THE 'ROID REPORT FOR THE WEEK OF DEC. 9

by Gary Gaffney, MD, Steroid Nation

This week belonged to the much ballyhooed Mitchell Report -- the investigation of performance enhancing drugs in professional baseball that ex-Senator George Mitchell developed over 20 months and utilized 20 million dollars to complete. The reaction to Mitchell's probe was swift and often scathing.

Mitchell accepted a daunting task trying to uncover the shadowy, clandestine, world of steroid use among the tightly controlled cloistered fraternity of pro athletes. Perhaps he should have taken on something easy like locating Osama bin Laden.

Mitchell named about 89 current and former players who used PEDs (mostly anabolic steroids and/or HGH) which he felt could be documented with evidence. Mitchell's main sources was Kirk Radomski, the former Met clubhouse boy who turned steroid dealer and previous documents on BALCO. Radomski cooperated with Mitchell to save his skin some jail time, when he copped a plea from federal drug dealing convictions.

As a cynic commented:

"They've identified the low-hanging fruit. The odds are that many more are doing things."

We have read most of the over-400 page report, however the reading can be dense. Our preliminary take:

• In a detailed section, Mitchell traces MLB regulations on PED use. In hindsight, the MLB management appears to be naive and slow to act during the growing problem of PED use in baseball. In defense of the MLB front office, the sophistication of the drug-cheats out-distanced most baseball people, and most fans. MLB management wasn't the only party asleep at the wheel in this one. However, it is clear the intent of MLB was aimed at addressing the escalating arms race in PED use, although management moved deliberately slow on the issue.
• The MLB Player's Association, and the players themselves appear not to be the most cooperative group in this probe, and in the fight against PEDs in general. It would appear only one active MLB player -- Frank Thomas -- spoke to Mitchell about PED use. Mitchell exhibited a very combative tone in describing the non-cooperation of the MLBPA leadership. There were hints at someone - the MLBPA -- tipping off players before drug testing came to their town.
• Of the players named, the most spectacular 'new' names were: Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Miguel Tejada, Eric Gagne, David Justice, Paul Lo Duca, and Mo Vaughn. David Segui comes across as a congenial enabler for many players to sample PEDs. And the general sleazy back-alley dealings of the steroid-dealers, and juiced athletes calls for long hot showers for all.
• The Rocket, Roger Clemens, took the most explosive hit among the players. In the 5 pages devoted to Clemens and his trainer Brian McNamee, Clemens comes across as an experienced 'roider who found excellent pharmacological enhancement of his career from a needle and a syringe. According the the report, Clemens used a variety of anabolic steroids and HGH to fuel his rocket.
• Mitchell detailed recommendations to address this MLB culture of drug corruption. Among the more important included moving PED testing to an independent firm, not associated with the MLB management or the player's association. Mitchell also (as we did) recommended an independent arm of MLB to investigate PED use, much as police departments use independent arms to look at internal police corruption.

Reaction came swiftly from various camps. Roger Clemens's lawyer issued a denial (and a dog bit a man in New Jersey). Curt Schilling, meanwhile, says if Clemens is innocent he should sue that dog and everyone else with teeth.

Can anyone take anymore 'roid news? Probably not, however it is interesting to note that the Odd Couple - Victor Conte and Dick Pound -- met in New York this week. No word if Felix and Oscar joined the pair for dinner and revelry. Todd Sauerbrun went all rage on someone in Colorado. And lastly, Marion Jones was stripped naked of her Olympic records and medals.

Reports suggest Geroge Lucas begins work on a movie of the Mitchell report called..."Star Wards" featuring a non-detectable PED called 'the Force'. And may the Force be with you.