The following paragraph is part of a letter that I wrote – it was published in the New York Times on January 26, 2004.

“President Bush mentioned the issue of steroids in sports in his State of the Union address on Tuesday, January 21, 2004. As a lifelong baseball fan, I am very concerned about the effect of steroids on the integrity of baseball and its players, statistics, records and history. Let’s hope that this very public message reaches those who can – and should rid all sport of these substances.”

Later that year the Congress had their dog and pony show with Mark McGwire talking about the past, Sammy Sosa unable to speak English and Rafael Palmiero defiantly saying he had never done ‘drugs’.

A couple of years later, Roger Clemens appeared before Congress after chatting up the committee ahead of time and apparently just flat out lied his way through the session – we haven’t seen much of him since then because the Feds are making a thorough investigation of him and plan to call him again.

Then there is the legal issue. Steroids and other drugs of their kind have been illegal since the early 1990’s. This means illegal everywhere, including major league clubhouses. MLB has danced around this rule, mentioning union contracts etc.

It’s now 2010 – long past time when MLB – and the other sports – need to take action and do the right thing. We’ve got a whole generation of kids who are copying their sports idols by enhancing their performances in any way they can.

From the New York Daily News , June 23, 2010:

“MLB yesterday hosted a meeting with Drug Enforcement Administration officials yesterday in Milwaukee. With the case of Toronto physician Anthony Galea heating up (he was named in a federal criminal complaint and is suspected of providing human growth hormone to pro athletes) Sports leagues are facing pressure to keep pace with anti-doping efforts…Last week, NFL VP Adolpho Birch met with World Anti Doping officials in Montreal to discuss numerous topics including testing for human growth hormone. The NFL bans HGH use – as does MLB – but neither tests for it, because HGH needs blood testing, not urine”.

Yesterday’s meeting was the fourth that MLB has hosted. Representatives from the DEA, NFL, NBA and NHL also attended.

They are all taking their time, aren’t they.