Mark McGwire Admits Steroid Use, Will There Be Any Fallout?

Baseball legend Mark McGwire has been dogged by accusations of steroid use for years, and most observers had already came to believe he was not being truthful when he consistently denied using steroids.

Finally, Mcgwire has admitted to using steroids while playing baseball.

"I wish I had never touched steroids," McGwire said in a statement. "It was foolish and it was a mistake. I truly apologize. Looking back, I wish I had never played during the steroid era."

During the mid-'90s, I went on the DL seven times and missed 228 games over five years. I experienced a lot of injuries, including a ribcage strain, a torn left heel muscle, a stress fracture of the left heel, and a torn right heel muscle. It was definitely a miserable bunch of years and I told myself that steroids could help me recover faster. I thought they would help me heal and prevent injuries, too.

I'm sure people will wonder if I could have hit all those home runs had I never taken steroids. I had good years when I didn't take any and I had bad years when I didn't take any. I had good years when I took steroids and I had bad years when I took steroids. But no matter what, I shouldn't have done it and for that I'm truly sorry.

Baseball is really different now - it's been cleaned up. The commissioner and the players' association implemented testing and they cracked down, and I'm glad they did.

The statement from McGwire, posted in it's entirety on MLB.com, was probably necessary for McGwire. He is set to return to baseball as hitting coach for the Saint Louis Cardinals, and it's probably a case of better now than later.

Where McGwire's statement intersects with the political world is because he testified in front of Congress. While he did not make a specific denial at the testimony, he refused to answer any questions, saying he preferred not to talk about the past.

What effect will the announcement have, and will Congress want to talk to him again?

The effects will probably be minimal,with McGwire moving into his role as hitting coach, and Congress will probably be too busy to revisit the issue at this time. It's likely to be considered water under the bridge.

Still, McGwire will always have his baseball career tainted by the fact he used performance enhancing drugs. Neither McGwire or professional sports will lose that black eye anytime soon.