Use of steroids and performance enhancing drugs has become an unwanted necessity in the World of sports today. No sporting arena is spared by this growing epidemic. The use of steroid in sports is illegal and therefore has been banned by all major sports. However, Baseball is one sport that banned its use as late as 2002 when the ‘professional of the game’ had grown prone to its use.
Commissioner Bud Selig hired a former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell last March following more than a year of allegations of steroid use by the professionals and since has been investigating the use of steroid and performance enhancing drugs in Baseball. Mitchell in his statement to the Baseball owners, on the final day of baseball’s quarterly meeting stated - he would require their cooperation or the government involvement in the investigation could ’significantly increase’.
Mitchell quoted,
I believe it will be in your best interests, and the best interests of baseball, if I can report that I have received full cooperation from your organizations, and from others, in conducting this investigation.
National Game and Political interference:
The sporting issue has become a political one in the US and it triggered momentum post the inappropriate Hall of Fame inductions last week. Mark McGwire ranks seventh in the all time list with a career total of 583 home runs, yet managed mere 23.5 percent ballot to minimum 75 percent required for induction (owing to the defame he acquired on being convicted of steroid use two years ago). This decision by the panel is just an initiating jolt to the effect this issue relating to the National Game could have in the future, owing to the growing interference that could be faced from the federal and the state authorities, whereas for Mitchell, his verdict on the convicted players now becomes even more decisive.
Consequential for the Clubs and Players:
To have a true and fair competition in the sport, it’s perhaps important that a through investigation over the alleged use of the banned substances is meted out. However, Mitchell seems likely on road, he is tracking the correct route but would require unconditional cooperation from the baseball organization - Mitchell intends to interview the active players, and this isn’t possible without a collective assistance from the players and the clubs.
There will be many synchronized minutes from quarterly meeting, but those always are, how far will these be implemented for the cause of the sport? Is unexplainable yet - but whatever, it sure need be in the road to cleaning the sport. If NOT the National Game in US heads a blurred future!
Read: Topix
