This week, we learned that Major League Baseball ("MLB") intends to go after several players connected to a clinic known to distribute steroids to MLB players (and, likely non-MLB players). The question to be determined is whether and to what extent players who abuse steroids should be punished by the League.
What are steroids? Steroids, used properly, are drugs that can assist athletes and others in rejuvenating their bodies from injuries, and quicken the healing process. Steroid use, however, has been hotly debated because, used improperly (with or without prescription), steroids have been attributed to serious injuries, deformations, irregular heartbeats, and death. Steroids also tend to strengthen the user, often resulting in a higher ability to create strong plays - in baseball, for instance, hitting the ball farther, pitching at a quicker pace; in football, being stronger than an opponent, etc. A major "con" of using steroids, besides health risk, is that the player can often grow larger, sweat profusely, and could potentially have a weaker sex drive.
It is clear from years of study in the MLB that steroid users have an advantage over non-steroid users - the simplest example is to look at those hitters responsible for inflating home run figures over the past 20 years. Mark McGuire, Sammy Sosa, and Barry Bonds are the most prominent names out there of those that have retired. None of the three was an indecent hitter - indeed, all three were HOF contenders even without the inflated home run figures. However, it is clear that steroid use contributed greatly to their "heroics", especially in the early 2000's.
The problem the MLB has, however, is not in spotting steroid use, but in punishing its use. For decades, much of the MLB punishment has been lax, at best. Even its 50 game ban, which has been ordered on several players - Manny Ramirez is likely the most famous - is not a sufficient deterrent. The MLB must get tougher. It must create a "ZERO Tolerance" policy for the good of the game. My recommendation is that any player caught having used banned steroids without a valid prescription (and even then, there should be limitations) should be suspended for the rest of the season - and, should be randomly tested for the period on suspension. If, during suspension, any further positive test is identified, the player will be banned for life.
If, after the end of the season, the player desires to play, and of course, remains clean during the period of punishment, the player may be invited back to play. If, however, the player is ever caught using a banned substance again, then the player will be banned for life, without the possibility of reinstatement.
That's my take ... what's yours?
Abe
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