Attention MLB, NBA, NFL, etc., this is how you deal with players that use banned substances. None of this first offense, second offense crap - the player in question here, Australian Rugby Union star Wendell Sailor, was banned for two years and had his contract ripped up. He got caught using cocaine, not steroids or other performance enhancing drugs. What would the NBA, NFL, or MLB look like if they banned every player they caught using recreational drugs? You would find a significant amount of star players being banned. You can’t have a clearer picture than saying to your players - if you’re caught, you’re done for two years. In Baseball, the first time you’re caught you miss 50 games (the equivalent of 2.5 months), the second offence is 100 games or 5 months, and the third offense is a lifetime ban. In the NBA, they ask players to attend drug rehab. In the NFL, only after the fourth offence are players banned for one year.

Wendell Sailor - cocaine

Ricky Williams - marijuana

Barry Bonds - steroids??

Tougher bans are needed for these sports to maintain any amount of credibility. Pussy-footing around this issue only further embarasses these organisations. If only they cared about the credibility of their leagues in the same way they cared about lining their pockets. A harsh sentence for a first offence is the only way to send a message to players that drugs will not be tolerated in any form within professional sports. At 32, Wendell Sailor’s career is now all but over. I don’t feel pity for him - he wanted to get a quick high by snorting some drugs. His banning should be a message to all professional athletes in Australia not to throw away your career and your legacy by making stupid decisions.

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Look mum, no pads!

This entry was posted on Friday, July 21st, 2006 at 12:17 pm and is filed under General Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.