The Mitchell Report: Misconceptions clarified

As the Mitchell Report continues to be the talk of the sports nation, I want to point out a few passages that address some very common misconceptions regarding steroids and HGH in baseball. Let’s face it – legality issues are not fun to read about. But I needed to prove to myself that the whole “But it wasn’t illegal yet” argument is based on misunderstanding.

“Many have asserted that steroids and other performance enhancing substances were not banned in Major League Baseball before the 2002 Basic Agreement. This is not accurate. Beginning in 1971 and continuing today, Major League Baseball’s drug policy has prohibited the use of any prescription medication without a valid prescription. By implication, this prohibition applied to steroids even before 1991, when Commissioner Fay Vincent first expressly included steroids in baseball’s drug policy. Steroids have been listed as a prohibited substance under the Major League Baseball drug policy since then, although no player was disciplined for steroid use before the prohibition was added to the collective bargaining agreement in 2002.” -SR-10

“There is a widespread misconception that the use of steroids and other performance enhancing substances, such as human growth hormone, was not prohibited in Major League Baseball before the inclusion of the joint drug program in the 2002 Basic Agreement. In fact, as early as 1991 baseball’s drug policy expressly prohibited the use of ‘all illegal drugs and controlled substances, including steroids or prescription drugs for which the individual … does not have a prescription.’” -pg. 18

Hell, there’s a lot more to it than this, but I’m not here to write research papers. These passages cleared it up a bit for me, as I hope it did for you.

In related opinion, COME ON ROGER, TELL IT LIKE IT IS. Honestly, if he makes the Hall of Fame, I hope his plaque displays a “B” on his hat. A “B” for Buffoon. Yeah, I said it.