University of Waterloo suspends football for steroid scandal

[Body By Balco]

news.ca.msn.com/top-stories/cbc-article.aspx?cp-documentid=24565893

The University of Waterloo in Ontario has suspended its football program for one year following the biggest steroid investigation in Canadian university history.

An investigation by the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) has revealed nine potential anti-doping infractions by members of the Warriors football team.

It followed the arrest of Warriors receiver Nathan Zettler for possession and trafficking of anabolic steroids in March.

Zettler was suspended from football, and Waterloo officials then called for the entire team to be tested.

Out of the 62 urine samples, the CCES reported nine potential infractions.

Four players admitted to steroid use. Three others tested positive, while another simply refused to be tested. The ninth case is pending an additional police investigation.

'Significant doping issue'

In a release, Marg McGregor, CEO of Canadian Interuniversity Sport, called the investigation the "most significant" doping issue in CIS history.

"This situation illustrates that the CIS doping control program needs to be strengthened to ensure a level playing field and protect the rights of the vast majority of student-athletes who respect the rules and compete clean."

The CCES also conducted blood tests, but the results are not yet available. Blood tests can determine the presence of human growth hormone.

Team members were informed of the suspension Monday morning, and later addressed a news conference at the university's athletic centre.

"The university said they dealt with it in a way that will set an example," fourth-year wide receiver Dustin Zender told The Canadian Press. "Unfortunately, that example ruins some of the lives of our players here. And because of the actions made by some — who weren't smart — it now affects players who did the right thing."

CBC Sports' Teddy Katz spoke with several players at the media event.

Some questioned the justification of punishing an entire team for the actions of a few, while others expressed concern about their future as athletes or sympathized with their teammates who are accused of cheating.

Officials from the CIS and the university suggested that the issue of performance enhancing drugs reaches well beyond the Waterloo campus, Katz said.

Coaches on paid leave

Waterloo head coach Dennis McPhee and assistant Marshall Bingeman have been placed on paid leave from football duties while the university conducts a full review.

"This in no way prejudges the coaches. Rather, as a matter of process, it is important that the coaches are not active in the program while the review is conducted," the school said in a statement.

The CCES did not identify all the players in its release.

First-year linebacker Jordan Meredith tested positive for the cancer-fighting drug Tamoxifen, a prohibited substance in university football that is commonly used by athletes as part of a post-cycle treatment to combat the side-effects of steroids.

Meredith has waived his right to a hearing and acknowledged he committed a doping infraction. He will be suspended for two years.

Joe Surgenor, a second-year linebacker, admitted to use of a steroid at the time of CCES testing and accepted a two-year ban.

The Warriors posted a 3-5 record last year to finish tied for sixth with Guelph in the 10-team OUA standings. They didn't make the playoffs.

[pseclint]

I dont know whats bigger news, this article or seeing Balco post again!

[natenator]

I dont know whats bigger news, this article or seeing Balco post again!
I second that!

[Body By Balco]

My thoughts:

I am all for freedom of choice and the idea that inside side my own skin is sovereign territory, beyond the scope and reach of the laws of any land, provided that my actions do not cause another physical pain or suffering.

However I say hang these ****ers out to dry. I say **** YOU to any athlete who knowingly uses a banned substance in any competitive organization that actively conducts drugs tests. You scum ****s firmly place the microscope of legal and sporting inspection (read WADA and Ottawa) on to the same substances that I choose to use as a free non sporting, non competitive, average canadian dude looking to improve his physique. I'm not 'cheating' by any reasonable definition. I am not bending or breaking the rules of my sporting organization...because I am not and choose not to be part of any sporting organization.

I would estimate well over 90% of all steroid users are simply looking for the training edge that steroids can provide in order to improve their physique. PERIOD. The scum **** athletes who knowingly bend and break the rules of their sporting organization, rules that they are firmly aware of, provide ample fuel to the fire that gives ALL steroids user a negative public image.

It is incidents like this at Waterloo that can be the spark that starts a forest fire. We were fortunate enough to have a doping scandal free Olympics. This shit could just well be result next Dubin inquiry.

[natenator]

I couldn't agree more. Ok, I could but you already have a big enough head for the both of us so I'd hate to add to said inflation as if that were actually possible... hah

[faller]

Shit, that was well put BBB!!

