By Mark David Blum, Esq.

So another athlete stands accused of using steroids. From that accusation, Mr. Landis will be stripped of his team membership and lose credit for his spectacular win in the Tour De France. I watched that race and saw nothing less than a Herculean effort of the spirit and soul drive Landis over the Alps. No drug did that; only the sheer power of human will could conquer a fete such as that. If the naysayers get their way, it will be as though Landis never even rode in that race. .

This is the United States of America. We are a free nation that prides itself on individual achievement and success. Ours is not a social construct predicated upon disabling those out front so as to enable those who cannot or will not keep up, to do so. In sports, as in life, the loudest opponents to the concepts of “higher”, “faster”, and “stronger” are those same purists who seek a return to their little house on the prairie, want their two chickens in every pot, dream they are the Marlboro man, and plan a Donna Reed lifestyle. They will not look forward and insist on anchoring human enlightenment and progress in a bygone era.

“We have the technology”.

Americans have labored long and hard to enhance the standard of living. We have built the most impressive technology, garnered incredible scientific achievement, and expanded intellectual understanding of the universe beyond our Founders’ wildest dreams. We have driven the surface of Mars, discovered the computer chip, split the atom, and figured out the science of cloning. All of this was for the betterment of the human condition. Yet, when it comes to taking advantage of this technology for growing our own human potential, some folks dig in and insist we hold onto the ways of old. To them, churning butter is much more beneficial to humanity than margarine.

My wife had a major operation a few years ago. I had a lengthy and long discussion with the anesthesiologist prior thereto about the subject of pain management. He elaborated on what I already knew; namely, that in his profession, there are two schools of thought. One school says pain management and the drugs available should only be used to help a person deal with the pain. The other school says we have the technology and should use the spectrum of drugs available to eradicate pain altogether. Of course it was her luck to draw a student of the former but his attitude changed when I gave him my best Shirley McLaine impression when the nominal pain relief was not working.

The issue however begs the bigger question. Why interfere with athletes who choose to consume and use steroids they believe enhance performance? So far, I have yet to hear a valid and reasonable reason for the revulsion being expressed by the ‘hall monitors – turned politicians’. If Marian Jones, Barry Bonds, Jason Giambi and a plethora of other professional athletes can run faster, jump higher, hit harder, and perform better, then does not that bespeak of the value of the drug? Are not athletics all about ‘stronger faster higher’?

Objections come in two groups. There are those who claim that steroid use is “cheating”. Another group says steroids are too dangerous. We know now that both claims are not true.

I wish someone would explain to me how steroid use is cheating. Only the competitors bending over for the silver or bronze medals consider steroid use to be cheating.

Steroids increase muscle mass, increase aggressiveness, and have all these other effects that somehow enhance the work an athlete does in preparing for his/her sport. The drug itself is not a performance enhancer but rather drives the athlete to work harder and go faster. This is not cheating; this is taking advantage of what is already there. The drugs are not running, jumping, or swimming. Since the entire concept of athletic competition is about capability, then why not do all we can to bring this about and encourage this performance? If it were the drug, then every user would be a champion and every abstainer would be a failure. What does that say about Michael Jordan, Donovan McNabb, or even Hank Aaron himself?

Nobody is forcing these drugs into people. Those who choose not to partake certainly have that right … but they cannot whine about losing … no more than I can whine for not winning the Indy 500 because I was driving a Pinto. Besides, with all the science being currently employed in professional athletics, trainers have found ways to achieve the same effect with diet, LEGAL drugs, and other supplements. Is this cheating?

Steroids are unhealthy. They can cause great harm. Nobody disputes this. But then again, so can aspirin, cigarettes, sugar, or even walking across the street. All of these things, if unregulated and uncontrolled, can kill you. Today, with so much money invested in an athlete and in his performance, with the levels of medical skill and scientific expertise, it is unlikely that steroids would be used to a dangerous level. But this only applies if they are regulated and controlled; not banned and made illegal.

Yes, there will be those who ABUSE the drug. But since we do not punish all drinkers for the behaviors of the drunk, we should not deprive our athletes the right to “be all they can be” because of the mismanagement of a few.

Do you really have enough information to take a stand on this issue? Or is it like our “other” Drug War, you just accept they are “bad” because some old man tells you so. How many of you use your own performance enhancing drugs … Viagara, Cialis, or Levitra?

For me, I am more offended that anyone would ever think of proclaiming to the world that Mr. Landis did not prove himself the King of the Cycling world in the Tour De France. You cannot unring that bell. His achievement survives even if you puritans strike him from the record books. Think for just a moment what it took to drive Landis up and over the Alps to recoup that eight minute deficit. For me, there are not enough drugs in the world to get me over the Alps at that speed.

… and while we are on the subject … should we discuss Darryl Strawberry or Reggie Williams?