Steroids in baseball

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The question of steroid use in baseball has been an ongoing issue for Major League Baseball since the mid 1990s and into the 21st century. Steroids are performance-enhancing drugs which have been banned from baseball.

While rumors of drug use by players have persisted for years, the controversy over steroids has grown considerably due to the drastic rise in home runs since 1995. During this time Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, and Barry Bonds have all surpassed the home run record set by Roger Maris - whose 61 homers in 1961 had not been challenged in over 30 years.

1 "The Steroids Era"
2 Effects on health
3 The chase for 61
4 Congressional investigation
- 4.1 BALCO scandal
5 See also
6 References
7 External links

[edit] "The Steroids Era"

Cover of Juiced; José Canseco's book documenting the impact of steroids in baseball

In a 2002 interview with ESPN's Dan Patrick, baseball author and commentator Bob Costas referred to 1994-present as the "Steroids Era"^[1] , noting that while there had been only eighteen 50+ home run seasons in Major League Baseball to that point, there have been nineteen since the 1995 season. While there are many theories to explain the dramatic increase in home runs —:including the "juiced ball" theory, the replacement of many pitcher-friendly or neutral parks with more hitter-friendly venues, and dilution of the pitching ranks via expansion — drug use, especially steroids, is most commonly named as a primary reason.

Several players have come forward in recent years to argue that drug use is rampant in baseball. Notably: David Wells, who stated that "25 to 40 percent of all Major Leaguers are juiced"^[2]. José Canseco said that as many as 80% of players used steroids, crediting his steroid use for his entire career.^[3] Ken Caminiti revealed that he won the 1996 NL MVP award while on steroids.^[4]

Former major league pitcher Tom House spoke to the San Francisco Chronicle in 2005, admitting to steroid use during his playing career and claiming that use of steroids was already widespread in baseball by the time he started his professional career in the late 1960s.^[5]

[edit] Effects on health

On February 17, 2003, Baltimore Orioles pitching prospect Steve Belcher collapsed and died on the practice field at spring training of heat stroke. The medical examiner ruled that the over-the-counter drug Ephedra played a significant role in Belcher's death. One week later, Bud Selig banned all players with minor league contracts from using Ephedra. Major League players were not held to the same rules. ^[6]

Former player Ken Caminiti, the 1996 National League MVP, detailed the health consequences he suffered as a result of his steroid use, telling Sports Illustrated that "his testicles shrank and retracted; doctors found that his body had virtually stopped producing its own testosterone and that his level of the hormone had fallen to 20% of normal." Caminiti would later die as a direct result of substance abuse.^[4]

[edit] The chase for 61

During the 1998 season, Sosa and McGwire competed in an epic race to set the home run mark. By the season's end, Sosa had eclipsed the record with 66 home runs while McGwire set the single season record by crushing 70 baseballs out of the ballpark. While the chase proved to be a watershed event in baseball's recovery following the 1994 players strike, both players were also dogged by suspicion over their use of supplements — In McGwire's case, androstenedione, and in Sosa's case, creatine.^[7]

The next year the two were in a similar race and McGwire hit 65 homers and Sosa 63. By 2001 Bonds was hitting home runs at an incredible pace. Bonds would break McGwire's record by hitting 73 homeruns. It seemed unlikely to many observers that he could continue hitting home runs at such a pace at his age (Bonds turned 37 during the 2001 season) without some sort of supplementary help.

[edit] Congressional investigation

In recent years, the controversy has continued to mount, particularly due to the investigation into the controversial sports nutrition center BALCO, which is accused of distributing steroids to many star players, most notably Bonds. Baseball has attempted to toughen its drug policy, beginning a plan of random tests to players. Players such as Ryan Franklin and others were handed suspensions as short as ten days. However, a Congressional panel continued to argue that the penalties were not tough enough, and took action.

Many top players, including Rafael Palmeiro, McGwire, Sosa, Canseco and Curt Schilling were summoned on March 17, 2004 to testify in front of Congress. During the session, Canseco admitted his steroid use which he claims was perfectly acceptable during the 1980's and early 90's. Palmeiro denied all steroid use during his career,^[8] while McGwire refused to discuss the isse, stating "I'm not here to discuss the past".^[9]

Palmeiro, who was listed in Canseco's book as a user, denied Canseco's claims and told Congress that those claims were absolutely erroneous. The committee had stated that baseball had failed to confront the problems of performance-enhancing drugs. The committee was disturbed by the accepted use of steroids by athletes because it created a bad persona of players who in many cases are role models to many of the aspiring youth. During the testimonies the players called to Congress offered their condolences for youthful athletes who had committed suicide after using performance-enhancing drugs.

[edit] BALCO scandal

Barry Bonds on the March 13, 2006 cover of Sports Illustrated

During this period Bonds' trainer, Greg Anderson, and BALCO head Victor Conte (also connected to Jason Giambi and Canseco), were not subpoenaed in California by the House Committee for investigation. The question of whether Bonds used steroids is the ongoing question dominating baseball. By the end of the 2005 season Bonds had hit 708 career home runs, only 6 away from passing Babe Ruth as the second all-time leader in home runs and closing in on Hank Aaron's record of 755 career home runs.

As a result of pressure from Congress, baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association began applying stricter regulations and applied a zero tolerance policy in correspondence to performance enhancing drugs. On August 1, 2005, Palmeiro tested positive for performing enhancing substances and was suspended ten days.^[8] Once thought to be a lock for the Baseball Hall of Fame as one of only four players to have both 3,000 hits and 500 home runs, Palmeiro's legacy has now been called into question. Palmeiro's career would quickly die as he would retire soon after his suspension was lifted.

The Bonds controversy continues as he races for Aaron's home run record. The media continues to pressure Bonds with questions over the issue. In 2006, the book Game of Shadows was published offering unsourced claims that since Bonds' trainer was providing performance enhancers to his other athletes that he also provided Bonds with steroids. Bonds had admitted that he did use a clear substance and lotion given to him by his trainer but had no idea that they were any sort of performance enhancers. Bonds claimed that to his knowledge that the substances given to him were legal to treat his arthritis.