11/05/24
January 19, 2006
Blue Jackets' Berard tests positive for banned substance: Mandatory testing for "performance-enhancing substances", as agreed by the NHL and NHLPA in the new CBA, began on Jan. 15. In what may be an indicator of what’s to come, Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Bryan Berard tested positive nandrolone as part of drug testing for the Olympics.
posted by canucklehead to hockey at 11:56 PM - 24 comments
I never stopped marveling at Berard's ability to cope and thrive after his eye accident. In retrospect, this was not really a surprise, given how much he had to change his style. He had to become better at every other part of the game. He had to get faster, stronger, tougher, and develop more stamina, because of the fact that he can basically only see out of the one eye. He'll pay the penalty, whatever it is, but that doesn't mean I don't feel for him.
posted by chicobangs at 02:23 AM on January 20, 2006
Thank you for putting it into perspective chico, this whole thing, again.... I was crestfallen when Berard was injured playing for the Leafs, and this, sigh... I'm going to become 'that guy' on SportsFilter (the guy that's constantly being disappointed).
posted by insomnyuk at 02:26 AM on January 20, 2006
This doesn't prove Berard's innocence, but this fact just at the end of the article is very relevant: It should be noted that the IOC was able to find Nandrolone in over 14% of muscle-building supplements it tested - all claiming to be "natural", "safe" or "steroid free". I know, they all say this all the time, but in the case of this specific substance case there have been multiple proven instances of contamination. It is quite possible that Berard is guilty only of stupidity here.
posted by Amateur at 07:24 AM on January 20, 2006
He'll pay the penalty, whatever it is The only penalty he'll pay is not being able to compete in international hockey for two years. And he wasn't exactly high on the depth chart for Team USA. So, no big deal for him, really.
posted by fabulon7 at 08:00 AM on January 20, 2006
Amateur, excellent point. I wouldn't even call it stupidity if the advertising was false. A lack of thoroughness, perhaps?
posted by garfield at 08:22 AM on January 20, 2006
Over time, and to the extent feasible, the Program Committee will endeavor to develop an "approved list" of nutritional supplements, which will have been tested and certified as being free of prohibited substances. I would stop using supplements until this is published. Something like this happened in the world of swimming a couple of years ago. Luckily Vencill was able to get some monetary compensation but I'm sure he would have rather had his shot in the '04 olympics.
posted by HATER 187 at 08:31 AM on January 20, 2006
I think it's a bit stupid because it's pretty well-known that the dietary supplement industry is poorly regulated. Certainly Olympic athletes who are subject to drug testing have been warned about supplements for years. Some countries (and even some NCAA schools) have now negotiated their own agreements with supplement providers that "guarantee" clean products. On the other hand, Berard probably has not had that much exposure to drug testing in recent years, so it would be a pretty easy mistake to make. The NHLPA is going to have to make all of its members aware of this. FWIW I also believe that some of the positives in MLB this past summer were the result of contamination. Not the big one, though; there are no documented cases of contamination with stanazolol.
posted by Amateur at 08:36 AM on January 20, 2006
HATER, the substance that Vencill tested positive for (19-norandrosterone) is a 'steroid precursor' and the steroid in question is nandrolone. So this may be exactly the same thing; and as noted in the story, Vencill proved his case in court. There was an excellent story in the NY Daily News on the subject of supplements a few months ago (link).
posted by Amateur at 08:41 AM on January 20, 2006
yes, i do feel for the guy. it was probably an accident. however, pretty much everyone on this site is making excuses for this guy and sympathizing with him. if this was another baseball player that tested positive everyone would be jumping all over the guy and bashing mlb, regardless of the circumstances behind the positive test result.
posted by erkno11 at 08:55 AM on January 20, 2006
Why is everyone so convinced it was an accident? I mean, I know Berard is supposed to be a good guy and all that, but is there evidence that it's a mistake, or just his word, or is it just an assumption?
posted by mikelbyl at 09:13 AM on January 20, 2006
As I said, there is no proof (yet) that this particular case was an accident. But with this particular substance there is enough historical evidence that I would not dismiss his claim out of hand. I think there is a significant chance that he is telling the truth, and I wanted to point that out.
