MLB announces probe into steroid use
April 5, 2006, People’s Daily Online
NEW YORK: Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig on Thursday announced an investigation into steroid use by players after renewed allegations against slugger Barry Bonds and other players.
Selig said the investigation would be headed by former US Senator George Mitchell, a former federal judge and US attorney who has previously been engaged in efforts to secure peace in Northern Ireland and in the Middle East.
Mitchell, who joined Selig for the announcement, said he was given full authority to pursue his probe into performance enhancing drugs wherever it leads, with the findings to be made public. The investigation was to begin immediately.
Selig said he was moved to act by a recent book outlining steroids use by San Francisco Giants slugger Bonds and his connection to Bay Area Laboratory Cooperative (BALCO), which was the subject of federal investigation in San Francisco.
"Nothing is more important to me than the integrity of the game of baseball," Selig told reporters at major league headquarters.
He spoke days before Sunday's opening of the new season and Bonds' attempt to catch Babe Ruth on the all-time home run list. He is six away from Ruth's 714 total, which is second on the career list behind Hank Aaron's record 755.
"The unique circumstances surrounding BALCO and evidence revealed in a recently published book have convinced me that Major League Baseball must undertake this investigation," Selig said. He did not announce a timetable for the investigation.
There has been considerable pressure on baseball to deal with the steroid issue, especially since publication of "Game of Shadows," written by two San Francisco Chronicle reporters, that details alleged steroids use by Bonds and other players.
Selig said the timing had nothing to do with Bonds' record chase. "The specificity of the charges" in the book "told me it is time to have this investigation," he said.
Other prominent players have also been implicated. New York Yankees sluggers Jason Giambi and Gary Sheffield testified, as did Bonds, before the grand jury in San Francisco in the BALCO case.
Last year, several high-profile players, including Mark McGwire, Rafael Palmeiro and Sammy Sosa testified at a Congressional hearing on steroids use in baseball. Palmeiro was suspended for a positive drug test later in the season.
"The allegations ... have caused fans and observers to question the integrity of play at the highest level of our national game," Mitchell said. "These allegations require close scrutiny."
Major League Baseball president Bob DuPuy said the probe would not interrupt the start of season's play.
"Everyone will play this year," DuPuy said. When pressed if findings might derail Bonds from pursuing the home run records, DuPuy predicted: "Bonds will play the whole year."
The San Francisco Giants pledged support for the probe.
"As we have said all along, the Giants support the Commissioner's decision to review all aspects of what is obviously a serious matter. We commend the selection of George Mitchell to head up this investigation, and we pledge our full support to the Commissioner, Senator Mitchell and his team."
US Sen. Jim Bunning, a former pitcher and member of baseball's Hall of Fame, said in a statement: "For too long now Major League Baseball has turned a blind eye to the use of steroids ... I think it is very important that a thorough investigation be conducted to determine exactly who was using, when they were using, and what records might have been achieved while they were doping up."
Performance enhancing drugs were not officially banned by Major League Baseball until after the 2002 season. Bonds has denied ever knowingly using any performance-enhancing drugs.
