Heh. No really, that’s the only reason I can think of. Given the in-press moralizing, Merriman should’ve lost his, too.

…tolerated by all these sports leagues. I mean, if a guy wants to damage his health in order to earn a paycheck, I can understand that. My issue is that in letting the athletes get away with it, the pro leagues set a HORRIBLE precedent that trickles down the food chain to the amateur levels. For example, on BRB today I read that Cushing has been suspected since HIGH SCHOOL! That’s just terrible. That’s why I wish these guys would force their athletes to clean up their acts.

Look, you have amateur athletes who are willing to do PEDs to win a pair of socks at an amateur cycling race (see this month’s Bicycling Magazine—I can’t find the link). Why? ‘Cause, bottom line, doping is out of freakin’ control in the pro cycling ranks. And talented amateurs see that, and they want to get ahead to get the opportunities or maybe they just don’t want to slow down when they age. Either way, they see how the pros are doing it, and they want those advantages. These are the same guys that spend $8K on a bike. And they want what the pros have. And I’m sure it’s the same in high schools with football, especially in the private schools that somehow turn out elite athletes.

/rant.