Steroid/drug testing in indoor/arena football?

[PIONEERSFAN101]

As we know, Floyd Landis' A test came back with some kind of synthetic testosteroine in it, which leads me to believe he is a fraud and a cheat. So I was thinking, what's real in sports anymore? I thought of indoor and arena football, but then I got to thinking..

The indoor football leagues offer an opportunity to "move up" to the AF2, AFL, or NFL. As far as I know, there are only steroid/drug policies in the NFL. So what's stopping some guys in the AF2 or AFL from saying "ya know, if I had some extra edge, I could get on some HGH or something and move up to the NFL and make some SERIOUS cash and play with the big boys" ?

So the real question is: Should there be steroid/drug testing in indoor/arena football? Could it, financially, be done?

[Jamie]

I don't know about steroids... but I do think there's a few people in the Mahoning Valley on drugs...

Seriously, until we have well managed leagues, I don't think we'll see anything like drug testing.

[nksports]

So what's stopping some guys in the AF2 or AFL from saying "ya know, if I had some extra edge, I could get on some HGH or something and move up to the NFL and make some SERIOUS cash and play with the big boys" ?
Probably the fact that he'd get caught pretty quickly as soon as he got the NFL camp.
testing for recreational drugs is pretty cheap, just a few bucks per test. I couldn't find any costs on testing for performance enhancing drugs. My guess would be around $50 a player??? AFL and af2 could probably afford that along with UIF. The others, well .....

[gonzo13]

The WBA (world basketball league) has drug testing. On the professional basketball totem poll, the WBA is in about the same place as the AIFL/NIFL/GLIFL etc in football .So I would think that it would be a possiblity, as Jamie mentioned, "In a well managed league"

[preeths]

Instead of drug testing the players, maybe we should start with some league offices and team owners? I'm open to suggestions on who should be handed the little cup first.

[11HP20]

Gonzo it's none to nice of you to put the GLIFL on the same level as the NIFL and AIFL. Preeths there would have to be a lottery. Too many butt heads are deserving of that first cup.

[exit322]

Yeah, I liked that as well.

I guess playing all our games without incident doesn't mean much...

[gonzo13]

That wasn't a slight against the Great-Lakers. The league is very well run. Probably the best there was this year. I'm sorry I wasn't more clear about what I meant. I just mean that on the road to the top of the pro football world, all of those leagues are pretty close in order.

[Bandito]

I wouldn't worry about it. Like nksports said, if they get chosen to move up they would probably get detected.

[MrBIGGS32]

I wish people would get off the steroids issue. Because if you know anything about steroids, it will not enhance your ability to play a sport better. If it where true we would have everyone in america taken the drug. People just don't see it, if you take the drug you still have to work, it is not a miracle drug. You don't just sit there and poof it works.You still have to work out just has hard to get the results. Honestly why most athletes take it, because of the recovery time, and less injurys. Instead of a week of recovery it will take two days. Yes it enhances strength, but in sports it takes more than just brawn to play a sport.
Some of you guys can't even tell why can't athletes take steroids. Because it is cheating? tell me why is it cheating? The biggest reason people think it is cheating, they heard someone else say it was cheating. Not knowing anything about steroids just what you heard second hand from someone else. Instead of doing your own research about the drug.
I will admitt that I have taken steroids, did it make me a better athlete no. I was always one of the best. But it did help my recovery time, my strength, mental focus on the football field. Was I better than the guys not taken it yes, I was better than them before I started taken it. What people don't relize there will always be someone better then you no matter how many drugs you take. What people also don't relize, all the steroids they put in are beef and chicken. Why do you think are children are bigger. It in not because of family gene pool.
What we should be worried about is obesity. Go to the airport one day and people watch, and pick out all the people you see that are on steroids and all the people you see that are over weight? I can bet you can't pick one person on steroids. Why are we so worried about high priced athletes taken steroids to make a living. These are grown men that can make there own desicions. They make more money that most of us will never see in a life time. But now your saying what about the kids? If you are a father or a mother you can do your best to tell your children the rights and wrongs of drugs. When that child is older it is there own desicion. You knowing they will make the right desicion because they have learn from you.

[Freedom]

I doubt many will agree with you about letting the steroid issue go.

