Can You Trust Us Now? Baseball Closes Steroid Loophole

It seems that Congress (motto: If it won't win us votes, we're not interested) actually accomplished something in last Thursday's hearings. Baseball has closed the "unintentional" loophole in its steroid policy and now mandates a suspension following any positive test for banned performance-enhancing drugs. Undoubtedly, this is good for the game.

I also join Mike in agreeing with Senator McCain: the collective bargaining processes of the league and players association will not result in the best testing policies. But does that mean Congress needed to get involved? Presumably, if sports fans are not happy with baseball and feel it is a sport of cheaters, they will stop spending money on the game, forcing a change. I am not convinced, though, that steroid use is an issue of national importance. If it were, wouldn't the NFL be a more natural target for a congressional inquiry? Baseball's steroid problem pales in comparison to that of professional (or collegiate) football. One need look no further to find a testing policy with loopholes.

No, this was not about the ineffectiveness of the bargaining process. It makes for a nice soundbite, but at the end of the day, this was about Congress using baseball's antitrust exemption to induce celebrity testimony, and at the same time, getting publicity that will serve them well in the upcoming elections.

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