Raffy Betancourt Nailed By MLB...

[Vasarian_Brandy 0]

Article from Indians.com

 

07/08/2005 8:36 PM ET

Betancourt hit with 10-day suspension

Third MLB player to test positive for banned substances

By Justice B. Hill / MLB.com

 

NEW YORK -- Reliever Rafael Betancourt has run afoul of baseball's drug-testing policy and has been handed a league-mandated 10-day suspension, Indians general manager Mark Shapiro announced on Friday.

 

Betancourt, 30, is the first Indians player to test positive for use of banned substances. He is on the 15-day disabled list. His suspension, which started immediately, can run concurrently.

 

"The Cleveland Indians strongly support Major League Baseball's testing program for performance-enhancing drugs," Shapiro said in a statement. "In addition to this support, we continue to implement an aggressive educational program at the Major and Minor League levels.

 

"We want our players to be aware of the short- and long-term dangers of these substances."

 

Shapiro announced Betancourt's suspension after the clubhouse had closed before the start of their Friday night game with the Yankees. Players, including union representative Jody Gerut, were unavailable for comment.

 

Before going on the DL last Sunday, Betancourt had appeared in 29 games for the Tribe, and had a 2-2 record with a 2.21 ERA.

 

Since the policy went into effect, Betancourt would be the third Major League player to test positive for steroids or performance-enhancing drugs. (The others are Twins reliever Juan Rincon and Devil Rays outfielder Alex Sanchez.)

 

In a written statement, Betancourt, who will lose 10 days' pay, vowed to appeal the suspension.

 

"I am very angry and disappointed with Major League Baseball's decision to suspend me," Betancourt said in his statement. "I am going to file a grievance to clear my name. I am very sorry if this has caused any embarrassment and I apologize to my family, the Cleveland Indians organization, my teammates and all the fans.

 

"I look forward to resolving this matter and returning to the Indians as soon as possible."

 

Commissioner Bud Selig and the 30 team owners have gone on record as saying that they want to root steroids from the sport. Selig has pushed for tougher penalties, even for first-time offenders like Betancourt.

 

Selig has proposed a 50-game suspension for the first offense, 100 games for a second offense and a lifetime ban for a third.

 

Under his proposal, amphetamines would also be on the testing list, and players would be subject to increased random testing. An independent party would be hired to oversee the entire drug-testing program.

 

"Both [at] the executive council and at the meeting of the 30 clubs, everyone felt very strongly about this," Selig previously told MLB.com. "They wanted to show that in this particular group, there never has been equivocation and there isn't now. We had a very long and detailed discussion. And out of it came the resolution, first passed by the council and then the clubs."

 

Union chief Donald Fehr has said that the union would be willing to talk about the proposal.

We normal folks out here know that there's a goodly amount of jobs that we have to get drug tested for. And I'm sure there's a few of us that have gotten nailed by a 'false positive' for, say, eating a poppy seed bagel within a day or so of the test.

 

Now the fact that Betancourt's bringing up an appeal possibility and that he's on the DL brings up (what I think) is an interesting question:

 

Is there anything that a ballplayer might take during a stint with a minor injury or while on the DL, or just coming off an injury, that could set up a false flag on a test?

 

While I'm not knocking the commish's drug-testing plan, we all know it's not perfect. Also, I have not seen anything in any of these 'public broadcasts' of any suspensions that has stated what the player(s) tested positive for... To me, that's not the "full public disclosure" I was expecting from the policy.

[Jericholic82 0]

Article from Indians.com

 

07/08/2005 8:36 PM ET

Betancourt hit with 10-day suspension

Third MLB player to test positive for banned substances

By Justice B. Hill / MLB.com

 

NEW YORK -- Reliever Rafael Betancourt has run afoul of baseball's drug-testing policy and has been handed a league-mandated 10-day suspension, Indians general manager Mark Shapiro announced on Friday.

 

Betancourt, 30, is the first Indians player to test positive for use of banned substances. He is on the 15-day disabled list. His suspension, which started immediately, can run concurrently.