[#8]

Solution: Stop testing athletes. Sports would become way more entertaining again.

[rob66679]

My thoughts:

I am all for freedom of choice and the idea that inside side my own skin is sovereign territory, beyond the scope and reach of the laws of any land, provided that my actions do not cause another physical pain or suffering.

However I say hang these ****ers out to dry. I say **** YOU to any athlete who knowingly uses a banned substance in any competitive organization that actively conducts drugs tests. You scum ****s firmly place the microscope of legal and sporting inspection (read WADA and Ottawa) on to the same substances that I choose to use as a free non sporting, non competitive, average canadian dude looking to improve his physique. I'm not 'cheating' by any reasonable definition. I am not bending or breaking the rules of my sporting organization...because I am not and choose not to be part of any sporting organization.

I would estimate well over 90% of all steroid users are simply looking for the training edge that steroids can provide in order to improve their physique. PERIOD. The scum **** athletes who knowingly bend and break the rules of their sporting organization, rules that they are firmly aware of, provide ample fuel to the fire that gives ALL steroids user a negative public image.

It is incidents like this at Waterloo that can be the spark that starts a forest fire. We were fortunate enough to have a doping scandal free Olympics. This shit could just well be result next Dubin inquiry.

I always respect and enjoy reading your posts. Very well said as usual.
Hopefully you get another one in before 2011 lol.....

[tiramisu]

I've chatted with a few university football players. The league seems to take the wada testing pretty seriously and the test randomly both in and out of season. I was fairly surprised that university football could afford this level of testing.

I don't really understand U of Waterloo's response in suspending it's football program. This actively punishes players who had nothing to do with sporting infraction. 9 Infractions, 62 players. To me that would be 53 innocent athletes punished.

The 9 athletes found breaking the rules should have been suspended from the league for 2 years. The rest of the University's reaction seems questionable.

[Victor85]

So one guy got pinched and all the players get tested, thats messed up.

[gettinbigger]

one player? if you listen to that guy he claims the whole league is on something. I agree with BBB that athletes who want to play in league a or league b or compete at event c have to follow the rules of a, b and c!

[ultrasafe]

They talk the big talk but out of approximately 10 000 Canadian University Athletes they only tested 202 athletes in 2009. The reason is that the testing is $1000 dollars a pop. So ofcourse that is $202 000 for only a fraction of the athletes.


I've chatted with a few university football players. The league seems to take the wada testing pretty seriously and the test randomly both in and out of season. I was fairly surprised that university football could afford this level of testing.

I don't really understand U of Waterloo's response in suspending it's football program. This actively punishes players who had nothing to do with sporting infraction. 9 Infractions, 62 players. To me that would be 53 innocent athletes punished.

The 9 athletes found breaking the rules should have been suspended from the league for 2 years. The rest of the University's reaction seems questionable.

[natenator]

one player? if you listen to that guy he claims the whole league is on something. I agree with BBB that athletes who want to play in league a or league b or compete at event c have to follow the rules of a, b and c!
Having played I'd contend a large portion of them are.

I played 14 years ago and knew of a lot of players who were then and it wasn't as readily available as it is now so I can only imagine it's worse now days.

In Canada the actions are generally more severe simply due to the fact we place more emphasis on academics then we do athletics. If this was in the US I have no doubts it would have been swept under the table as much as possible. Why? College football in the US = $$$$$.

[Knuckles28]

So one guy got pinched and all the players get tested, thats messed up.

They obviously knew testing can happen at anytime as an Athlete, Only 9 infractions? Does that include the 53 other guys who more than likely knew these guys were "cheating" and said nothing?
Sports arent everything, it seems unfair but would it have been different if the 53 other guys called these cheaters out before alll this BS happened?

I like the one guys stand to not be tested, that would have been my choice if i wasnt clean..

[tiramisu]

They obviously knew testing can happen at anytime as an Athlete, Only 9 infractions? Does that include the 53 other guys who more than likely knew these guys were "cheating" and said nothing?
Sports arent everything, it seems unfair but would it have been different if the 53 other guys called these cheaters out before alll this BS happened?

I like the one guys stand to not be tested, that would have been my choice if i wasnt clean..

So you think that one athlete should be responsible for ratting out another? Whistle blowers almost always receive as severe or more severe of a punishment than the actual cheaters. An athlete ratting out a team mate might as well quit and give up on his/her future in their sport in most cases.

