Court rules feds are entitled to baseball steroid testing data

[bravosfan]

The names and urine samples of about 100 Major League Baseball players who tested positive three years ago can be used by federal investigators, a court ruled Wednesday -- a decision that could have implications for Barry Bonds.

The ruling from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals could bolster the government's perjury case against Bonds if investigators are able to link his name to a positive test from baseball's anonymous testing in 2003. The San Francisco Giants slugger has been the target of a perjury investigation since he testified before a 2004 grand jury that he didn't knowingly use illegal drugs.

The decision also could help authorities find the drug sources. Those who tested positive could be called before the federal grand jury and asked where they obtained their performance-enhancing drugs.

Greg Anderson, Bonds' personal trainer, is currently in prison for refusing to testify in the perjury probe. Anderson previously was convicted of steroids distribution.

During 2004 raids on three labs involved in the MLB testing program, investigators seized computer files containing the 2003 test results. The unidentified samples had been collected as part of a MLB survey to gauge the prevalence of steroid use.

Baseball players and owners agreed in their 2002 labor contract that the results would be confidential, and each player was assigned a code number to be matched with his name.

http://sports.yahoo.com/top/news;_ylt=Al_LA.2ZlY4uU8.lXr25cYkRvLYF?slug=ap-athletes-steroids&prov=ap&type=lgns

[AI_Franchise]

Re: Court rules feds are entitled to baseball steroid testing data

Still don't mean they will leak names..or will they? Nah, don't think so.

[Lintyfresh85]

Re: Court rules feds are entitled to baseball steroid testing data

of course the names will be leaked! This is America, if someone can make some money, or make someone look bad it's gonna happen!

[TDO]

Re: Court rules feds are entitled to baseball steroid testing data

could get very interesting....

[skitch]

Re: Court rules feds are entitled to baseball steroid testing data

I was going to post this before the downtime occured, but couldn't get around to it. This should be interesting to see what happens, even though it'll take another few months before we figure out anything more. The whole steroid saga drags on and on and on...

[chippered]

Re: Court rules feds are entitled to baseball steroid testing data

Hopefully the names will be leaked, helping to end some of the speculation.

[Neolithic]

Re: Court rules feds are entitled to baseball steroid testing data

it'll still take months to over a year. the players union can and will either ask for a new panel at this court level....or appeal the decision at the US Supreme court......yay

[The C]

Re: Court rules feds are entitled to baseball steroid testing data

The gov really wants Barry huh?

Isn't there some more constructive use of tax dollars?

Like subsidizing breast augmentation.

[SPTO]

Re: Court rules feds are entitled to baseball steroid testing data

This will be VERY interesting. I'm willing to bet Roger Clemens' name will be on there.

[fowess]

Re: Court rules feds are entitled to baseball steroid testing data

Will the government force MLB to suspend these players (if any ... well, there will be a few I'd bet) that tested positive?

[Lintyfresh85]

Re: Court rules feds are entitled to baseball steroid testing data

Will the government force MLB to suspend these players (if any ... well, there will be a few I'd bet) that tested positive?

I doubt it, first it's post fact now, and secondly, I don't think the government would ever take enough interest in a sport to ever start asking them to suspend certain people.

[LetsGoBucs]

Re: Court rules feds are entitled to baseball steroid testing data

Isn't there some more constructive use of tax dollars?

Like subsidizing breast augmentation.

YES!

BTW, I heard on ESPN radio this morning that 8 out of the 10 players in the BALCO thing were on the list of players that tested positive. Not sure how accurate that report was, just thought I'd mention it. It also didn't mention which players...

[bkfount]

Re: Court rules feds are entitled to baseball steroid testing data

The gov really wants Barry huh?

Isn't there some more constructive use of tax dollars?

Like subsidizing breast augmentation.

the govt does this to make a token statement. They went after martha stewart hard too, spending more tax money than her bank account benefited from her actions. I also think these names will be leaked so the court of public opinion takes over.

[SPTO]

Re: Court rules feds are entitled to baseball steroid testing data

I doubt it, first it's post fact now, and secondly, I don't think the government would ever take enough interest in a sport to ever start asking them to suspend certain people.

You are quite right about that but the government can dangle the possiblity of revoking the Antitrust Exemption. If the names are big enough and the scope of the problem is large enough I wouldn't put it past the government to hold another hearing, publicly scold Selig and take the antitrust exemption away.

Now THAT would change things.