Via The Hardball Times, the Philadelphia Daily News talks to a former pitcher about his steroid use. Be sure to read Craig's comments at THB, but this is the part that sticks with me:

Asked if he would do it again, he pauses before answering.

"I don't know how to answer that," he says. "I don't think I would have. Maybe I would have lost my job that year because I wasn't ready. But maybe I would have taken a year to come back and I wouldn't have pushed myself that hard and I might have maintained my health.

"If done in a structured, disciplined and educated manner, then the negative side effects can be minimized. I just think you also have to temper that with some restraint as far as pushing yourself too hard. If you could have a balance of the two, it's a really, really powerful combination for performance."

This player used steroids to bring his levels into a normal high, what you might find naturally in other athletes. I've always thought the best solution was to make steroids legal, but used under a doctor's care and and the use made public. This pitcher's admissions make me believe even more that it's the right thing to do.

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