Scouts won't touch them and team mates won't play with them. Career over.

[JacktheThriller]

i love how the warriors arent even in the running to win and these guys are taking these kinds of risks, so dumb.

[#8]

^^ If they had finished well in the standings this would be a WAY bigger deal. Its better off they didnt win many games, or this shit storm would get out of control.

[O-Train]

^^ If they had finished well in the standings this would be a WAY bigger deal. Its better off they didnt win many games, or this shit storm would get out of control.

...probably more of them would have tested positive too.

[kawikaratekid]

They obviously knew testing can happen at anytime as an Athlete, Only 9 infractions? Does that include the 53 other guys who more than likely knew these guys were "cheating" and said nothing?
Sports arent everything, it seems unfair but would it have been different if the 53 other guys called these cheaters out before alll this BS happened?

I like the one guys stand to not be tested, that would have been my choice if i wasnt clean..

You don't snitch on guys in your locker room for anything! Period! That's why Jose didn't say anything while he was playing until he was black balled.

[kawikaratekid]

NCAA is the same. They barely get tested also. I know lots of guys and girls that have gone to the States for schollies and not one was tested in four years for as much as THC.

[cog]

A former neighbor of mine played for the UofCalgary,had a CFL invite but seriously wrecked his knee late in the season.His teammate got an NFL invite,thought he was "ready"benching 600 etc.His buddy told him he almost virginal compared to those guys down south.They take big chances with their health to make it.

[Victor85]

I watched the CBC Newsworld report discussing the incident. The media is really having a field day with it. Its funny how they get different pundits talking about the issue and it all they do is bash roids without citing any type of facts or research. At least get a endocronologist to talk about these powerful concoctions.
I dont know how many people come up to me and ask my opinion when I am out. I just say "I dont know"

[Knuckles28]

So you think that one athlete should be responsible for ratting out another? Whistle blowers almost always receive as severe or more severe of a punishment than the actual cheaters. An athlete ratting out a team mate might as well quit and give up on his/her future in their sport in most cases.

Scouts won't touch them and team mates won't play with them. Career over.

Not saying they should "rat" on each other, it's purely a moral issue there.
Simply stating the people who knew these guys were "cheating" had an obligation to address it. That may have been a factor into the decission by the University.

The Saint Mary's Coach here is calling for more off season testing and has said about 12 of his players have been tested in the last 4 or 5 years. It doesnt really seem like the CIS is that serious about doping.

I don't think there would be an issue if a Athlete addressed the issue with his coach then he has atleast handed the "ball" off. After all they are cheating and breaking the rules.

Still I don't think they should have scrapped the season and possibly ruined their Football program for many years to follow, a little harsh IMO. But then the U of Waterloo must not really care if they have a decent program there.

Not tring to start any arguments about ratting, but if these 5th and 4th year guys ratted would it have made a huge differance? Their carrers are now over.

[tiramisu]

Clearly the UofW is indifferent to their athletics program. Their reaction is misguided at best.

[rob66679]

Having played I'd contend a large portion of them are.

I played 14 years ago and knew of a lot of players who were then and it wasn't as readily available as it is now so I can only imagine it's worse now days.

In Canada the actions are generally more severe simply due to the fact we place more emphasis on academics then we do athletics. If this was in the US I have no doubts it would have been swept under the table as much as possible. Why? College football in the US = $$$$$.

I think you could say the same thing about baseball in the late 90's.
There is no way that people high up in the commisioners office, and the owners themselves, didn't know what was going on.
The home run race between Maguire/Sosa brought back baseball after the strike, IMHO they looked the other way.
Nobody hits 60+ homeruns in 40 years, and suddenly it happens 10 times in a couple years..... Bonds never hit more than 45 or so in 15+ major league seasons, and suddenly he's hitting 70 in his late 30's.....
It all adds up to $$$$$ for everybody involved, players owners everybody.

[cog]

As for availability,I would suggest some of these "cow pie" unis had a little secret Nate.

[Knuckles28]

16 years ago a roomate i had in JR i would swear he was on gear but his father owned a ranch in Sask claimed he got that big from "lifting bulls". If any "gear" was around no one told me, then again i was a lunatic so im sure it wouldnt have helped.
Now this is Hockey i don't know how much of an issue steriods were or are with players then or now. Back then I always thought Football players were juiced because of how fackin enourmous they were.

