Proposal to Remove the MLB's Substance Abuse Policy

Major League Baseball knows that players use illegal substances to better performance. But they do not know how to reform the substance abuse policy to make it effective. Major League Baseball needs to have an effective substance abuse policy to restore the integrity to the game, and ensure no one has an unfair advantage. To ensure the integrity and equality of baseball, I propose Major League Baseball remove its substance abuse policy.

Problem

Despite recent modifications in Major League Baseball's substance abuse policy, there are still problems. Players continue to abuse illegal substances, causing the game to lose its integrity. The biggest problem with the current policy is that the rules can easily be misinterpreted. Players are trying to gain every possible edge and are coming as close to breaking the rules as possible.

With the advances made in modern medicine, there are now thousands of products on the market for enhancement. The majority of players do not know what substances are illegal because they simply allow their trainers to supply their supplements.

In the past, strengthening the policy has not kept players from using illegal substances. The minor punishments associated with positive tests are of little care to the players. The "laughable" previous substance abuse policy simply called for survey testing "when more than 5 percent of those surveyed tested positive for steroids, that allowed MLB to begin random testing of each player twice during a five- to seven-day period in 2004" (Snow, twelfth paragraph ). Because of the survey testing that takes place, players using illegal substances are almost impossible to catch.

Since no punishment is administered for first time offenders, those using the banned substances would be able to cycle off the banned substance before their next test occurred. More players continue to test positive for illegal substances and former players, that are now retired, have begun to expose the vast use of illegal substances. Jose Canseco, a former player who admitted to steroid use, became famous for his book Juiced, in which he accused other players and notes "the challenge is not to find a top player who has used steroids; the challenge is to find a top player who hasn't" (Canseco, around page 146).

Proposed Solution

I propose that Major League Baseball's illegal substance policy be removed. This is a highly controversial proposal, but it is the only way a significant reform will be made. In the past, strengthening the policy has not kept players from using illegal substances. Because there are no longer any restrictions, players would be free to use whatever substances they want, the solution that is just to every player currently playing. Former players who set records also have used illegal substances because of the faulty testing policy. Since former and current players have used illegal substances, allowing all players to use any substance they desire would give every player an equal opportunity.

There never will be a perfect way to test for illegal substances and keep players from using them, removing the illegal substance policy all together would be logical. As much as people might believe it, performance enhancers actually do not significantly improve baseball players' skill level. Performance enhancers are not primarily used to hit the baseball further, "for me, it helped with longevity and recovery from injury, as well as strength, but I'm telling you it doesn't help you hit the ball" (Jenkins, bottom of page), the majority of players use performance enhancers to rejuvenate their bodies for the grueling one hundred and sixty-two game regular season.

Society often forgets that Major League Baseball is a business and that fans are drawn to stadiums by the League's premier players. If substances reduce the probability a player will be injured or the amount of time a player remains disabled due to an injury, then the player will be playing as much as possible. This in turn, will make Major League Baseball more profitable because the stands will be filled with fans.

Work Plan

Getting the necessary support will take an extended period of time, but I believe it is possible to have the substance abuse policy completely removed by the start of the 2009 season. Before this time, a committee must be set up to gain support and evidence. This idea and evidence must then be proposed to the Commissioner of Major League Baseball as well as the Major League Baseball Players Association. Once agreed upon, the substance abuse policy can begin to be removed.

1.
Create committee to gain support, analyze information, and build a case against the substance abuse policy (December 2007)
2.
Interview player's and document their thoughts on Major League Baseball's substance abuse policy (January 2008)
3.
Present findings and propose policy to Major League Baseball Commissioner (February 2008)
4.
Present findings and propose policy to Major League Baseball Players Association (April 2008)
5.
Meet with Major League Baseball Rule Committee and winter meeting (December 2008)
6.
Have the substance abuse policy completely removed (Opening Day 2009)

Qualifications

As a baseball player who has played in high school and college, I have enough personal experience to understand how the game is played on and off the field. During my playing career I have become friends with several players playing major division one college baseball. These players have told me of the substance abuse that goes on at the college level. Additionally, I have had high school coaches suggest the use of performance enhancers. Since players are being instructed or deciding to take performance enhancing substances to better themselves at these levels, it assures those players in the Major Leagues are also using them.

Furthermore, it is these same high school and college players that will eventually become Major Leaguers. If these players are using performance enhancing substances at this level, it is almost certain that they will continue to use performance enhancers at the next level. I am also a student at Clemson University. Here I have access to numerous libraries, where I have thoroughly researched the Major League Baseball substance abuse policy. This abundance of information has allowed me to build evidence to support my proposal of removing Major League Baseball's substance abuse policy.

Bibliography
MLA STYLE

1. Canseco, Jose. Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant 'roids, Smash Hits, and How Baseball
Got Big. New York: HarperCollins, 2005.

2. Snow, Chris. "New Steroid Policy." Boston. 2006. 25 July 2007.
.
3. Jenkins, Bruce. "Bonds Will be Remembered for Dedicated Talents." Times Record
News. 25 July 2007. 29 July 2007. < http://www.timesrecordnews.com/trn /sp_nl_baseball/article/0,1891,TRN_5722_5645926,00.html>.