Drugs - Testing

By Jerry Price - Mar 13, 2006 -

“Steroid-tainted slugger Rafael Palmeiro’s suspension for violating Major League Baseball’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs is over. However, the controversy surrounding his reported positive test for the anabolic steroid stanozolol will continue . . . Palmeiro is the most prominent of eight players suspended so far this season for steroid violations. The Aug. 5-7 poll finds little change in fan support for the game since the season started. Just 47 percent of American adults consider themselves at least somewhat of a fan of baseball now, almost the same as the 48 percent in March following the congressional hearings, 48 percent in January, and 52 percent last December after the Boston Red Sox won the World Series in October.

“One thing remains clear, though—the sport’s fans are not pleased with the steroid problem and baseball’s response. Three in 10 fans say steroids are ‘ruining the game,’ while 56 percent say steroid use is a serious problem, but isn’t ruining the game. Despite an agreement between Major League Baseball and the players’ union to toughen the sport’s steroid-testing program after the congressional hearings in March, nearly two in three fans (63 percent) say the new program doesn’t go far enough.”

Mark Gillespie, Steroids a Strike Against Baseball (Gallup Poll), August 12, 2005 [Subscription required]

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