On Feb. 17, Steve Bechler died of heat stroke a day after a spring training workout with the Baltimore Orioles. The Florida medical examiner who conducted the autopsy said that the ingestion of three Xenadrine capsules before the workout was “a significant contributing factor” in Bechler’s death.

In July, Belcher’s wife sued the maker of Xenadrine, the ephedra-based diet supplement. This week, the maker of the supplement filed a third party suit against the Orioles in the $600 million dollar case.

The ephedra taken by Bechler is touted as a weight loss supplement. It is one of the many drugs/supplements now in the sports news used by athletes to do everything from taking weight off to adding muscle mass.

Bechler’s estate claims that supplement was the primary cause of his death. The maker says “The Orioles clearly should have been equipped to treat someone for heatstroke. If they had employed that treatment properly, Steve Bechler probably would be alive today.”

The company further claims the Orioles never should have let Bechler work out since the club knew he had “an abnormal liver condition…untreated high blood pressure and a history of heat exhaustion reaching back to high school.”

Counsel for the Orioles responded by saying, “To suggest that the Orioles were responsible in any way, shape or form for the unfortunate death of Steve Bechler is outrageous and irresponsible.”

Behind this case and others like it is a seething conundrum of legal issues. Well beyond the basic issue of the primary cause of death in this case are issues of team/trainer/coach drug-related responsibilities in sports.

It is clear athletes at every level are using drugs and supplements. Some are illegal to possess, this or that sport, conference, or organization bans some, and others are so new no one knows how to classify them.

What is the responsibility of any sport’s organization to its players as to the use of drugs/supplements? Can an organization have players sign a paper that they use no banned items and that’s it?

What if the organization, through its coaches or trainers, knows players are using banned substances no matter what they signed? What if the substances are taken in the training or locker room? What if the appearance or acts of players indicate substance use, but there’s no other evidence?

That’s where drug testing comes in, but when does it violate privacy rights? If reliable tests can be administered in an effective program, teams and organizations can say they are doing everything possible to act responsibly. The problem is finding effective tests that stay ahead of the athletes’ ability to mask results. A further problem is the rapid creation of boutique substances that outpace the ability to define them.

In sports, there is a fundamental and frightening issue arising. Substance bans are designed to keep the competition honest. We do not want the competition to be between the creators of drugs and supplements. Or do we?

MLB’s latest testing policies are pathetic. Why? Could it be this? Money is made off homerun hitters; stronger players hit the ball further; supplements or drugs increase strength. Better sports through chemistry?

Court cases like the Bechler suit, if they reach responsibility issues, may curtail sports heading in that direction.

Old Town native Gary Thorne is an ESPN and NBC sportscaster.