 

"The Cleveland Indians strongly support Major League Baseball's testing program for performance-enhancing drugs," Shapiro said in a statement. "In addition to this support, we continue to implement an aggressive educational program at the Major and Minor League levels.

 

"We want our players to be aware of the short- and long-term dangers of these substances."

 

Shapiro announced Betancourt's suspension after the clubhouse had closed before the start of their Friday night game with the Yankees. Players, including union representative Jody Gerut, were unavailable for comment.

 

Before going on the DL last Sunday, Betancourt had appeared in 29 games for the Tribe, and had a 2-2 record with a 2.21 ERA.

 

Since the policy went into effect, Betancourt would be the third Major League player to test positive for steroids or performance-enhancing drugs. (The others are Twins reliever Juan Rincon and Devil Rays outfielder Alex Sanchez.)

 

In a written statement, Betancourt, who will lose 10 days' pay, vowed to appeal the suspension.

 

"I am very angry and disappointed with Major League Baseball's decision to suspend me," Betancourt said in his statement. "I am going to file a grievance to clear my name. I am very sorry if this has caused any embarrassment and I apologize to my family, the Cleveland Indians organization, my teammates and all the fans.

 

"I look forward to resolving this matter and returning to the Indians as soon as possible."

 

Commissioner Bud Selig and the 30 team owners have gone on record as saying that they want to root steroids from the sport. Selig has pushed for tougher penalties, even for first-time offenders like Betancourt.

 

Selig has proposed a 50-game suspension for the first offense, 100 games for a second offense and a lifetime ban for a third.

 

Under his proposal, amphetamines would also be on the testing list, and players would be subject to increased random testing. An independent party would be hired to oversee the entire drug-testing program.

 

"Both [at] the executive council and at the meeting of the 30 clubs, everyone felt very strongly about this," Selig previously told MLB.com. "They wanted to show that in this particular group, there never has been equivocation and there isn't now. We had a very long and detailed discussion. And out of it came the resolution, first passed by the council and then the clubs."

 

Union chief Donald Fehr has said that the union would be willing to talk about the proposal.

We normal folks out here know that there's a goodly amount of jobs that we have to get drug tested for. And I'm sure there's a few of us that have gotten nailed by a 'false positive' for, say, eating a poppy seed bagel within a day or so of the test.

 

Now the fact that Betancourt's bringing up an appeal possibility and that he's on the DL brings up (what I think) is an interesting question:

 

Is there anything that a ballplayer might take during a stint with a minor injury or while on the DL, or just coming off an injury, that could set up a false flag on a test?

 

While I'm not knocking the commish's drug-testing plan, we all know it's not perfect. Also, I have not seen anything in any of these 'public broadcasts' of any suspensions that has stated what the player(s) tested positive for... To me, that's not the "full public disclosure" I was expecting from the policy.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

So the poppy seed thing is true then? Yea MTV did a test on that once but I have never heard of any one who gut busted for that.

 

Then again I have never eaten a poppy seed bagel so I guess it dqs me.

 

But you bring up a good point, what exactly did he test + for and what could falsely bring that out if possible.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

A false positive is not something that might show up if a person unknowingly takes a banned substance. The way I understand it, steroid tests can not detect the drug itself, but detects abnormalities in a person's hormone level. If you group 1,000 players in a normal probability curve, a few will have high levels of these hormones ovvur naturally, and the system will flag the players even if they have not taken illegal drugs.

[Bored 0]

These middle relievers using steroids are trying to destroy the legacy of Jesse Orossco.

[Vasarian_Brandy 0]

A false positive is not something that might show up if a person unknowingly takes a banned substance.  The way I understand it, steroid tests can not detect the drug itself, but detects abnormalities in a person's hormone level.  If you group 1,000 players in a normal probability curve, a few will have high levels of these hormones ovvur naturally, and the system will flag the players even if they have not taken illegal drugs.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Okay, I can understand all that... But I'm posing the question kind of beyond the realm of steroids. I'm sure there's more "performance-enhancing" drugs out there. What I'm wondering is if there's anything else that might cause a 'reaction' kind of like the abnormalities in hormone levels like steroids does. Or if there's any other 'drugs' that might be detected, but found in natural sources... Like my poppy seed example.

