Over the past decade, MLB has been taking action against performance enhancing drugs. In 2007, a list called The Mitchell Report was made public by former Senator George J. Mitchell disclosing how
many athletes were using performance enhancing drugs, although their names were kept confidential.
There were a total of 86 athletes at that time that were on performance enhancing drugs that made that list. Since that report, the league has instilled a drug policy to stop the use of them. For athletes’ first offense, they are served with a 50 game suspension, second offense 100-game suspension and if they are caught for a third time, they receive a lifetime ban.
According to Baseball Reference. com, there is a decline from 2005 to present in the amount of suspensions due to all banned substances. 2005 and 2007 were the two years where the suspensions were the highest for the past eight years.
Skyline assistant coach John Quintell used to play in the major leagues from 1991-1995 with the New York Yankees. For many athletes choosing to start taking performance enhancing drugs depends
on their circumstances. There are those that take it to get better from an injury, sustain their playing time and improve their game. Older players take PEDs to make their time last in the game, while younger players that take PEDs do it to get a big league contract or move up in the league.
“It’s very tough to be at a high level every single day.” said Quintell. “As the years tick by, as you’re getting older and getting up there in age, a lot of guys will take them just so they’re able to keep having a job.”
On Jan. 29, Alex Rodriguez was linked to a company that has sold PEDs to athletes. Rodriguez has not tested positive for any substance as of yet, but the company has shelled out a list of athletes that they have sold PEDs to.
“With the era we play in, everybody’s using something.” said A.J.
Santiago the second basemen for the Skyline Trojans. “Every player that played in their different era had their different advantages…I agree with the bans and the restrictions they have on it. If you break the rules there’s going to be consequences.”
While the players are on suspension, they are losing out on their salary. Players know that the league that has been testing for banned substances for years and they know what the consequences are if they decide to take it and get caught.
