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The New MLB Drug Testing Policy

If youve been following the news lately, no doubt youve heard about the new MLB drug testing policy. While you may have heard about the policy you might not understand the specific implications of the policy and how it may affect your favorite players and teams.

The new policy was brought about by threat of legislation from Congress. Under the policy tougher penalties for steroid use are implemented. Under the new policy the players are to be tested during their spring training along with at least one additional test during the regular season as well as being subject to random testing throughout the regular season.

Under the previous policy, penalties were much less severe. For example, for a first offense a player would be subject to a 10-day suspension and then 30 days for a second offense. A third offense would rate a 60 day suspension. The new policy calls for a 50 game suspension for the first offense and a 100 game offense for the second offense. For a third offense the player will receive a lifetime ban. Additionally, after the first offense the player will be subjected to amphetamines testing as well as steroid testing. This is the first time the problem of amphetamine use will have been addressed by a policy with MLB. Under the old policy a player could not receive a lifetime ban until he had been hit with at least a fifth offense.

Under the previous policy testing was also conducted on a much less frequent basis. Testing was conducted at the beginning of spring training with no additional testing through the regular season other than random testing. Under this policy, it was quite possible for a player to only be tested once from the beginning of spring training throughout the regular season.

The policy stipulated that players who tested positive for steroid the year prior to the new policy taking affect would be treated as first time offenders under the new policy if they should test positive again.

It should be noted that in the event a player is banned for life after a third offense under the new policy, a player can apply for permission to return to the game two years after receiving the ban. An independent arbitrator can be assigned for the purpose of reviewing the Commissioners decision in this instance.

The policy also takes a stab at possession of illegal steroid use in addition to use of illegal steroids. Players convicted for the possession of illegal steroids are subject to a 60-80 game suspension for the first offense and 120 games to one year for a second offense. A lifetime ban is on the table for a third offense. Players who are convicted of steroid distribution face tougher suspensions for the first offense and are subject to a lifetime ban after the first offense.

Penalties for amphetamine use are slightly less severe than for steroid use. Mandatory follow-up testing is dictated for the first offense with a 25 game suspension for the second offense. An 80 game suspension will be given for the third positive test and at the fourth offense the penalty is left up to the Commissioner, which could include a lifetime ban.

Joe Kenny writes for the UK soccer forum site, FootballTalk.org. Join the football forum for free today and have your say!

posted by nwwhimy @ 2:52 PM 0 comments

Top Three Death-Causing Toxic Chemicals That Can Be Found In Commercial Dog Foods

As a dog owner, you should be always looking for healthier dog food with higher quality.

The problem is that most of the dog owners like you are taught to believe that commercial dog foods are healthier choices for your dogs. The truth is most of them are NOT. Read on to find out why.

Here are the top three death-causing toxic chemicals that can be found in most commercial dog foods:

1. Sodium pentobarbital
2. BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole), BHT (butylated hydroxytolulene), Ethoxyquin and Propylene glycol
3. Lead

Their devastating effects have led them to be banned from human consumption. Read on to find out.

Sodium pentobarbital is the chemical that veterinarians use to put dogs and cats to sleep. This toxic chemical cannot be removed completely during food processing. So when your dog eats those commercial dog foods, it is possible for this death-causing toxic to accumulate inside their body system permanently. When it reaches a toxic level, it will kill, if not, cause irreversible damages to your dogs body system eventually causing it to fall ill easily or result in organ failure.

BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole), BHT (butylated hydroxytolulene), ethoxyquin and propylene glycol are commonly used as fat stabilizers in dog foods as preservatives. BHA and BHT cause liver and kidney dysfunction while ethoxyquin is a potential cancer-causing agent. Hence, many companies have claimed that they moved away from using ethoxyquin. Another toxic chemical, propylene glycol, is found in many semi-moist dog foods and causes red blood cells destruction.

Lead, an extremely toxic heavy metal is also commonly found in pet foods. A research conducted in Massachusetts Institute of Technology published as "Lead in Animal Foods," presented one shocking discovery A typical 9-pound cat was found to be ingesting, through commercial pet food, far more lead daily than the toxic level for children in their lifetime. Imagine that on your dog. And here is the worst part heavy metals reside in body systems permanently. Heavy metals have known to cause nervous damage to animals when accumulated in their body systems.

This is a very real fact of commercial dog foods though not all commercial dog companies pumps all these materials into their dog food products.

So if you truly want the best for your dog, the best way out is to personally prepare food meals for it. At least you know you wont be pumping the food up with any unnecessary deadly preservatives.

© Dominic Tay, DogFoodSecretsExposed.com

© Dominic Tay, DogFoodSecretsExposed.com

posted by nwwhimy @ 12:53 AM 0 comments