[Mik 0]

You'd be surprised. The difference between ephedra (reported killer) and a straight up amphetamine is one methyl group. These drugs are no accident.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

Man..I thought everybody was roiding up..but Im starting to suspect that theory when the only people that have been caught so far are relievers and a hitter who's hit like 2 hrs in his career.

[Vasarian_Brandy 0]

Man..I thought everybody was roiding up..but Im starting to suspect that theory when the only people that have been caught so far are relievers and a hitter who's hit like 2 hrs in his career.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

That's why I keep wondering... I'm glad that Bud put some beef into the drug-testing policy. But the whole idea that it's finding only minor leaguers, relievers of no "big deal", and bush-league hitters...

 

I guess I'm one of those folks that won't be happy til they nail someone with a name that at least means something to me.

[Guest Brian]

You'd be surprised. The difference between ephedra (reported killer) and a straight up amphetamine is one methyl group. These drugs are no accident.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Aren't a whole group of legal "steroid" like a hydrogene bond off or so?

[teke184 0]

Man..I thought everybody was roiding up..but Im starting to suspect that theory when the only people that have been caught so far are relievers and a hitter who's hit like 2 hrs in his career.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

That's why I keep wondering... I'm glad that Bud put some beef into the drug-testing policy. But the whole idea that it's finding only minor leaguers, relievers of no "big deal", and bush-league hitters...

 

I guess I'm one of those folks that won't be happy til they nail someone with a name that at least means something to me.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I keep thinking that the only reason these young guys keep getting popped is that they're the least likely to know how to mask these tests properly.

 

I figure that an old hand like a Gary Sheffield would know how to cover up certain drugs if they'd been taking them since the late 80s / early 90s and are still in the league.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Man..I thought everybody was roiding up..but Im starting to suspect that theory when the only people that have been caught so far are relievers and a hitter who's hit like 2 hrs in his career.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

That's why I keep wondering... I'm glad that Bud put some beef into the drug-testing policy. But the whole idea that it's finding only minor leaguers, relievers of no "big deal", and bush-league hitters...

 

I guess I'm one of those folks that won't be happy til they nail someone with a name that at least means something to me.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Well, of course there is some doubt. But when you think about it, the most likely users are the guys who have the most to lose by not taking drugs, in this case, guys whose very existance in the league is on the cusp.

[Vasarian_Brandy 0]

Well, of course there is some doubt.  But when you think about it, the most likely users are the guys who have the most to lose by not taking drugs, in this case, guys whose very existance in the league is on the cusp.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

But is the guy that's only hit 2 home runs so far in a 5 year MLB career really naive enough to think that "'roiding up" now is going to give him a HoF career? I'm sure there's scientifically-researched limits to these drugs... You've got to have something to work with to enhance, right?

[Vasarian_Brandy 0]

You'd be surprised. The difference between ephedra (reported killer) and a straight up amphetamine is one methyl group. These drugs are no accident.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

It's sad to think that a guy making even league minimum (which is definitely more than I could ever hope to make in 10 years, let alone 1) would put his life at risk to improve his skills when he could, I don't know... Improve his workout routine? His diet?

 

Again, I know there's a limit to a player's development... But why not just work at being the best at what you have, and not put it all on the line to be something you're not.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Well, of course there is some doubt.  But when you think about it, the most likely users are the guys who have the most to lose by not taking drugs, in this case, guys whose very existance in the league is on the cusp.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

But is the guy that's only hit 2 home runs so far in a 5 year MLB career really naive enough to think that "'roiding up" now is going to give him a HoF career? I'm sure there's scientifically-researched limits to these drugs... You've got to have something to work with to enhance, right?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

That's the misconcepcion. These players would not take steroids to become great players. They take steroids because without them, they are kicking around the high minors earning far less than they would in the Majors.