MLB needs approved supplements list -- The Hardball Times

The Palmeiro incident actually raises an interesting issue, which is that Major League Baseball should be more proactive by creating a list of approved medications, substances, and supplements. It is very possible that Palmeiro took something without realizing that it contained steroids - US companies are not required to list all nutritional information on the packaging. I'm sure Palmeiro's going to stick to that story, but it would be in his best interest to track down all the things he's ingested, injected, and consumed since the last drug test. As Bryan Tsao notes at the Hardball Times:

Since the story broke, Palmeiro—who appealed the ruling—has repeatedly asserted his innocence, saying that he never intentionally took any banned substances. The implication seems to be that he inadvertently took a banned substance while using a seemingly legal supplement. Whether you believe him or not, the story is certainly plausible. Look no further than the ATP Tour, the men’s professional tennis circuit, which admitted to inadvertently distributing the banned substance nandrolone to its players via a supplement intended to boost players’ electrolyte levels two years ago. If even a major professional sports league—a signatory of the World Anti-Doping Code, no less—doesn’t even know what’s in the supplements it’s handing out, it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if players didn’t either.

The NFL already has a list of approved substances and supplements - MLB should follow their lead if they're truly committed to the idea of getting rid of drug users in baseball.

All that being said, the irony of Mr. Viagra getting nailed scant months after vehemently telling Congress that he never took steroids... It's quite delicious. :)