Substance Abuse Policy in Major League Baseball

Introduction
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. While there is not one solution that solves all of the problems, a reform is necessary. Major League Baseball should reform its substance abuse policy by changing to a zero tolerance policy or completely removing the policy and legalizing performance enhancing substances. By acting on one of these two extremes, Major League Baseball will finally be able to have a significant effect on the illegal substance policy. This effort to reform the illegal substance policy will begin to restore baseball's integrity.

No Tolerance Policy

Interpretation
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 addition, the language barrier has become an issue. Major League Baseball has now set up numerous training facilities in Latin America and these "players from Spanish-speaking countries are getting tripped up by baseball's steroids policy at a disproportionate rate, raising concerns that they don't understand the rules on banned substances -- including over-the-counter supplements bought back home" (AP). Major League Baseball has begun to pool its talent worldwide and the unclear rules, along with the language barrier, is a huge problem. By implementing a no tolerance policy for substances, Major League baseball would be able to remove ambiguity around the rules.

Equality
By enforcing a no tolerance policy on any performance enhancing substance, Major League Baseball would assure that the game is fair to every player. Baseball should honor those who previously played the game and set records without the help of performance enhancing substances. Furthermore, it would ensure that the game is fair to every player currently playing. The problem has become so serious that "Sen. John McCain demanded immediate action by representatives of major league baseball's players and owners to tighten the sport's drug-testing policy "to restore the integrity of baseball" or possibly face congressional action"(Mann). Additionally, players currently playing in the Minor Leagues have a different set of banned substances than those playing in the Majors. The policy for the Minor leagues is more strict compared to "the watered-down policy implemented this year to answer the poison pen of Jose Canseco and the Capitol Hill investigations" (Scandura). Banning all substances would prevent players to benefit from the Major League policy. Since the Major League policy is more lenient, players in the Major Leagues have an unfair advantage, thus making it more difficult for a Minor League player to advance to the Major League.

Effects
Major League Baseball would restore the integrity that the game once had. 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). 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. With a zero tolerance policy, no longer would the majority of baseball related media be focused on illegal substances and those who used them. Major League Baseball would once again promote a positive image. Additionally, athletes attempting to play in the Major League would no longer feel like substances were necessary to reach baseball's premier league.

Completely Removing Policy

Interpretation
With no restrictions on performance enhancing substances, there will be no ambiguous policy. Major League Baseball and the Player's Association have tried to make minor changes in the illegal substance policy but Congress has condemned it as "the lawmakers leveled their criticism at the pair two days after congressional investigators first received a copy of the proposed 27-page steroid policy and two months after Selig publicly described the plan as "gold standard" and "consistent with my stated goal of zero tolerance'" (Hohler). The Players association and League officials appear to not want a change in the policy. The only explanation for this is players are using illegal substances and want to continue to without being prosecuted. If the illegal substance policy was removed, players would be able to use whatever substances they desired and would no longer have to be concerned with punishment. Consequently, players would no longer have to worry about trusting their trainers, dealing with the language barrier, or any other problems the current policy creates.

Equality
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. Because random testing is currently done to check for illegal substances, some players might be able to get away with using illegal substances. This testing policy presents a problem because "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). Players have been able to avoid positive tests and thus have been allowed to play in the Major League with an advantage. 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. Because 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.

Effects
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), 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. Allowing players to use performance enhancers might let them hit the ball further. Thus, if players become stronger, home run production has a greater probability to increase. Fans love to see "the long ball" and offensive production brings more fans to the games. This past year, it was harder to get a ticket to the home run derby than it was the all star game. If players begin to hit more home runs, more fans will be attracted to games and Major League Baseball will become more profitable.

Conclusion
Major League Baseball must reform its substance abuse policy. There is entirely too much leniency and ambiguity in the current policy. Whether it is by adopting a zero tolerance policy or simply removing the policy all together, a change must be made. Previous attempts to reform the policy have had little effect. With this in mind, 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. The minor punishments associated with positive tests are of little care to the players. Removing the illegal substance policy presents Major League Baseball with the best opportunity to end the illegal substance controversy.

Bibliography
MLA STYLE

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2. Canseco, Jose. Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant 'roids, Smash Hits, and How Baseball
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3. Hohler, Bob. "Cogress Rips Steroid Policy." Boston. 2006. 29 July 2007.
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4. Jenkins, Bruce. "Bonds Will be Remembered for Dedicated Talents." Times Record
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5. Mann, William C. "McCain to Baseball: 'Fix' Drug Problem Now." USA Today.

6 Dec. 2004. 25 July 2007. 2004-12-04-mccain-steroids¬¬_x.htm>.

6. Scandura, Mike. "One Sport - Two Sets of Rules." Minor League News. 2006.
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7. Snow, Chris. "New Steroid Policy." Boston. 2006. 25 July 2007.
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