The profiling of steroid users based on various physical characteristics seems to be gaining popularity. The federal government appears prepared to use physical characteristics (e.g. changes in muscularity, etc) as indicative of steroid use in the perjury trial of Barry Bonds. Muscularity has been used as putative evidence of steroid use in order to obtain search warrants in Oklahoma. Pro bodybuilders have been detained and forced to submit to drug testing in Sweden simply because of their muscularity.
Muscle profiling isn’t the only type of profiling that has been used in the war on steroids in sports. Some sportswriters use acne as irrefutable evidence of steroid use. For example, Murray Chass has maintained for years that Mike Piazza used anabolic steroids because he observed acne on Piazza’s back. Since (back) acne is a common side effect of steroids, steroid users are more likely to experience acne. However, not all steroid users experience back acne and most people with back acne don’t use steroids.
The Real Reason Why the Barry Bonds Witch-Hunt Was a Waste of Money
If you think the government’s prosecution of Barry Bonds was justified because no on is above the law, perjury is a serious crime, yada, yada, yada, then this article is for you. You are entirely missing the point. The pursuit of Bonds was clearly a witch-hunt. Celebrity athletes who use anabolic steroids were an acceptable target. However, the government could have just as easily targeted an “immoral” behavior other than steroid use…
What if the government targeted prominent Christians and asked them about infidelity under oath? What if they prosecuted those Christians who would inevitably lie to protect their community standing and their families? After all, they did break they law – they committed perjury. Would that have been a good use of taxpayer money?
Why is it any different than the witch-hunt targeting celebrity athletes who use steroids? [Read more...]