In getting hit with a 50-game suspension for use of a banned substance, there's no doubt, J.C. Romero has gotten the shaft by the powers-that-be in Major League Baseball, his own union, and even the Phillies. He followed all of the steps he should have in vetting a "dietary supplement" before he ingested it -- consulting nutritionists, the Phillies strength and conditioning coach as well as reading memorandums issued by the players' union.
But there's one thing he forgot to do: Use some common sense. Take a look at the label of the supplment he took, 6-OXO Extreme by ErgoPharm [click image to enlarge].
If you read the label, and not even closely, you'll see phrases such as "maximum testosterone", "synergistic estrogen control" and "steroid alternative". And then, there's the real kicker, "use of this product may be banned by some athletic or government associations (including the military)". Call me paranoid, but if it's me, in this environment, I'm not even touching that bottle with my bare hand, much less swallowing any of the capsules inside.
Again, Romero is getting the shaft. But, he could have avoided all of this had he just put two and two together when he read the label.
-----------------
Update: Some astute readers have pointed out that the "use of this product may be banned by some athletic or government associations (including the military)" fine print was NOT routinely placed on the bottle's label when Romero purchased the supplement. It was only after Romero tested positive that ErgoPharm began to disclose the information.
