By DPA
Washington : Some of baseball’s biggest stars took or purchased steroids during a 10-year period when use of performance enhancing drugs was “widespread,” according to a new report.
The investigation’s results, which were released Thursday, were seen as a major blow to America’s national pastime but have also been viewed as an opportunity for baseball to come clean after years of suspicion and leaked reports about steroid use by some of the most popular players.
The report, the most exhaustive official investigation into steroid use in sports, was unsparing in identifying players believed to have used or purchased steroids or human growth hormone and also blamed league and team officials for reacting too slowly or ignoring the problem.
“For more than a decade there has been widespread illegal use of anabolic steroids and other performance enhancing substances by players in Major League Baseball,” said former senator George Mitchell, whose law firm was hired by Major League Baseball to conduct the 20-month-long inquiry.
The White House weighed into the issue Thursday by saying President George W. Bush, a former owner of the Texas Rangers and an avid baseball fan, “hopes that this report marks the beginning of the end of steroid abuse.”
“It’s in the best interest of baseball, it’s in the best interest of our children, and ultimately for all professional sports, for there to be clear transparency on this matter,” spokeswoman Dana Perino said.
The biggest name to be fingered in the report was Roger Clemens, who pitched for the New York Yankees in the 2007 season and is regarded as the best pitcher of his generation and among the best ever.
Mitchell’s investigators said a man who served as Clemens’ trainer, Brian McNamee, told them he injected Clemens, 45, with steroids on several occasions while he played for the Toronto Blue Jays and Yankees from 1998 to 2000.
Clemens’ agent released a statement saying the report was based on hearsay and there was not a “shred of credible evidence” showing the seven-time Cy Young award winner took steroids.
The popular Clemens along with his once highly celebrated Yankees teammate, pitcher Andy Pettitte, 35, were among the more surprising players identified as users.
Former San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds, 43, had long been suspected as a steroid user and is facing prosecution for allegedly lying to federal investigators about steroid use during a 2003 investigation into Balco Laboratories, which was shut down by the federal government for steroid distribution.
Bonds in August broke the all time career home run record, the most cherished milestone in US sports, but the significance of the feat was diminished by allegations he used performance enhancers.
Among the dozens of other players named was Baltimore Orioles shortstop Miguel Tejada, 31, who has made several all-star appearances and was once voted most valuable player in the American League.
Mitchell said he chose to identify the players to end speculation and allow the league to begin to rebuild credibility, but he also warned steroid use was likely more widespread than his probe was able to detail.
Baseball only began mandatory testing for steroids in 2002 with the threat of light suspension for players who tested positive. Under congressional pressure, baseball and the players’ union eventually agreed to tougher penalties – a first offense gets a 50-game suspension – two years ago.
Mitchell, who was the special US envoy to Northern Ireland and helped broker the 1998 Good Friday agreement, recommended the league increase its ability to investigate allegations of use outside of testing and improve its procedures for keeping performance enhancing substances out of the clubhouse, better educate players about the health risks and set up a state-of-the-art programme for independent testing.
MLB commissioner Bud Selig said he will enact all the recommendations he can without union approval but will immediately begin discussions with players’ representatives on aspects that require their approval.
Major League Baseball asked Mitchell in March 2006 to carry out the independent investigation, after Congress threatened to take up legislation to force the league and players’ union to agree to stiffer penalties.