Appearing at the SCOOP sa Kamayan, Ginebra Gin Kings center Jun Limpot, Batang Red Bull coach Yeng Guiao and FedEx Express center Ryan Bernardo pleaded their case, claiming that they had never touched illegal substances. Limpot even scored the PBA for not acting "like a family," complaining that he never had a chance to defend himself. Guiao echoed the sentiment, and verbally longed for a change in procedure, also noting he had lost his best guard and best big man to the testing. Bernardo, meanwhile, maintained he had never taken any illegal substances.
"We were all shocked," admits Ginebra head coach Allan Caidic, "because, as far as we know, on our team, and even probably in the PBA, Jun is one of the most health-conscious players. I think he was taking medicine for his sinusitis or colds, and that may have shown up in the test."
From Limpot’s side, he claims to have been taking a medication beginning May 13, and was on it when he was tested May 19. That may have been the substance that produced a "false positive."
But is there really a question of procedure? According to PBA Commissioner Noli Eala, there is none. For the random tests, he explained to The STAR, the Department of Health official collects the urine samples (in random testing, two players per team each fill two specimen bottles), seals them, and has the containers signed by the players involved. The specimens are brought to PBA physician Dr. Ben Salud, who removes the player’s name, and places a numerical code instead. The sample is then unsealed and tested in front of a group, including representatives from the DOH, and PBA technical officer Perry Martinez. In the case of the mandatory testing (which involves everybody), all the samples are brought to the PBA office, and tested in front of the group. In case any specimen turns up positive, the sample is then sent to the laboratory to confirm the test. Given all these, how wouldanyone tamper with the samples.
"And the DOH doctors and pathologists involved don’t really care for basketball, so there’s really no motivation for them to tamper with anything," Eala added. "What would they have to gain?"
The players who failed the PBA drug test are asking to be retested. Unfortunately for them, the same sample will be used in the retest. Why would the result be different?
As a result of these tests, some teams in the PBA have initiated their own drug-testing policy, to avoid it reaching the level of the PBA itself. One upside to the testing is that, despite the complaints of the 10 players who failed it, there are more than 230 other players who are relieved that they are now looked at as true and pure professionals.
With regards to keeping the information secret (as the Philippine Basketball League says it will do), Eala feels this will be more damaging.
"We will be asked what happened to our mandatory drug testing," he explains. "What will we tell them? And if any player does not play for whatever reason, he automatically becomes a suspect. We were as careful as we could have been in making the announcement. We did not accuse the players of anything. All we said was that they failed the drug test."
Eala says he will continue to conduct the drug tests until otherwise ordered by a court of law. He says that the case of Jimwell Torion, who admitted taking shabu in Cebu, proves that the system works. On the other hand, nobody has proven that it doesn’t work.
It would be interesting to look at the culture which spawns drug use. Certain data has pointed to big-time sports as a hotbed for recreational use of drugs. It is called "Celebrated Sports Drug Syndrome," wherein the players at the extreme poles of their sport are more prone to drug use. Topflight athletes or starters, and those hanging on to the ends of the bench are often pointed to. The superstars feel invulnerable, as if nothing could touch them, while bench-warmers are tense about their uncertain futures. Each situation is a fertile ground for temptation to use drugs.
In their book "Winning Is Everything and Other American Myths," Thomas Tutko and William Bruns wrote "Athletes are put under an incredible amount of pressure to produce in a limited amount of time. Not only that, they are judged and criticized by fans whose will-of-the-wisp loyalties are about as fragile as the last victory. Few of us live under that kind of pressure."
NBA Hall of Famer Bill Russell, who tried to translate his success as a player and coach for the Boston Celtics into success as coach of the Seattle Supersonics, had this to add.
"I have this wonderful club in Seattle. We have the young millionaires. Everybody has a no-cut contract, and they have clauses in their contracts that say no cut, no hassle, don’t bug me, I’ll play when I feel like it. I went there from another century. I was still a gladiator."
Does that culture apply to the PBA? Perhaps time will tell. But for now, the
drug testing will continue. And, medication or no, those in the PBA should be prepared.
Today marks the second anniversary of The Basketball Show at 4 p.m. over IBC-13. This week’s episode features the best of SlamBook, Basketbol Family, and other popular segments. Watch it. You may reach us through the basketballshow@yahoo.com or bill_velasco@hotmail.com. God bless.