Market forces determine veteran players' value; Five Russian women XC skiers suspended for using banned substances; Dez Bryant puts suspension behind him; Cyclist Joe Papp pleads guilty of conspiracy to distribute EPO and HGH
It's spring training time again in Arizona and Florida. This year, just like every other year, there is a long list of veteran players still without a team. Many agents will cry collusion again this year, but in reality the market dictates which veteran players are forced into retirement and who signs for much less than he wanted. Johnny Damon turned down a two-year, approximately $14 million deal with the Yankees (the team he wanted to stay with) a few months back and now will probably be with a different team for less money and less of a shot at post-season glory.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=Ap4Hqa6ds8.HcNCu3EcbzwoRvLYF?slug=sh-unemployedfreeagents021610&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
International Ski Federation names names
With the Winter Olympics in full swing, and the games already marred by tragedy, news on the drug testing front is always prevalent. The International Ski Federation has published the names of five Russian women cross country skiers who were suspended for using banned substances.
http://olympics.freedomblogging.com/2010/02/12/five-russians-who-failed-drug-tests-are-named/1901/
Former Oklahoma State football player and top NFL draft prospect Dez Bryant says that the NCAA was unfair in the way it went about handling his rules violation. Bryant also says that Deion Sanders did not act as a runner for attorney/agent Eugene Parker.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AqhlaAUXDwh054iDZd.k29ocvrYF?slug=ap-draft-bryant&prov=ap&type=lgns
Cyclist Joe Papp pleads guilty to conspiracy to distribute PEDs
Papp had testified in the 2007 suspension hearing of Floyd Landis (see SLT blog of 2/16/10), giving evidence that doping was common among professional cyclists. Papp offered that, “The matter for which I publicly acknowledged my guilt today in Pittsburgh had nothing to do with my appearance at the Landis hearing. I didn’t testify against Floyd Landis in that hearing. My testimony was about my own personal experiences with the drug testosterone and how it is generally perceived within the peloton. That was it. I told the story of how testosterone works and can help you as a cyclist by enhancing recovery.”
The guilty plea could result in a lifetime suspension from the sport, but Papp's cooperation with the United States Anti-Doping Agency may help with that. Specifically, Papp pleaded to a federal offense of conspiracy to sell EPO and Human Growth Hormone on the internet.
http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/02/news/usada-witness-joe-papp-admits-conspiracy-to-sell-epohgh_105463
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