MLB reportedly has a surprising new PED threat — gas station sexual-enhancement pills
Major League Baseball’s ongoing battle with performance-enhancing drugs now has a surprising culprit in its sights — over-the-counter sexual enhancement pills.
Yes, you read that right.
The unregulated pills you find on the counter at gas stations across the country are reportedly posing a “very real risk” to MLB players, at least two of whom have blamed the pills for positive PED tests this year, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
The pills are so commonly used among MLB players that the league issued a memo this week, warning players not to take these pills and instead seek counsel from a doctor if they need some, umm, male enhancement.
The skeptics among us may think that MLB players could also be using these pills to mask PED use. No matter, the league reminded players that they would be punished for ingesting banned substances of any kind, whether they came from a gas station or not.
Here’s more from MLB’s memo, via Passan’s article:
"Sexual or male enhancement products present a very real risk for drug-tested players," the memo said, "and the high likelihood for contamination or unidentified ingredients in these products underscores the importance of consuming only those products that are NSF Certified for Sport.
“We know from experience," the league memo said, "that a number of these sexual or male enhancement products - which are sold online, at retail stores, and on the black market, both in the United States and internationally - contain anabolic steroids and other prohibited substances.
"For this reason," the memo continued, "we strongly urge players against taking any sexual or male enhancement product, from any source."
Baseball has long struggled with players taking the wrong supplements, even comically so — like when Manny Ramirez was busted for using a female fertility drug.
But cheap gas-station male enhancement pills? That would appear to be a new one.
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Mike Oz is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at mikeozstew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @mikeoz
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