Steroid Use In Major League Baseball? Really?
Friday, November 14, 2003
Another "file under no sh-t?" story for you from Fox News (AP):
Over 5 Percent of Ballplayers Positive for Steroids
More than 5 percent of steroid tests on major league baseball players this year came back positive, triggering automatic testing starting next season.I have to say that I have been a big fan of baseball this year (go Cubbies!), but I have also been greatly disappointed by the steroid use there. I don't want my son to grow up emulating baseball players who had to inject their muscles with steroids in order to be competitive. I don't want my son to turn to steroids to enhance his performance on the ball field.Suspicions of steroid use had run high recently as bulked-up sluggers set all sorts of home run records. Stars such as Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa denied taking the drugs.
But on Thursday, the results proved what many in baseball had long assumed: Some players were taking more than vitamins...
And, I don't care if you believe that steroid use is prevalent in major league sports or that it's no big deal.
It is a big deal to me because so many children want to be these players when they grow up. And there is something inherently unfair (or un-American) about using chemicals to enhance player performance. Plus, the side effects of steroids are worrisome, too.
And what does "over 5 percent" mean? 50 percent is over 5 percent...