Positive test at Age 16.

Wow, that is pretty sad.And I find it hard to believe that many had contaminated products from GNC.To me if they have taken steroids they shouldn't get a signing bonus.

The representative for some of the players is threatening a lawsuit and says the steroids for at least 4 of his players came from contaminated products purchased at GNC.

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we still get e-mails from MLB about suplements not to take. most are for sale at GNC, sounds like the only defense he has.

it is sad that a 16 yr old is on the juice. i think it is as alway's the thirst for a buck.just sad.

be careful what you wish for.

It is very sad. When my sons were in high school, one of the football players/wrestlers injected himself in the weight room at school. Not only that, but he offered to anyone who was in the room.

I recall talking with the health teacher in the fall of 2001 if they talked about steroids. He said and I quote, "Well, we don't tell them NOT to take them."

infielddad,
Recently had a discussion with someone knowledgeable regarding this. Below is my understanding.
First, I don't think there are GNC's in the Dominican and if so whatever is bought or given to these kids are from the ***'s that claim they are their agents, then some take more than half of their signing bonus.
They will sign these players but no bonus will be awarded until after suspension and drug treatment and they are clean and pass physicals here in the US. There are provisions in their contract that if tested positive again they can lose partial bonus. They are hoping that this stops the lying, the cheating, deception of these so called agents who prey on these kids, these kids are at the mercy of these horrible people. I was told most don't have any idea what they are even taking. mostly the bad steroids are given to them. I would suppose to get away from poverty they will do anything they are told to do without question.

Just recently in the cards system a player was caught for lying on his birth certificate, much older than 16 that the cards thought he was, also they are waiting the arrival of a player who is having immigration issues and may not be given a visa, if so the contract I understand is null and void. The US has cracked down on openly awarding visas to 16 year olds to come and play baseball in the US.

Last year the cards signed a young player for 3-4M. The thing is that they must come to the US for physicals before any money is awarded, this player was found to have a condition that would render him blind (supposedly) at an early age, the contract voided, I did notice that he played in a PG tournamnent and I think now playing with a team here in the US but not for the 3-4 million his agent tried to get.

First of all, when it comes to Dominicans, it's hard enough to tell if they're really 16.

But more, when you get to the Carribbean, poverty is so endemic that you can see why kids would push the envelope to try to get signed. And there are unscrupulous types who sell the junk, telling people their sons need that extra push to get MLB money.

For a lot of these kids, the money our boys would turn their nose up at is enough to live at a level they have never experienced, and still send money home to family. The temptation is very strong.

Enforcement is going to be key. First, to get the word out that if you use, you are not helping yourself, you're eliminating yourself. And second, to keep them from bringing the "cheaters prosper" culture to our minor leagues. That way we protect foreign prospects as well as our home grown ones.

I don't know anything about the Dominican but last time I was in Mexico steroids were readily available at the drugstore.

Tiger takes HGH? I bet it's for his putter

quote:

Aside from the baseball issue, the element of a 16 year old and steroids is sickening, just sickening.

It is sickening.

Stu

It doesn't suprise me. Add talent with intense competition with a system that has little to offer outside of athletics in the US and you have a certain recipe for this kind of behavior.

Heck, you have American kids doing it all the time and they have a lot more opportunities outside of athletics for success. It is sad but almost understandable.

I still don't know why this should surprise anybody. Steroids were around when I was in HS. This was in the early 80's late 70's. If HS kids in a small town in the middle of nowhere could get them, why should it surprise anyone that kids today use them.

On a side note, do kids get tested before they enter college?

quote:

Originally posted by Doughnutman:

On a side note, do kids get tested before they enter college?

I can say yes, the day you set foot on the field (which is usually before class begins) you have to have a physical and fill the cup, blood work as well. But understand that in all most liklihood, they are looking more for recreational drugs than steroids, this first day or first week testing is completely seperate than NCAA testing, which usually is taken at random when competition begins and after playoffs. My son had to give up a cup during regional and super regionals a few times, some had to in Omaha.

thanks, TPM.

TPM - Glad they're testing at least at some amature level.