steroid user in his tell-all book. In an interview on the CBS television show ``60 Minutes,'' Canseco -- who also testified before Congress -- said he had injected Palmeiro with steroids.
``When I testified in front of Congress, I know that I was testifying under oath and I told the truth,'' he said. ``Today I am telling the truth again that I did not do this intentionally or knowingly.''
Government Reform Committee chairman Tom Davis, a Virginia Republican who led the steroids inquiry, was traveling out of the country Monday during Congress' recess.
``If true, this is disheartening news for those of us who believed Mr. Palmeiro was a key ally in our effort to rid sports of performance-enhancing drugs,'' Davis spokesman Rob White said.
``I am surprised, disappointed and saddened by this news,'' said Henry Waxman, the committee's ranking Democrat. ``The positive test raises many questions for Mr. Palmeiro and baseball.''
White House spokesman Scott McClellan said President Bush -- who owned the Texas Rangers while Palmeiro played for the team -- considers Palmeiro ``a friend and he believes him'' when he says he never intentionally took steroids.
AP - Aug 1, 12:50 pm EDT
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On July 7, Palmeiro took part via conference call in a round-table discussion about how to rid sports of steroids with Davis and representatives from the NFL, NBA, NHL and Major League Baseball.
``I hope that the fans understand I have worked very hard over a long 20-year career,'' he said Monday. ``I've put a lot of time and a lot of effort into my career. I made a mistake and I'm facing it. I hope that people learn from my mistake and I hope that the fans forgive me.''
Palmeiro sounded contrite on the conference call, saying he hoped there was something to be gained from his suspension by educating players to be more careful about what they put in their bodies.
``You just have to be careful with what you take,'' he said. ``You have to make sure that you see a doctor, you make sure get your -- whatever it is that you're taking, your supplements -- that you're taking them from a reputable source, and just be very careful with what you take. It happened to me, and it could happen to everyone.''
Palmeiro wouldn't predict whether the positive test will damage his chances of being elected to the Hall of Fame.
``Really that's not for me to determine,'' he said. ``I hope that people look at my whole career and appreciate that I've given everything that I've got. I respect the game. I respect my opponents. I respect the players that came before me. I respect the Hall of Fame, and if they think that I'm worthy enough, I would be very honored. And if they don't, I gave it all that I had to this game.''
Orioles owner Peter Angelos expressed support for Palmeiro.
``I am truly saddened by today's events,'' Angelos said in a statement. ``I have known Rafael Palmeiro for many years. ... I know from personal experience that his accomplishments are due to hard work and his dedication to the game.''
Associated Press sports writers David Ginsburg in Baltimore and Howard Fendrich in Washington contributed to this story.
Updated on Monday, Aug 1, 2005 4:12 pm EDT
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-drugs-palmeiro&prov=ap&type=lgns
What a fuckin hypocrite bastard...I hope he goes down hard for this. Im a big baseball fan and watched those steroids hearings on CNN and he bigged himself up saying he was a pure natural, never used steroids, never would consider using them, etc....fuckin lying dick... 
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Esel_Gesi
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Location: Chicago
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| Posted: Mon, 1st Aug 2005 23:29 Post subject: |
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i wonder if there were any complications between the steroids and viagra. 
anyhoo getting swept by the sox and then losing Palmiero for 10 days sucks for the O's
oh btw go white sox! 
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SycoShaman
VIP Master Jedi
Posts: 24468
Location: Toronto, Canada
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| Posted: Tue, 2nd Aug 2005 02:10 Post subject: |
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The White Sox...get outta here and find a real baseball team to support 
Not that my team, the Jays, are a real baseball team either lmao
I dunno, he's fucked now tho
he might not get into the hall of fame, his record may be in question - if he was on roids when he got his 3000th hit and shit...well, all those years of hard work down the drain because of one stupid, really stupid mistake....feel bad for him still. If the athletes wanna shrink their balls with roids, why not let em? Gives us a better show lol
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Esel_Gesi
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Posts: 3802
Location: Chicago
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| Posted: Tue, 2nd Aug 2005 02:22 Post subject: |
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i hope he is banned from the hall of fame along with all the other steroid users that hold records such as bonds. Its a discrace to the game and is far worse in my opinion than the pete rose betting fiasco.
I propose a new leage is started call it the XBL and let those players use all the roids they want but keep it out of MLB.
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| Posted: Sat, 7th Jan 2006 08:48 Post subject: |
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| Esel_Gesi wrote: | i hope he is banned from the hall of fame along with all the other steroid users that hold records such as bonds. Its a discrace to the game and is far worse in my opinion than the pete rose betting fiasco.
I propose a new leage is started call it the XBL and let those players use all the roids they want but keep it out of MLB. |
Can anyone tell me WHY Bonds has not been tested??? Is all of baseball gonna crumble if they find out he uses the stuff.?.....Guess that's why he's 'Hurt' all the time....Can't test them while thy're on the DL, huh?....After that comes a quick retirement....How appropriate...
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