The use of steroids, also known as performance enhancing drugs (PEDs), in baseball has been illegal in Major League Baseball since 1991, even though they did not start league wide testing until 2003. And even though they are outlawed, many still use steroids and get away with it. This gives them an unfair advantage and if not used properly can ruin not only their careers, but their lives. I believe that steroids should become legal in the MLB to level the playing field. Many people cheat and get away with it, while others get suspended and fined for using. By legalizing for all, this would level the playing field for all competitors, avoid the gray area were some cheat, but get away with it, and to create more excitement for the fans. Some
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Former big leaguer, Ken Caminiti, discussed his steroid usage in the late 90’s with TomVerducci, who writes for Sports Illustrated primarily about baseball. He is also a field reporter for the MLB postseson. In 1996 Caminiti began taking steroids to recover from a shoulder injury. In the second half of that season, Caminiti hit 28 home runs—his previous high for a season had been 26. Caminiti finished the season with 40 home runs, a .326 batting average, and 130 runs batted in. Each of these far exceeded his previous career bests. In the interview, Caminiti describes the impact of steroids on his body and on his play: “I felt like a kid. . . . I’d be running the bases and think, Man, I’m fast! And I had never been fast. Steroids made me like that. The stronger you get, the more relaxed you get. You feel good. You just let it fly.” (Verducci, pg. 38). This is one of the many instances where the use of steroids has immensely increased the level of play of a …show more content…
If all players could have their statistics jump up that greatly. And it is not like the use of steroids heightens ones raw talent to play baseball. It just makes them bigger, faster, and stronger. They still have to be able to hit the baseball, field the baseball, and throw the baseball. Steroids just give their body an advantage, not their talent.
There are many grey areas in the MLB testing process. In 2011 Milwaukee Brewers outfielder, Ryan Braun, won the most valuable player award. A month before receiving the award he was tested for using performance enhancing drugs. He was asked to give three urine samples for testing. When the samples left the building they were all sealed and not tampered with. When the urine tests arrived at a World Anti-Doping Agency-certified testing lab in Montreal, it was told that all seals were still intact. What was supposed to be a simple test, turned into the gray area in between (Verducci pg.
Former big leaguer, Ken Caminiti, discussed his steroid usage in the late 90’s with TomVerducci, who writes for Sports Illustrated primarily about baseball. He is also a field reporter for the MLB postseson. In 1996 Caminiti began taking steroids to recover from a shoulder injury. In the second half of that season, Caminiti hit 28 home runs—his previous high for a season had been 26. Caminiti finished the season with 40 home runs, a .326 batting average, and 130 runs batted in. Each of these far exceeded his previous career bests. In the interview, Caminiti describes the impact of steroids on his body and on his play: “I felt like a kid. . . . I’d be running the bases and think, Man, I’m fast! And I had never been fast. Steroids made me like that. The stronger you get, the more relaxed you get. You feel good. You just let it fly.” (Verducci, pg. 38). This is one of the many instances where the use of steroids has immensely increased the level of play of a …show more content…
If all players could have their statistics jump up that greatly. And it is not like the use of steroids heightens ones raw talent to play baseball. It just makes them bigger, faster, and stronger. They still have to be able to hit the baseball, field the baseball, and throw the baseball. Steroids just give their body an advantage, not their talent.
There are many grey areas in the MLB testing process. In 2011 Milwaukee Brewers outfielder, Ryan Braun, won the most valuable player award. A month before receiving the award he was tested for using performance enhancing drugs. He was asked to give three urine samples for testing. When the samples left the building they were all sealed and not tampered with. When the urine tests arrived at a World Anti-Doping Agency-certified testing lab in Montreal, it was told that all seals were still intact. What was supposed to be a simple test, turned into the gray area in between (Verducci pg.