The Mitchell Report on steroid use in Major League Baseball had a huge “duh” quotient.
It named Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens as users.
Duh.
It named Rafael Palmeiro and former Mariner Ryan Franklin.
Duh.
It mentioned steroid use was widespread and recommended stronger testing regulations.
Duh.
OK, fine. Yet, since the peak of the Steroid Era, between 1993 and 2005, baseball has implemented tougher regulations and studies now state that its use is less prevelant than it was.
They busted some 78 former and current players, which, I believe everyone concedes, is a small fraction of the total number of players who used.
And at what cost? One of the flaws in the report is that some players were named because of rumors or second- and third-hand information. So it’s possible that some innocent players have had their reputations permanently and unjustly tainted. Others unnamed, but who used, got away with no harm done — at least, not yet.
Still unresolved is what to do with Human Growth Hormone, today an undetectable performance-enhancing substance. Another is finding a penalty that will clean up the sport as much as possible.
Here’s a suggestion that they’ll never touch. One dirty test and you’re out. No warning. No three-month suspension. You’re out.
It’ll never happen, sadly. Nobody has the guts to impliment it. Baseball isn’t serious enough to rid its sport of the problem.
But boy, did they show Pete Rose who’s boss.
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