Victor Conte: as much as 50% MLB players on PEDs

[Lobbyist999]

Victor Conte Claims 'As Much As 50 Percent' Of MLB Players Use Performance-Enhancing Drugs

Conte made the startling claim that "as much as 50 percent" of MLB players utilize performance-enhancing drugs while appearing on ESPN Radio New York with Chuck Wilson. Discussing Cabrera's recent suspension led to a larger discussion of PED use among athletes and the BALCO founder espoused some views that Selig -- and certainly his colleagues in other sports -- hopes are drastic overstatements.

“Listen, it would be a guess, and this is based on me talking to some of the top players, and I’m not going to name names for a variety of reasons, but MLB players do reach out and talk to me about nutrition and different things," said Conte. "And my sense is that it’s rampant, that it’s as much as 50 percent. Part of the reason is, if you want to clean up the doping in baseball, you’ve got to clean up the testing.”

Aside from this radio appearance, Conte also recently discussed with USA Today what he considered to be rampant use of synthetic testosterone -- the substance Cabrera tested positive for -- among ballplayers.

"We've known for a period of time that fast-acting testosterone is a logical choice for athletes who are willing to break the rules in order to win," Travis Tygart, CEO of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency told USA Today. "To some extent it's a performance-enhancing drug of choice because it significantly reduces the risk of being caught."

Asked about the ease of navigating the testing by ESPN Radio, Conte didn't mince words in describing how easy it could be for MLB players to use synthetic testosterone during the season.

“It’s very, very easy. It’s like taking candy from a baby. They only test the players when they’re at the ballpark," Conte explained. "Therefore, after a game, you can apply a testosterone cream or a gel or a patch, and this will peak at about four hours after you take it and be all the way back down to baseline about eight hours after. … This helps with tissue repair and healing and recovery, so they just wait until after the game and apply it … and they get the benefit of having that testosterone circulate and accelerate healing.”

How will the above impact on paying fantasy leagues? Those of us who draft players who end up getting caught -- how much of this detracts from all the player prep. and intricate prognostications fantasy owners get into to try and win titles?

What is the new skill -- being able to sense who might be a user and downgrade them a few rounds for insurance purposes?

[Cocktails and Dreams]

I need to buy my main event team a bunch of that stuff.

[Lobbyist999]

Maybe the NFBC will be offering PED-insurance.

[Fourslot40]

I'm not trying to be an expert here, but I know enough about this topic to comment on it. What these players are being pinched for are steroids. Think about who has been suspended of late... Mota, Colon, Cabrera, etc... dominican and caribbean players. Truth is, that these players were brought into the system as young, motivated and affordable talent that required organized "enhancement" to meet the requirements of the position that they were targeted for. This was organized and standard in the minor leagues during this time.

During the steroid era and pre-Juiced book days, these foreign players were sent to "recommended" (but not officially connected) affiliate payed doctors/ strength trainers who knew the deal. Corner infielders and outfielders that were envisioned as power prospects were beefed up through PED enhancement. Many of the players during this era that experienced results with these products have come to think that this product was a direct result of their performance. Think about where most of the offenders are from? Look at those foreign players and where they are in their career and see that they are trying to resurrect a career or make a big pay day. It's the only way they think they know. In their country it's legal to buy steroids and take them. In the minors, it got them to the majors and made them big money. They are victims of the system. Don't blame them... they love baseball and want to keep playing. It's documented that Americans are part of this too. Yes, Bonds and McGwire. This is not to divide foreign players. One of the primary reasons that the majority of major league baseball is of latin background is due to the low cost of signing bonuses and benefits that it took to sign them over American players. No different than manufacturers moving out of the U.S. Buy low, invest in PED's and you have a player who is just grateful to be there... instead of selfish American players with their agents and requests. I love baseball... I don't blame the players. Nobody should pass judgement on these players. They knew the risks, but love baseball and what it brings. It was worth the risk to them. It might have been worth the risk to any of us who see it the same way.

Until testing is done for HGH in-season, it will never be known how many are involved. It is hard to understand why some players with good money that understand the rules and are looking to be involved in synthetic enhancement do not yet see that this is the least noticeable route to go.

[Greg Ambrosius]

Maybe the NFBC will be offering PED-insurance.

