The SBP Archives - Your less than frequent dose of SBP!

An over 300 page report details how Major League Baseball has failed to contain the use of performance-enhancing drugs was released today by U.S. Senator Mitchell and attempts to lay out a plan to stop there use in the future. Included in this report are names of several baseball players, including major stars such as Roger Clemens & Eric Gagne, who have been accused of using performance-enhancing drugs (but without being formally charged).

So will this stop steroid use?

It all depends on how seriously this report is taken. On the surface, throwing out a few names to the public is done almost just for shock value. Are they going to follow-up and maybe erase baseball records or take back championships because of their cheating? Will the players have to return salary or perhaps be charged formally for using and/or distributing? Will the penalties levied by the league be tougher and more vigorously enforced?

I'd like to think that one or more of the above will take place, because if nothing happens, this was nothing more than a smear campaign and all of the accused will forever have their reputation tarnished, regardless if they are innocent or guilty.

Call me cynical, but I just don't see anything coming of this. There has been nothing but talk for years and athletes continue to cheat at all costs. The culture of drug use seems to be accepted, and when designer drugs and human growth hormone are widely available that is impossible to detect (from what the little I understand), the money and fame are just too much for people to do the right thing and play clean. It's sad state of affairs, but that's the way it is now. I guess only time will tell to see if anything will come out of the Mitchell Report.