[tiramisu]

The great thing about working on a cattle ranch is there are plenty of veterinary supplies available.

[Knuckles28]

The great thing about working on a cattle ranch is there are plenty of veterinary supplies available.

Come on now i believed him and now you go and feed me this info i should have already known!! wtf.

LOL i never thought of that i was only 17 then.

[_Ragnar_]

Clearly the UofW is indifferent to their athletics program. Their reaction is misguided at best.

I have a buddy who used to play at U of W and he said he wasn't surprised by the administration's reaction. There isn't a lot of love for football there. At least the CIS is being somewhat supportive and waved the year of ineligibility for the players.

[ubcpower]

NCAA is the same. They barely get tested also. I know lots of guys and girls that have gone to the States for schollies and not one was tested in four years for as much as THC.

Yup, i played baseball in the SEC (NCAA's top top ranked baseball conference) and not one of us got test in the 2 years I was there.

[Draggo]

I played Canadian University football 11 years ago and was tested alot, both on and off season. It was supposed to be random but I along with a few others always got tested, we put up big numbers in the weight room etc, and I suspect the coach was telling the testers we should be tested. I can't blame him. I made a game out of the whole testing thing, I was clean of couse.

Those guys who failed the tests should be hung out to dry.

Every year at the beginning of the season some people from the CIAU came to talk to our team about banned substances (including cold pills etc) We were give a book with everything you could take and things you couldn't, they even provided us with a telephone # so we could call to ask questions. (I called a few times when I needed to find out about cold medications)

When I played football I took it very seriously, I knew the rules and I stuck within them.

If you want to use gas while in university, I haven't got a problem with it but don't play competitive sports where they are banned from use.

I also think it is shitty the whole season was suspended for the rest of the team however, the coach should have been on top of it, if he suspected some guys he shold have had the CIAU test them, if they passesd great if not they would be suspended, I think both the coach and players (using) should share the blame.

[natenator]

I played Canadian University football 11 years ago and was tested alot, both on and off season. It was supposed to be random but I along with a few others always got tested, we put up big numbers in the weight room etc, and I suspect the coach was telling the testers we should be tested. I can't blame him. I made a game out of the whole testing thing, I was clean of couse.

Those guys who failed the tests should be hung out to dry.

Every year at the beginning of the season some people from the CIAU came to talk to our team about banned substances (including cold pills etc) We were give a book with everything you could take and things you couldn't, they even provided us with a telephone # so we could call to ask questions. (I called a few times when I needed to find out about cold medications)

When I played football I took it very seriously, I knew the rules and I stuck within them.

If you want to use gas while in university, I haven't got a problem with it but don't play competitive sports where they are banned from use.

I also think it is shitty the whole season was suspended for the rest of the team however, the coach should have been on top of it, if he suspected some guys he shold have had the CIAU test them, if they passesd great if not they would be suspended, I think both the coach and players (using) should share the blame.
Well said.

[Chemical Adonis]

You don't snitch on guys in your locker room for anything! Period! That's why Jose didn't say anything while he was playing until he was black balled.
No one snitched on anyone in this situation;
I played HSFB against Joe before he left for juco in Cali. He is not the type to fink. His housemates/teammates were into some stupid activities (B&Es) and the police had obtained a search warrant for their premises. The house was searched and Joe attempeted to claim that all of the gear was his, going so far as to admit it on national tv. Only after his head coach had administered mandatory tests were the other 9 athletes caught. I am by no means condoning the actions of Surgenor, but I feel that the whole story should be available for scrutiny before people begin dismissing Waterloo athletes as jokes or snitches. And no, I am not a Warrior aha

[_Ragnar_]

No one snitched on anyone in this situation;
I played HSFB against Joe before he left for juco in Cali. He is not the type to fink. His housemates/teammates were into some stupid activities (B&Es) and the police had obtained a search warrant for their premises. The house was searched and Joe attempeted to claim that all of the gear was his, going so far as to admit it on national tv. Only after his head coach had administered mandatory tests were the other 9 athletes caught. I am by no means condoning the actions of Surgenor, but I feel that the whole story should be available for scrutiny before people begin dismissing Waterloo athletes as jokes or snitches. And no, I am not a Warrior aha

I dont think that anyone was trying to say that there was a snitch.