posted by Amateur at 09:57 AM on January 20, 2006
Aw, hell, guys. I take 19-norandrosterone for a stuffy nose. Talk about over-reacting. Next thing you know, they'll be banning the 4-dihydrotestosterone I use for hay fever. Geez!
posted by Hugh Janus at 10:10 AM on January 20, 2006
I never stopped marveling at Berard's ability to cope and thrive after his eye accident. In retrospect, this was not really a surprise, given how much he had to change his style. He had to become better at every other part of the game. He had to get faster, stronger, tougher, and develop more stamina, because of the fact that he can basically only see out of the one eye. Just another reason why I think that visors in the NHL should be mandatory or at least strongly encouraged by trainers and teams.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 10:12 AM on January 20, 2006
Hockey, Schmockey!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Athletes make enough dough to have someone screen everything they intake outside of Ben & Jerry's. If this were Mr. Bonds, 95% of the previous comments would have a completely different tone. Accident? Mistake? Didn't know what was in it? Whatever happened to a Can of Spinach and saying your prayers at bedtime?
posted by pokchop at 10:13 AM on January 20, 2006
I take it this contamination thing is something like the peanut dust in a candy factory? Sources also said Thursday night that after failing the November test, Berard later voluntarily took two tests administered by the NHL and NHLPA and passed both. It's easy to pass when you know you are gonna take one. It's the randoms that are a bitch. It is quite possible that Berard is guilty only of stupidity here. Isn't that why they pay trainers?
posted by njsk8r20 at 10:23 AM on January 20, 2006
I wouldn't be surprised if it was intentional. Berard had to make up for a lot after his injury. He might have thought the fast track was his best and only chance, and a couple of years ago, there was no real drug plan in place, so maybe he figured he could finesse it. I have no inside information here, I'm just saying it's possible that he saw a chance to get back to NHL ability a little quicker, after losing two prime years to this eye injury. If I were in his place, I might have done the same thing. erkno11, your comment is valid, and for all I know, the torches-&-pitchforks crowd may be on their way. (Hey, there's one now!) I've never been that person. I don't believe there are evil people*. There are always extenuating circumstances. If we can understand the why of a problem, then maybe we can find the answers to that problem a little better. *except for Roger Clemens, that rat bastard.
posted by chicobangs at 10:37 AM on January 20, 2006
The mob is a tad subdued probably because he owned up to the mistake without speaking in legalese. ''No question, I'm embarrassed about it,'' Berard said after practice Friday. ''There's nothing I can do about it now, other than accepting what I've done. We'll learn from it, it was a mistake and it won't happen again.
posted by garfield at 12:31 PM on January 20, 2006
I'll bet if this was a black player you all would be saying he did this shit on purpose! (take it easy, I'm just kidding)
posted by Desert Dog at 12:33 PM on January 20, 2006
It'll be tough to judge until we have a more complete picture of what happened. Fortunately for Berard, it's a minimal-effect scenario. His NHL career won't be officially affected, but he (and every other NHL player) still gets the heads-up to start being a little smarter about what he ingests. Intentional or not, you can't help but feel bad for the guy after what he's been through. The Nov. 12 drug test was administered as part of the USADA's out-of-competition testing program. ... He said he requested another test on Sunday that shows the substance is no longer in his body. Also another reason why the mob might be a little subdued.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 12:42 PM on January 20, 2006
The biggest problem with your supposition here, Desert Dog, is that there are only about five black players in the entire NHL and it would be damned hard to find one to talk about.
posted by mrhockey at 07:48 AM on January 21, 2006
Hooray for Anson Carter and Jerome Iginla! (though isn't he 50-50?)
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 11:22 AM on January 21, 2006
I think it's pretty clear from his words that he took it intentionally to help recover from inuries sustained in the past and prepare himself for the upcoming season. Berard has faced so much shit over such a short career that I think we're all a little inclined to cut him some slack. And the fact that he gave a true hockey answer - come clean, no bullshit, I am guilty and I apologise - only helps him, too. I wish more athletes would understand that.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 12:08 PM on January 21, 2006
I think the calm reaction to this piece of news must also be attributed to the superior intelligence of hockey fans.
posted by qbert72 at 12:25 PM on January 21, 2006
Did anyone REALLY think this wouldn't happen, somewhere down the line? Sad...