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In the past years, there have been countless of steroid probes concerning famous athletes. But, perhaps, the biggest of these steroid probes is what is now known as the messy BALCO Affair.

BALCO, or the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative, was exposed as the source of anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs by several elite athletes. The BALCO Affair has paved the way for countless of steroid probes primarily conducted by the US Congress.

On March 2005, the US Congress held a steroid probe on the Major League Baseball. Six well-known players were subpoenaed to testify on the steroid probe. Among the players were Mark McGwire and Rafael Palmeiro. Four baseball executives, including MLB Commissioner Bud Selig, also testified during the steroid probe.

During his testimony, McGwire avoided directly answering the questions thrown at him on his alleged use of steroids. His statement “I’m not here to talk about the past. I’m here to be positive about this subject” reflected his evasive stance all throughout the steroid probe. Palmeiro, on the other hand, has vehemently denied his steroid use, and his opening statement during the House Government Reform Committee hearing was “I have never used steroids, period.”

On August 2005, Palmeiro tested positive for the steroid stanozolol and was suspended for 10 days.