[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by CO ump

I don't think so. Anabolic steroids have never been over the counter.
They are prescription only for medical purposes, not for performance enhancing purposes.

So

1. If a player is or was acquiring steroids with a prescription absent the medical purpose then he is or was acquiring them frauduently. ILLEGAL

2. If he is acquiring them without a prescription in the black market. ILLEGAL
Which is probably 99% of what's happening since they don't want a paper trail.

All drugs that people take that are not over the counter are not considered illegal or were not illegal at that time of when most are being accused of using them. And even drugs that you get over the counter in multiple situations are illegal in the NFL and definitely with the International Olympic Organization. And you can get steroids through a doctor and a prescription in many cases, but if you are an NFL player, you can still be suspended if the steroids are found in your system.

Originally Posted by CO ump

Is your point that since some players took steroids with no apparent success it therefore makes it ok? Since they were apparently unsuccessful in their attempt to cheat it is not cheating or illegal?

My point has always been that steroids and the usage of steroid success are well over played. And there are many factors players have success or failure of baseball players. Things like field sizes, expansion that has players that 25 years ago would never be playing, baseball construction, bat sizes, technology (video, training techniques, supplements, diet) and even the kinds of travel players have access to. Players are not taking the train anymore to games. And players make enough money they can train year-round unlike what was common when guys were playing in the 60s and before.

Originally Posted by CO ump

If B1 walks to the mound and takes a swing at F1, we throw him out of the game even if he doesn't make contact, because intent matters.

The drugs are only frowned upon now because they are illegal now. When McGuire was on his little run he prominently had in his locker Andro. It was not illegal at the time, now it is. I think most of this crap is all about the fact that people that are old and crotchety do not want to believe that someone was actually better than their old heroes when they were growing up. Even thought in every sport players have gotten bigger, faster, and stronger and for some reason we compare things that in other aspects of society would be absurd.

Peace