PEDs Claim Two More as Excuses Increase

Paulino will lose over $250,000 in salary
due to his mistake.

It was announced yesterday the Florida Marlins catcher Ronny Paulino was to serve a 50-game suspension due to a positive test for a banned substance under the MLB drug policy. The NFL also added that Shawn Nelson of the Buffalo Bills was also slapped with a four game suspension for a "no-no". It is unknown the substance found with Nelson's test.

All of this comes on the heels of Roger Clemens being indicted on perjury charges for allegedly lying to Congress regarding PED use. Throw in the NFL's recent decision to uphold the four-game suspension of Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing for testing positive for hCG and we have more to add to the list. List of cheaters to some. List of ignorant to others. List of arrogant to many.

This will not go away. Ever. It will last as long as the substances exist so we better prepare ourselves for the non-shock of any news of any player in any sport being suspended for usage. I've already grown numb of the issue.

Paulino stated that he was taking a diet supplement in order to control his weight. He was unaware the supplement contained the banned substance. But, somehow, Paulino accepts responsibility.

"I accept full responsibility and all consequences for this mistake, and therefore choose not to challenge my suspension," the 29-year-old Paulino said. "I was irresponsible for failing to take all precautionary steps in confirming the approval of the dietary pill. Without a doubt, I have learned from my mistake."

Responsibility? Seriously?

The MLBPA has a website in which players can refer to for the list of banned substances. Anyone can access this information. Anyone. Not just the players. It's part of the CBA for cryin' out loud. You have a tool. Use the damn thing. Someone gives you something or you take it upon yourself to take some unknown substance and you don't check to contents? To do so would be responsible. I haven't been able to buy the "I didn't know" line for years.

And it's not just Paulino and Nelson. Don't think I'm trying to bury these guys. The Marlins think he's a great teammate and were shocked to learn of this. In fact, Marlins owner Jeffery Loria ordered the organization to immediately review the means in which Marlins players are being educated on the matter of PEDs. I'm sure the Bills will miss Nelson as they were short at tight end due to injuries.

The major thing about all the PED crap (and it is crap) is that the athletes are becoming more creative with their "excuses". In essence, according to his statement, Paulino is claiming ignorance. He simply didn't do his due diligence. As of yet, neither Nelson nor his agent, Joel Segal, have commented. But Cushing's case is different. Really different.

Overtraining?

Texans owner Bob McNair went to New York on Cushing's behalf to appeal the four game suspension. I give McNair credit here. He knows the Texans need this guy and he'll do anything he can to get him back on the field. But McNair had to be convinced that Cushing had legit grounds for an appeal. Cushing has stated from the day he was informed of the positive test that he did not "knowingly" take hCG, the substance found in his system at the time the test was administered. Cushing has not tested positive since.

So why the one positive test? Cushing's newest theory..."overtrained athlete syndrome". I'm not a doctor and I don't play one on TV, but this is sounding far-fetched. So...I did something surfing.

hCG, also known as human chorionic gonadotropin, is a hormone that is produced by females during pregnancy. It is also associated as being a tumor marker as the tumor can secrete hCG. It also used as a weight loss supplement, although that aspect of its use has met with controversy. But, in males, hCG can be used to maintain the production of testosterone and, more prominently, kickstart testosterone production after a steroid cycle has ended. Males can also use hCG as a form of fertility treatment.

Overtraining is extremely possible. I cannot deny that fact at all. In fact, overtraining was popular with Soviet athletes as a training technique. I've not read where hCG is naturally produced in a males body, other than tumors which Cushing has previously stated that the thought he may have had cancer. Thankfully, he doesn't. I don't know if Cushing is in the business of fathering children either, so I can't buy this.

But Peter King of Sports Illustrated chatted with Cushing. Even after reading this, I'm still not in Cushing's corner. The NFL didn't buy it either. And exactly does Cushing think he's trying to fool here?

"Everything points to that overtrained athlete syndrome,'' Cushing said, walking back to the Texans' locker room after their afternoon practice. "I'm pretty sure it is. I'm pretty positive. I didn't take anything. It's not a tainted supplement. So all roads lead to that.''

Pretty sure? Pretty positive? In other words, Cushing still doesn't know.

Or does he?