by Long Island Attorney Paul A. Lauto, Esq.
We all knew that the day would come when baseball's steroid era would be knocking on the Cooperstown, NY Baseball Hall of Fame doors. The recent release of 2013 candidate names, signalled that day has effectively arrived.
It must now be decided whether or not use of performance enhancing drugs, suspected or otherwise, should preclude a qualified baseball player's entrance into the coveted Hall of Fame. In the forefront of this heated debate are first time ballots for Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Sammy Sosa and Mike Piazza. Based on statistical merits alone, all four of these players appear qualified for entry. However, a player's "character" is an important criteria in determining Hall of Fame entrance.
Regardless of whether or not a player's use or suspected use of steroids was before or after MLB enacted a rule prohibiting such use, the fact remains that most anabolic steroids were deemed to be a controlled substance back in 1991. Possession of such anabolic steroids is a federal offense punishable by up to one year in prison and a minimum fine of $1,000. Dealing or trafficking of such anabolic steroids is punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Read the full blog at www.liattorney.com/scales-of-justice.html.
