Welcome to the Friday July 13 edition of the TopDrawerSoccer.com Round Robin, where our editorial staff members weigh in on important topics in the world of American soccer. Please note that each opinion expressed is that of the author giving them, and not necessarily editorial policy at TopDrawerSoccer.com.

Today’s Topic: U.S. Women’s National Team goalkeeper Hope Solo recently received a public warning from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency after testing positive for a banned substance. Solo says the drug she took was part of a prescription from her personal physician. Now, none of us know the true facts of Hope Solo’s case, so it would be useless to speculate on the accuracy of her version of events. Does it not seem, however, that whenever an athlete tests positive for something, there is immediately a claim of error in the testing process, lack of knowledge that said substance was illegal and/or claims that someone “slipped” something to the athlete without the athlete knowing it? This leads to our question:

Is there integrity left in the world of athletics when it comes to performance enhancing or other illegal drugs, or is the testing process and the organizations that administer tests out of control or otherwise unreliable?

Robert Ziegler: Talk about your loaded questions. There does seem to be an almost universal mode of instant denial, usually followed by heavyweight PR efforts and sometimes even heavier legal action. Soccer overseas has been hit by this but the American game thus far hasn’t had too much to do. There was a high profile professional whose family threatened a large governing body with a lawsuit a few years back over their drug testing procedure (and a positive test). It begs the question of what the point of drug testing is. USADA says it wants to keep the game pure, but the sports industry types are so powerful, you know wherever money stands to be gained (or lost), it will be an uphill climb to get anything to stick. Baseball had to adopt a very strict policy after losing so much credibility for its on-field product due to steroids, but even then the players union made it very difficult.

Hope Solo

The contrast is set by track and field star Marion Jones who eventually pleaded guilty and talked of shame and betraying trust for her long-term use of steroids en route to 5 Olympic Medals, all of which she later returned. But even this was after a long history of employing high-profile attorneys to get bans lifted and fighting accusations in the BALCO scandal. Sports reflects society and there is a crisis of telling the truth in our society. With so many scandals denied in the face of the obvious evidence, it’s hard to trust and believe anyone anymore.

J.R. Eskilson: I agree that it is hard to trust anyone, but I have some sympathy for the athletes in these situations. Even if the athletes are being genuine in their explanations, it appears to just be a public relations ploy to cover up the real motives. Is there really any excuse that seems believable? It is an unfortunate reality that this is so common, especially in U.S. sports. Hope Solo's case should be a reality check for all of the women on the national team. Regardless of how it happened to Solo, it is on these players to be diligent about what they are taking/eating/drinking especially so close to a major event. The public shame on Solo will linger, which is unsettling, but that is just the reality of how such stories play out.

Travis Clark: People use whatever advantages they can to be the best, right? So if taking the risk of using performance-enhancing drugs will give someone a chance at a scholarship, goal medal, money or whatever's at stake -- and he or she thinks they get away with it -- then I think some folks would jump at the chance.

It's really difficult to place the blame at the feet of the testers. Only so much can be done to try and keep people in check, and depending on what's at stake, people will go great lengths no matter the cost or risk associated with it.

Fortunately, at least to my knowledge, this issue has yet to really permeate throughout soccer, and while that isn't to say it will always remain that way, there's the hope that the game can retain at least that part of its integrity.

Caroline Yort:  If I'm not mistaken, what they found in Hope Solo's system was a diuretic, which countless women take (in the form of Midol, for example) to help alleviate pre-menstrual syndrome.  The problem with the drug is that the diuretic can also be used to help rid the body of other banned substances.  Without finding other substances in her system, there is no way of knowing that she took the drug for any reason other than what she claimed. I also remember the case of a female gymnast a few years back who took a Sudafed equivalent to relieve common cold symptoms during the Olympics (and the team physician gave it to her), and was later stripped of her medal on the balance beam because the ephedrine in the Sudafed was considered a performance enhancer.  Well, anyone who has ever performed on a balance beam would agree that ephedrine would hinder steadiness on the beam, not enhance it, rendering the performance enhancing aspect of that drug in that sport completely ridiculous.

In both of the cases above, blame the doctors (or should I say, blame the system?)!  The physicians were the ones not informed.  So I guess my answer is that the anti-doping policies should be easier to follow and more specific.  I have read the NCAA policy, or tried to, and can't even figure out what substances they are talking about when they list those that are banned.  I feel sure that the FIFA or Olympic policy is similar.

Robert Ziegler’s Final Word: Wisconsin women’s coach Paula Wilkins (she was smiling) recently confirmed I am becoming something of a curmudgeon in my advanced age, and I suppose this is probably true. There are a number of virtues likes, patience, loyalty, discipline, work-ethic and honesty that seem to be fading away. That this would affect sports, which is still primarily about competition, should not be a surprise.  I’ll reiterate that I have no idea about Hope Solo so this really isn’t about her, but I do hope there could be a resurgence of honest action, thinking and  speaking in our society. We’re all prone to fail at this as it’s part of the human condition, but we need to rise above.

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