Some of the culprits included, Roger Clemens, Andy Pattitte, Manny Alexander, Chad Allen, Mike Bell and many others. The report included volumes of pages from interviewing players as well as numerous other people, e-mail messages, tapped phone calls, and cancelled checks, receipts e.t.c. Mitchell concluded that, a thorough investigation that attempts to identify individual players who are using the illegal drugs will not be of much help, the problem f the use of illegal substances is the responsibility of the entire baseball fraternity since there was failure in recognizing the problem sooner, Use of performance enhancing drugs by players is ethically and legally wrong, and lastly MLBs 2002 steroid response was entirely responsible when players switched from detectable steroids to undetectable hormone for human growth.
Mitchell recommended in his report that efforts of establishing education for the players regarding the severe health effects from drug use should be initiated, players association and club owners should be able to discuss and negotiate the drug problems in their league and ensure guidance by first rate standards; and lastly, the Major League Baseball should be involved in utilizing independent administrators to test and improve investigative capabilities in the use of steroids as well as find ways of reducing the usage of the drugs by the players.
One of the most important reason why steroids should be completely eradicated in baseball is because the abuse of these drugs are very dangerous, both physiologically and physically and they also show a very bad example to young people who enjoy baseball and would want to take over from their role models when they grow up. Use of these drugs sends a direct message to children that natural talent is not enough to achieve ones desired goals in life. It also brings about the idea that one should do absolutely anything necessary, including cheating and deception to advance his prowess as a better player in baseball or any other sport. This greatly affects the morality question and most importantly the ethical judgment being passed around to the next generation.
Before the year 2002 when Major League Baseball players realized that without using steroids, there was no way they could have a legal edge of countering their competitors. They therefore opted for the use of the performance enhancing drugs to boost their achievements. It took till the year 2005 to for the...
It is believed that if the baseball governing body had affected the drug testing policy much earlier, then all these problems experienced by the baseball league would have never cropped up. This tougher testing policy includes more frequent but randomized testing of player and also longer penalties for the perpetrators. It is very relieving that the former Major League Baseball players are coming forward and admitting their mistakes in the use of steroids, this will give room for the baseball game to retain its integrity.
Conclusion
The ethical effects of steroids in baseball have been debated by several individuals and organizations. It is important to approach the issue with an open mind so as not to make rush decisions that might have far reaching implications on the integrity of baseball. Even though some believe that the use of anabolic steroids is cheating it is worthwhile to consider steroids a high risk and yet a well rewarded investment. This kind of a view would give a wonderful insight into the reason why every month at least a baseball player is implicated in anabolic steroid use. The actual gains that a player would get from the using anabolic steroids therefore remains to be seen despite the tough penalties and the increased rate of testing that currently marks the baseball arena.
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