If I Took Steroids and Amphetamines

[MoseyWalker]

and was caught through a testing procedure designed to test whether or not I was not only "cheating" (as they do in sports), but had illegal drugs in my system.........

I would not be hired, and if already working for a company, I would be immediately fired.

Professional athletes test positive for "banned" substances, and the results of the first positive test are kept "secret". No one knows what the substance was, or anything else about the results. They test positive for drugs that are illegal, and nothing happens to them. Maybe some halfassed "treatment" program.

Let's take "Bob" walking down the street who applies for a job. He is tested and comes out positive. Not only is he not hired for the position, but it is likely that he will soon be arrested, and convicted, on drug charges. It really does happen all the time. Testing results are not as private as people would like to think. It is likely that Bob will be spending some time in jail or prison, and have a criminal record.

I love watching sports, but I am becoming increasingly annoyed with watching those who participate participating in a different world than most.

Am I spitting in the wind, or does this bother anyone else?

thanks, and peace.

[RB TexLa]

1. Not all companies fire people for one positive test

and very, very few pass testing information on to law enforcement. I can think of none I have heard of doing that.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

2. "likely that he will soon be arrested, and convicted, on drug charges. "

That's 100% inaccurate.

Please cite me any real life example of such a thing occurring. It just simply doesn't.

Accuracy matters.

[MoseyWalker]

5. I live in a small town

everyone knows everything about everyone.

Maybe it's not company policy to relate results to others, but it happens. All the time. Once someone is labeled as a drug user, they are under local surveillance. It just happens. Sooner, rather than later, they are arrested for some drug infraction. I've seen it numerous times.

Maybe the invisibility of living in a larger city creates something different, but I can say without doubt that I have seen many lose their freedoms for a time due to what I originally listed; take a test and lose your freedom - sooner rather than later.

[Mythsaje]

3. There's no law that I know of against coming up positive on a drug test...

Unless you're on probation or parole or otherwise under scrutiny already.

I was popped once, years ago. I was hired as a temp and ended up being drug tested much more quickly than I expected to be. I'm willing to bet my boss at the client company was cursing the system when I wasn't allowed to return. I was his most reliable worker.

:shrug:

Just goes to show.

[Rex]

4. The double standard in general bothers me to no end.

Presidents snort coke and smoke weed or have at one point in their lives. Yet we all seem to get along with that (didn't see em get fired over it). The mayor of DC got busted with crack and got re-elected! We seem to be okay with that too. Rockstars, moviestars, sports celebs do it behind the scenes and out in public and get away with it over and over. Rush is hooked on 'hill billy' heroin and LOVES to get away with it! Did any of these people lose their jobs or get treated like pariahs for living with vices?

Nope.

Only the average person, who can't fight the system, loses.

[MoseyWalker]

6. That is the point

thanks.

People who are wealthy and thus insulated in many ways have no fears, or at least few fears, of the legal system.

[Buzz Clik]

7. Pro baseball has been inconsistent about their policies.

It's been obvious to everyone that performance-enhancing substances have been used for decades, but they pretend to be surprised when "isolated" instances emerge.

Barry Bonds should be banned from the league. His records should be erased. This guy has worn out his welcome just about everywhere.

[MoseyWalker]

8. Performance enhancing substances

are illegal. If you or I took any of them, we would suffer more serious consequences than maybe having a taint on our "all star" careers. We would likely be targeted and in jail.

"Performance enhancing substances" is only another way of obfuscating the obvious.

btw: you are right, and I agree

[sendero]

9. These drugs....

... are used by most pro athletes and by lots of gym rats. They shouldn't be illegal at all, who owns your body?

But as long as they are, and as long as athletes have multi-million dollar careers on the line they will take them and try to fool the tests (which most of them are doing now) and the beat goes on.

and to address your original question, it is the leagues paying for the tests, they can do whatever they want with the results. I've never heard of a company referring a failed drug test to law enforcement.