I agree that many people don't realize how altered our foods have become, I agree obesity is a problem.

I don't agree that steroids are okay because it doesn't make people better players. By your definition alone you said it increases recovery time, fewer injuries and enhances strength. Those are advantages that players not using drugs don't have. If it enhances any aspect of you natural abilities regardless of whether or not you must do something in conjunction with it, its wrong.

Why is it cheating?

A definition of cheating is a wrongdoer. If using steroids is wrong in the eyes of the governing body of the sport you play and you decide to use steroids despite the rules, you are in fact cheating.

Nobody made that up . . .

[Pounder]

Improving recovery time? All that means is that the drug lets you slack on endurance training.

Thing is, when the NFL first brought up a steroid bad, Gene Upshaw pretty much let it happen. Lately, the discussion has turned to Human Growth Hormones, and all of a sudden, Upshaw is "standoffish" with the Players Association, and complaining that a drug test used in the 2004 Olympics doesn't work. Methinks we found something.

[Bandito]

The game, all games, should be played on an even level. Either everyone takes "performance enhancing drugs" or no one does! And yes, improving recovery time IS performance enhancing!

[Pounder]

In my humble opinion...

The prime directive is that people get into sport to become healthier, or at least to promote a healthy lifestyle.

The short term benefits and long term drawbacks of steroids are not compatible with this.

If you do NOT do this, then the "culture of competition" simply becomes "culture of scoreboard." **** that.

[MrBIGGS32]

Steroids have been around before you and I. You guys talking about a even playing ground there is no such thing. You can enhance your performance with other drugs. Just because something has worked for one athlete does not mean it will work for another. You guys talk about the drugs like you have done research. Growth Hormone does not work for everyone, can any one tell me what GH was first used for? The NFL has never been on an even playing field with or without steroids, athletes are always going to look an advantage, whether it is legal or not.
So to me it is not cheating, and we can debate this all day and all night. Freedom wrote the definition of cheating is a wrongdoer. So tell me freedom not even 100 years ago black people where told they couldn't learn how to read or write. Where they cheating, because the governing body told them they couldn't. Rules whether you or I like it, are meant to be broken.
Once again these are grown men making lots of money, it doesn't change the sport. Because it is a team sport not an individual sport.

[AllTheRage]

Rules whether you or I like it, are meant to be broken.

That is the most moronic thing I have seen written on this or any other board and beleive me there are a lot of moronic things on this and other boards.

Without rules, you have anarchy.

If the rule is not a good one, change it. But until it is changed, then it stands and it is wrong to break the rule.

[Freedom]

Ahh, Mr.Biggs must be a baseball fan.
Steriods are just part of the game. Look the other way?

Sorry, still can't agree with that.
BTW, that was a horrible analogy on your part.

[11HP20]

Ahh, Mr.Biggs must be a baseball fan.
Steriods are just part of the game. Look the other way?

Sorry, still can't agree with that.
BTW, that was a horrible analogy on your part.


The analogy was horrible. Group A is doing something that is harmful to themselves. The governing body says that it's no good, because it gives an unfair advatage to those who are willing to pollute their bodies.
Group B was trying to better themselves in a healthy fashion. Then ingorance and hate lead a different governing body to say that was a bad thing.

[MrBIGGS32]

Tell me something guys how do you know steroids are harmfull because a doctor said so. There are no studies done, there hasn't been any longterm studies. So how are they harmful?
All the Rage calling some one moronic are fighting words, especially when you don't know what the hell you are talking about. I can't stand baseball, football is my sport and I have played on ever level in football. Believe me steroids are more rampant in football then baseball. Rules are meant to be broken that is why we vote that is why we elect dumb politicians to office. No of you guys can not ever tell me you have never broke a rule. Like drinking underage.
Because you think that was a bad analogy it is wrong. The truth hurts doesn't it. Because you think steroids are harmfull it is true. Not!!! Walking down the side walk can be harmfull, eating food can be harmfull. Give me some evidence that steroids are harmfull? I can bet you can't. I am black man and that was not a horrible analogy. You guys can talk about steroids but where are your facts. I can come up with facts and evidence on both sides of the fence. But you guys have none but trying to make me look stupid because I am on the other side of the fence. I can see I have gotten to you.
Can you guys prove me wrong, or are you just going to call me names. Because you can't handle the truth. Instead of calling me moronic give me some proof about what you are talking about. Now it is my turn to take a jab, you are the guys that tried to play football and couldn't make it. So now your fans and you feel steroids are hurting the sports. Harmfull, that is the best laugh I have heard today. Moronic good one, someone afraid to face racism.

