A shocking report by former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell has identified several pro baseball players as users of performance-enhancing drugs. Roger Clemens, Andy Pettite, Eric Gagne and Troy Glaus were among the culprits.
Digital Journal — A highly-anticipated investigation by George Mitchell was released today, and the 409-page report will likely change the face of Major League Baseball: anabolic steroids were widely used by many players over the last 10 years, and more than 60 professional players were cited as being steroid users, according to the Mitchell Report.
Among the players accused of doping were New York Yankees pitchers Andy Pettite and Roger Clemens, infielder Miguel Tejada, pitcher Eric Gagne, and Blue Jays stars Gregg Zaun and Troy Glaus. Retired players were also called out, including Chuck Knoblauch and Lenny Dykstra. Steroid-using players who admitted publicly to drug use, such as Jose Canseco, were also heavily cited in the report.
Barry Bonds’ name was peppered throughout the report, which shouldn’t surprise anyone who followed his recent case and accusations from a former lover that he admitted to steroid use.
The investigation by Sen. Majority Leader Mitchell took 20 months and was initiated by MLB commissioner Bug Selig after the Barry Bonds steroid fiasco. It is uncertain what fines or suspensions may occur in light of the recently released report.
In a televised news conference, Mitchell said the rapidly changing nature of MLB’s drug problem should be addressed consistently:
Both baseball clubs and player associations have to take a fresh look at this issue at the earliest opportunity. There has to be constant improvement in detecting those who engage in illegally distributing these new designer steroids.
Mitchell announced that at least one player from each of the 30 clubs is linked to performance-enhancing drugs.
The report, available in its entirety online, highlighted several recommendations:
Major League Baseball must significantly increase its ability to investigate allegations of use outside of the testing program and improve its procedures for keeping performance enhancing substances out of the clubhouse. [And] there must be a more comprehensive and effective program of education for players and others about the serious health risks incurred by users of performance enhancing substances.
One of the key witnesses in the report is former New York Mets batboy Kirk Radomski, who dealt performance-enhancing drugs to pro players for years. In 2005, federal agents raided Radomski’s home on Long Island, seizing vials of anabolic steroids, human growth hormone, insulin and Clomid (a masking substance). He pleaded guilty to dealing steroids in April and was forced to provide information to Mitchell’s staff as part of his plea bargain.
In the news conference, Mitchell admitted it was difficult to find insiders willing to offer credible evidence. He said, “The players’ union was largely uncooperative, for reasons which are understandable.”
The report also hinted that calling out players for steroid use will not end with the Mitchell investigation. The report said:
Other investigations will no doubt turn up more names and fill in more details, but that is unlikely to significantly alter the description of baseball’s `steroids era’ as set forth in this report.
