NBA steroid policy 'pathetic'

After criticizing the NBA's steroids policy, Republican Tom Davis asks Juan Dixon for an autograph. Hum....
- R. Nelly

NBA players could soon face TWO-YEAR bans for first-offense steroid use.

Lawmakers called the NBA’s steroids policy “pathetic” and “a joke” yesterday. House Government Reform Committee chairman Tom Davis criticized Commissioner David Stern and union leader Billy Hunter much like it criticized MLB officials March 17.

The Virginia state representative is drafting legislation that would follow the Olympic model – a two-year ban for a first offense and a lifetime ban for a second offense.

The law would force ALL U.S. pro sports to abide by drug-testing program.

Davis did concede, however, NBA steroid use is much less of a problem than it is in other professional sports.

But, he continued, “How do we know for sure there's no steroid problem in the NBA if its testing policies are so weak?”

California rep Henry Waxman called the NBA's policy “simply inadequate.” Stephen Lynch, a Massachusetts Democrat, said: “It is, in my opinion, rather pathetic.”

But this is where it gets good y’all.

During the hearing, Lynch asked Hunter whether steroids caused player-fan Motown brawl. Saying steroid use might cause violent behavior, Lynch said, “I'm not saying it was caused by steroid use. I'm saying you don't know.”

Hunter retorted, calling Lynch's question “a quantum leap.”

They went back and forth, interrupting each other, before Stern joined in.

“On behalf of the players of the National Basketball Association, I would like to say that the guilt that you seek to attribute to them on the basis of this policy is ill-taken and very unfair,” Stern said.

Stern told Congress he wants to add more in-season drug tests, double the penalty for a first offense to 10 games, and kick players out of the league for a third positive test.

But with collective bargaining talks breaking off on Wednesday, Stern said he was “confounded as to how we can make a deal at this point.”

After testifying, Stern said, “I'm concerned that there will be a lockout.”

59 percent of MSNBC poll of 20217 responders said Congress support laws to force U.S. pro sports to abide by an Olympic-style drug-testing program.