[gonzo13]

Well one thing is for sure. Steroids do not inhance a persons abilities in the areas of spelling and grammar. Why should we take your word for it on this topic? Are you a doctor? What are your credentials, besides having been on them yourself? I am a high school football coach, should I push steroids on my players? Is it totally harmless for a 16 year old kid to pump that stuff into his body? And how in the world was anybody supposed to know you are black? This is a MESSAGE BOARD....not a VIDEO CONFERENCE. Maybe we're all black. That was another dumb thing to say. Your analogy would have been just as bad if you were white. Please keep your personal politics out of this SPORTS message board.

[Freedom]

Tell me something guys how do you know steroids are harmfull because a doctor said so. There are no studies done, there hasn't been any longterm studies. So how are they harmful?
All the Rage calling some one moronic are fighting words, especially when you don't know what the hell you are talking about. I can't stand baseball, football is my sport and I have played on ever level in football. Believe me steroids are more rampant in football then baseball. Rules are meant to be broken that is why we vote that is why we elect dumb politicians to office. No of you guys can not ever tell me you have never broke a rule. Like drinking underage.
Because you think that was a bad analogy it is wrong. The truth hurts doesn't it. Because you think steroids are harmfull it is true. Not!!! Walking down the side walk can be harmfull, eating food can be harmfull. Give me some evidence that steroids are harmfull? I can bet you can't. I am black man and that was not a horrible analogy. You guys can talk about steroids but where are your facts. I can come up with facts and evidence on both sides of the fence. But you guys have none but trying to make me look stupid because I am on the other side of the fence. I can see I have gotten to you.
Can you guys prove me wrong, or are you just going to call me names. Because you can't handle the truth. Instead of calling me moronic give me some proof about what you are talking about. Now it is my turn to take a jab, you are the guys that tried to play football and couldn't make it. So now your fans and you feel steroids are hurting the sports. Harmfull, that is the best laugh I have heard today. Moronic good one, someone afraid to face racism.

I tried to tell you, most people wouldn't agree . . . ;)

I'll leave you to your battles. My only intention was to answer the question of why steroid use is considered cheating. I did that.

I'll leave it to others on the board to discuss the harmful effects of daily life, racism, history, sports medicine, politics, underage drinking and analogies.

Take care . . .

[xd40shooter]

http://www.webmd.com/content/Article/102/106612.htm?pagenumber=2

Goes over some of the side effects of Steroid abuse. Including the obvious mood swings, but also Increased risk of heart attack, Increase LDC cholestoral, and many others.

Also it was a bad analogy. Just b/c you're black doesn't mean it isn't. For one, You've never been touched by slavery. And Second, there were many other members of the government who didn't agree with it, unlike steroid use which the entire governing body is against.

And yes, I've drank underage, but not b/c the rule was meant to be broken. I broke the rule, and had I gotten caught, would've been punished. Just like steroid abusers should be.

[MrBIGGS32]

How dare you tell me what I have been touched by, I have seen it first hand through my great grandmother, my grandmothers, my grandfathers and my mother and father. Which are from Mississippi. You don't know me. So how and the hell can you tell me what I have been touched by. I have learned from them, so your telling me what I havn't be touch by. That is more than a 100 years of history. I have been touched by slavery.
Your going to here it form me first, the goverment is full of sh__ . I wrote each congress man a letter on how I felt about there stuid which hunt. Come on, all the dirt are goverment does, and they want to pick on baseball, football and the basketball. They just want part of the money all the sports are generating. When the goverment can get a war right, and help out in a the victims of Katrina. Then maybe tackle the steroid issue. The goverment brakes there own rules, so how can they tell someone else how to govern there own. Oh! give me the definition of steroid abuser?

[preeths]

This thread has devolved into lunacy and is now way off topic. It is now closed.