Steroid Use and "Statutes of Limitations"

Good morning, gentle readers.

Here's a story that caught my eye and thought I'd jot down a few thoughts about it...

Critics Slam Schwarzenegger on Steroids

As you've just read, it appears that Governor Schwarzenegger's prior use of steroids is becoming the latest barb used by his Democrat/liberal enemies. Boiling things down, Arnold's critics are now claiming that it's hypocritical for him to attend a bodybuilding competition that bears his name as there are undoubtedly competitors that are dabbling in the world of steroids in order to "bulk up" and "get huge." The RECENT problems with steroid use in the world of professional baseball brings into question, Arnold's prior use.

These critics need to take the following into account before they get too disdainful when it comes time to throwing rocks inside their glass houses.

In the era that Mr. Schwarzenegger was competing in the bodybuilding "game" steroids were legal. Arnold competed from 1963 - 1975 (one Mr. Olympia title in 1980). The timeline for steroids becoming illegal was:

• 1975 - International Olympic Committee bans use of anabolic steroids.
• 1988 - Sale of anabolic steroids for non-medical use becomes illegal as part of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988.
• 1990 - Possession of anabolic steroids without a prescription becomes illegal.

Like it or not times, medical treatments and vices change. If this were not the case alcohol would still be illegal, your family doctor would still have a jar of leeches sitting on the shelf and we'd all be swilling "Dr. Phantasm's Magikal Elixir" chock full of cocaine and opiate products.

For liberals and Democrats, there's some sort of statute of limitations for "youthful indiscretion." However, if you're a conservative (or heaven forbid a neo-con) or Republican, your background can be peeled back to before you were even born. (Anyone remember the controversy about the Schwarzenegger ties to Nazi Germany?) Isn't this the same party that seems proud to trot out names like?

• Senator Edward Kennedy (Chappaquiddick, need I say more?)
  
  
• Senator John F. Kerry (3 Purple Hearts in 4 months of service in Vietnam without spending a night in a hospital?)
  
  
• Senator Robert "Sheets" Byrd (Joined the KKK in 1943 to fight Communism...but weren't the Soviets our allies in 1943? Hmmmmm....)
  
  
• Senator Joseph Biden (Problems with plagiarism in law school and on the stump in 1988!)
  
  
• Former President Bill Clinton (Take your pick of the scandals...there's plenty to choose from....my favorite is the “Devil in the Blue Dress, Blue Dress, Devil with the Blue Dress On" affair)

What's good for the goose is good for the gander...

In closing, I was continuing to do a little more research about what Arnold's actually said about his prior steroid use during periods where it was a legal substance...and I ran across this article on the MSNBC site...

When Steroids and Politics Mix...

Based on the timing of this piece, it's pretty clear that it appeared with all the other "hatchet" jobs run just days before California voters went to the poll to replace Gray Davis with Arnold.

The "high and mighty" tone of this article seems to want to compare the use of legal substances (now outlawed in more learned times) with the drugs that celebrities, athletes, and runway models seem to want to use to dull the pain caused by their chosen professions (I'm still trying to figure out what kind of pain I'd have it my bank accounts were 1/10th as flush as theirs)

Whether it's right or it's wrong to outlaw substances like marijuana, hashish, opium, heroin, cocaine and all the other narcotics that seem to draw the irresponsible wealthy like bees to honey...THESE SUBSTANCES ARE ILLEGAL TODAY...AS IS THE USE AND POSSESSION OF THEM! Arnold and countless other bodybuilders that juiced themselves up to incredible size did so at risk to their health...but under the care of doctors dispensing legal substances of the day.

The fervor swirling around this issue seems to be the inferred response to the following question that was never asked...

"Governor Schwarzenegger, if you were an up and coming bodybuilder today would you use illegal steroids to gain a more competitive edge?"

Arnold's response to the question, "Do you regret using steroids in the past?" yielded a negative answer. I have to believe that if journalists asked my question posed above...Governor Schwarzenegger would most definitely say that he would abide by the current laws of the land and those that govern the sport he was participating in. In other words...no, he would not break the law and use illegal substances to enhance his performance.