Phillies' Romero Suspended 50 Games

Whoa. That's pretty surprising. I hope the newspapers don't go crazy about it though; the steroids problem is overblown. That's a big loss though. Just out of curiosity (and ignorance), is there any chance of false positives on these tests? Because if there are, they should redo all positive tests to verify. Maybe they already do, but I have no idea.

"I still cannot see where I did something wrong"

Let me help you there JC. You went to GNC and bought a supplement. It contained substances that are banned by MLB. You tested postive, and will now be suspended for it.

And to anyone else that plans on mentioning the PA or his nutritionists, he's a big boy. He's responsible for what he puts in his body. Nobody else. He had the opportunity to call the league drug hotline before taking it, and decided not to.

Enjoy the vacation.

How dumb can you be

this is really shocking... I've always watched JC pitch since his days with the Angels. He had talent, but if this is how he was obtaining his talent, then it really is a shame

"Really? The PA said specifically that the substance he took was legal."

So what? They were wrong. Since when is the PA the drug knowledge master?

Again... the league has a HUGE resource to avoid these kinds of problems. He chose not to use it.

BTW, Ben Jones: you should really post more of the story. What you posted makes it look like Romero is an idiot and can't tell how he messed up. You should post the part about why it is controversial.

"So what? They were wrong. Since when is the PA the drug knowledge master?

Again... the league has a HUGE resource to avoid these kinds of problems. He chose not to use it."

He obviously made a mistake. He probably should have asked the hotline. But it's really the PA's fault. They shouldn't be telling the players something that is the opposite of the truth.

...yeah, and Rafael Palmiero hasn't "corked his bat" with Viagra either.

@Buzz: He wasn't fined. He lost 1.25 million of his salary(probably ~1/3) because he is out for 50 games.

"Yes, the PA screwed up as well. However, they aren't the experts. Why would he even bother asking them? The only opinion that matters is the league's."

He didn't ask them. They sent a letter to the players saying that 3 specific substances were legal. If they told me that, I would believe them.

this help the NL East alot
he was one of the best setup man to a closer who never blown a save
not to mention ryan madison success

"this help the NL East alot
he was one of the best setup man to a closer who never blown a save"

Actually he walked in runs in the beginning of the year, he got the wins when it mattered the most WORLD SERIES!

OK so the PA told him it was fine before he bought it. Why then did he find it necessary to run it by his nutritionist, his strength and conditioning coach, and a second nutritionist?

I agree that this isn't a simple case of doping and hoping not to get caught. However, the end result is the same. You are responsible for what you put in your body. It doesn't matter what anyone says about it... only the league. And it seems like that's the one person/entity that he didn't consult with.

as much as i hate the phillies, this is unjust. he should fight mlb and the pa because they clearly fd up and somewhat tricked him

stellar,

you're a joke. Do you even have a clue what happened or are you a mets fan hiding behind this.

At first i was SO pissed off at JC as i felt it would taint out championship. Then when i actually listened to the story as far as what happened, ie when the PA said it was fine and later found out they screwed up, i realize there's nothing wrong.

Also what hasn't been pointed out is that JC was given the oppourtunity to plead guilty to it and have his suspension reduced to 25 games. he refused because he did nothing wrong.

To me this is akin to the NFL's current "diuretic" controvery.

he'll do his time and We'll STILL beat the Mets.

BTW, any Phils fan who jumped on Jordan Schafer when he got nailed for HGH needs to hush up.

illegal drug use huh?

Its not as if he was being shot up by mark Mcgwire here. Get off your high horse. He made the mistake of trusting the PA.

Oh and please don't compare it to HGH use. That's ridiculous.

Illegal drug use for lack of a better term. Illegal substance consuming. Better?

Yes, he made a mistake trusting the PA. Yes, the PA was wrong in giving him that information. But in the end, everyone is responsible for what they put in their body. And if they don't want to take the time to ask the league, they need to be willing to accept the consequences.

He is a health NUT, he isnt going to do illegal stuff on prpose

2009 World Champion Philadelphia Phillies*

Posted by: nostocksjustbonds | January 05, 2009 at 10:04 PM

haha. It wasn't the clear you know, LOL!!

Apparently he's not willing to accept the consequences when he doesn't even know what he did wrong.

"We have previously told you there is no reason to believe a supplement bought at a U.S. based retail store could cause you to test positive under our Drug Program.

Stellar,

exactly what about the above do you NOT understand? Did you even read the article? Watch a news report? Take off your David Wright footie pajamas and look at it honestly.

As a Phils fan I am pissed he didn't check with the hotline first and am willing to accept it but am damn proud not only that Romero wouldn't be bullied by the league and had the mental toughness to pitch as well as he did under such duress. He's gonna be so wired when he comes back.

"Watch a news report? Take off your David Wright footie pajamas and look at it honestly."

If you want to have a real discussion, I'm all for it. When you start hurling jabs is when people start realizing that you're immature and incapable of having a real discussion.

In fairness to Romero, he stopped taking it as soon as this whole thing came up. It was out of his system for the playoffs.

"They told Romero this drug was legal, because it was not on the list of banned substances at the time. That is why Romero took it."