After this recent report, the NFBC will be testing for PEDs before each live draft starting in 2013. If you have something to hide involving PEDs, you would be best advised to draft Online under ANONYMOUS!!

Wow, this is a sobering report. If 50% of baseball players are using PEDs, what's the percentage in football? Amazingly sobering story.

Nice post John and I think you are correct with that assessment. I think the agents who ride the coattails of these players also don't mind knowing that their guys are pushing their careers forward however they can and so right from the beginning these players have the mentality of the next big contract and they will take chances to get it. If it's rampant like Conte says, then any player trying to make The Show who doesn't take them is just being passed up by similar players who do take them.

Sad. Sad. Sad.

Oh well, when do the 2013 NFBC drafts begin?!!!

[Atlas]

One broadcast "expert" passed a remark something akin to "Why do these athletes do steroids if they know they're going to get caught?"

Could it be that, like Conte projects, many are still doing and only a few are getting caught? That we perceive MLB as catching 100%, as they would have us believe, but the reality is that they catch far less, making the gamble more palatable for the Melkeys and Colons ?

[Greg Ambrosius]

One broadcast "expert" passed a remark something akin to "Why do these athletes do steroids if they know they're going to get caught?"

Could it be that, like Conte projects, many are still doing and only a few are getting caught? That we perceive MLB as catching 100%, as they would have us believe, but the reality is that they catch far less, making the gamble more palatable for the Melkeys and Colons ?

The answer to the broadcasters question is simple: Because the risk involved in taking steroids is minimal compared to the rewards of a huge contract.

Think about it, Melky Cabrera has been a marginal player his whole career and he has a chance for a big free agent contract at season's end. He has the chance to really hit it big financially after he started out poor and always dreamed of hitting it big in baseball. He has had scouts and advisers and agents pushing him to hit it big and make a good living through baseball. He sees the chance to cash in at the end of this year with a big season and sure enough after taking PEDs he's an All-Star and probably looking at a $50 million contract, as outrageous as that seems for Melky Cabrera. The risk is minimal compared to the pot of gold at the end of that rainbow.

So he got caught. Someone is still going to throw a big bundle of money at him and next year he will probably be the old Melky Cabrera, good but not great. He will have cashed in and not really lost much at all. Heck, he doesn't even need to do PEDs again; they served their purpose.

Bartolo Colon was looking for one more worthy contract before riding off into the sunset, so he does PEDs. They work to perfection and even though he was caught he was playing under a $2 million contract this year with the hope of a bigger one next year. Heck, he may still get a raise. The PEDs were worth the risk for him.

Baseball needs to make that first time punishment stronger to deter PEDs use. I'm not advocating a 1-year suspension on the first offense, but that would make players think twice about using them. Right now, 50 games isn't enough.

[DOUGHBOYS]

The 50 game suspension hurts the players team more than the individual guilty of taking the ped's. It's not the team's fault that a knucklehead is taking these things.
Seemingly, Kevin Youkilis would give his eyeteeth to get 50 days off.
Actually he does, but he does it in drips and drabs.

True, these players do not get paid during the 50 days. However this is a small price to pay when looking at the ultimate riches that cheating can bring.
My solution would be to do away with suspensions. They are only fan attention grabbing penalties that hurt the team, not the offender.
The suspensions as they stand now are basically three strikes. 50, 100 games, then lifetime suspension.
My solution would be to limit the 'strikes' to two.
And also the team that has this player under contract has the option to opt out of that current contract at the end of the year.
This may not seem like a harsh penalty, but think about it.
Melky Cabrera as an example would lose little this way since he'd be a free agent anyway, much like now. But his bargaining power with a new team during the off season is severely hampered by the two strikes rule.
By cheating, Cabrera loses the advantage cheating gave him in the first place. Not only does his new suiters have to wonder if it was Melky or the ped's, they'll also be limited in the offer in knowing that Cabrera is one syringe away from making the contract void, limiting long term contracts for abusers.
This would also prevent 'Hanger on'ers' like ARod from getting a little help at the end of his contract. His money is made and jeopardizing that contract would take stupidity larger than an ARod ego.

The three chances rule is silly to begin with.
In life, it is fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. There is no third chance.
Why should it be different for players?
These players are getting a free chance and they'll continue taking advantage of it till it is changed.