All hail the paternal State, Bush Signs Law Banning Certain Steroid-Like Drugs:
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush signed a law on Friday banning certain steroid-like drugs, used by some athletes as performance enhancers.The new law adds 18 substances to the list of banned anabolic steroids, including androstenedione, also known as “andro,” which was made famous by baseball slugger Mark McGwire in the 1990s.
When injected, these substances metabolize into testosterone or other illicit steroids, and federal regulators have been seeking to crack down on the makers of these drugs.
“Steroid use by young people is a serious health issue,” said Sen. Joseph Biden, who crafted the measure.
“This new law sends a strong message about andro and other steroid precursors. We are calling them what they really are: drugs, performance enhancing drugs,” the Democrat from Delaware said.
The newly signed “Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 2004,” also requires a review of federal sentencing guidelines for offenses involving anabolic steroids. It calls for criminal penalties for those caught making, selling or possessing the substances.
The new law also provides $15 million for education programs to teach children about the dangers of steroids.
As seen above, everyone’s favorite freedom fighter took the War on Drugs to the gym, because enhancing and honing your athletic abilities should be done without the use of biochemical stimulants.
As an athlete that has used andro and currently has some Methyl-1-T sitting on his desk (dare I admit it?), I am curious to know what constitutes a “performance enhancing drug.” Why isn’t a Subway sandwich considered a performance enhancing drug? What about Gatorade? What about water? Each of these substances aid in ones physical development and allow the athlete to perform at a certain level above-and-beyond those individuals who do not use them.
It is one thing for a league, competition, team, venue, etc. to ban a set of drugs (such as the Olympics or MLB), as these are organizations that you voluntarily join and can leave if so desired, but the State is an entity which you are required to submit to (i.e., you are not given the opportunity to leave or say “no” — you must comply or else…).
While I will not argue against the fact that using pro-hormone-based products improperly can create unsightly or dangerous side-effects (acne, ‘bitch-tits,’ shrinkage-of-captain-commando, etc.), the same can be said for a number of other legal products such as aspirin or the consumption of movie theater popcorn. Unfortunately for the body building community (and anyone else including those in physical therapy), personal responsibility has been stripped from individuals, taken by the Nanny State, for our own protection.
The sheer smug self-righteousness that the legislators revel in reminds me of what the city council in College Station did this past year. Bible-thumping social conservatives managed to enact a policy which required the Adult Video store to remove the word “Adult” from the side of its building — it is now simply the “Video” store on the corner of University and Texas Avenue.
The Final Word With Jerry Springer
If you do not like a product, or want your children or loved ones to use it, try a simple concept and don’t use it. Preventing others from purchasing a product or forcing companies to shut down or cater to your moral pietistic life style is childish. Remember, if nothing else, you can vote on it.