If it was that simple, he wouldn't be suspended. There has to be some kind of grace period from the time a drug gets added to the banned list to the time it can no longer be in your system.

I have a feeling we don't have all the details we need to get a clear picture of just what happened.

He won't be a hero because regardless of the outcome, its not a situation that calls for a hero in one way or another.

But judging Gammons' article on just the facts in the article, it really seems like Romero got the short end of the stick.

I know that Romero deserves a consequence for this, but there needs to be different suspensions for a case like this and a case where someone deliberatly takes HGH and tries to hide it.

I'm not at all making him out to be a drug addict. I totally agree that he took it while thinking it was legal. i don't think he's a bad guy or anything.

Just want to make that clear.

This is an interesting case. It doesn't seem that Romero was knowingly taking a banned substance. It is hard to judge him to be guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. People should not be jumping to conclusions about this situation.

The biggest problem here is that the Players Association and MLB need to get their act together so that they both know what substances are allowed and which aren't. There seems to be a lack of communication here, especially with the mid-season change with this substance. The other issue that stands out is who Romero consulted about the supplement. The team trainer Lein should be one of the most knowledgeable sources, he is certified as an athletic trainer and is being employed by the Phillies, it is his job to know what substances are allowable by MLB standards. Romero should not be consulting with any nutritionists that are outside the confines of MLB if they are not experts on the bylines of the MLB drug rules.

Romero deserves to be able to appeal the case if he believes himself to be innocent. In addition the circumstance warrants further investigation to determine where the blame lies in this infraction.

"The biggest problem here is that the Players Association and MLB need to get their act together so that they both know what substances are allowed and which aren't. There seems to be a lack of communication here, especially with the mid-season change with this substance. The other issue that stands out is who Romero consulted about the supplement. The team trainer Lein should be one of the most knowledgeable sources, he is certified as an athletic trainer and is being employed by the Phillies, it is his job to know what substances are allowable by MLB standards. Romero should not be consulting with any nutritionists that are outside the confines of MLB if they are not experts on the bylines of the MLB drug rules."

Best post so far.

"Romero deserves to be able to appeal the case if he believes himself to be innocent. In addition the circumstance warrants further investigation to determine where the blame lies in this infraction."

He did appeal. The arbitration hearing took place at the beginning of the World Series. ESPN doesn't say what the outcome was, just that the arbitrator changed his mind in December. I guess in October they ruled to dismiss the whole thing?

He checked with his nutritionist, who would work in tandem with the strength coach for obvious reasons. The strength coach suggested that he get a second opinion. Clearly Romero was trying to be cautious before he used the supplement.

That being said, it was a terribly dumb move. If the PA could not give him a definitive answer they should've put him in contact with someone from the league office that could give him the answer.

What's more interesting is that when he purchased the bottle there was no warning, but at the hearing the bottle had the warning on it...

It's unfortunate that he'll have to be reminded of it...the team clearly earned those rings, with or without JC's supplement.

Quick question..

how come when Bonds says he didn't know it was a banned substance, nobody believed him but when JC Romero says he doesn't know it was a banned substance, everybody's saying it is unjust?

JC Romero messed up, if he wasn't certain about a product, do some god damn research on the internet and make sure what you're doing won't cost you 1.25MM and won't make you look like a cheater.

Because Bonds was never told that his product was legal. Romero was told that.

And when it comes down to it, the product Romero took was legal. The stuff Bonds took wasn't.

CGon, the project is legal, perfectly legal, but not for baseball players.

Steriods are illegal, by law, what Romero took is illegal by sports.

You can buy it and be perfectly happy.

As i said, half the stuff on the banned list for sports are perfectly legal products like stuff for hair growth, that contain a component that could be performance enhancing. Banned by sports, perfectly legal for the rest of us.

CGon, who said he isn't covering something? well science i guess, he would have to be using something stat of the art, and I hardly think he is the guy.

According to the phil sheridan article here:http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/20090105_Phils_Romero_facing_50-game_ban.html

The timeline was like this.
MLBPA tells all players that OTC supplements are safe.
JC spots a new supplement in Vitimin Shoppe.
JC asks Lien about the supplement, Lien tells him to get a second opinion.
JC asks his trainer, who checked MLB's banned substance list and saw nothing.
Lien sends samples to the MLB.
The lab sends a report to Bud saying it may test positive.
No one tells JC
JC tests positive.

It is clear that, while JC should have gotten the supplement tested first before taking, he isn't the only one at fault in this mess.

"how come when Bonds says he didn't know it was a banned substance, nobody believed him but when JC Romero says he doesn't know it was a banned substance, everybody's saying it is unjust?"

Because BALCO isn't GNC.

This allegation is 110% incorrect. It was said to be legal. This is ridiculous. I don't think Romero can be replaced for 50 games or even close. He brings a special energy and talent to the Phillies. Just ridiculous.

what is goin on here is that the mlb tells the story in a way that is convenient for them because i'm pretty sure thet if JC tested 100% positive they wouldve just suspended him immediately but why wait till now doesn't every one see they don't want accept the fact that they screw up again why suddenly the product had the warning label and by the way JAMES i think you read the wrong article cuz the name of the product is 6 OXO