The consequences of anabolic steroids are not inconsequential, says Wadler.
Question: How can sports ruling bodies to regulate their own athletes?
Gary Wadler: Well, probably the arguments that comes back at me-- and I guess I have sort of been one of the more outspoken individuals-- is there are more people watching baseball than ever before. That doesn’t make it right. Just remember Taylor Hooten’s son- I mean, excuse me, just remember Don Hooten’s son, Taylor. When we appeared in Congress, there were three families who lost kids to anabolic steroids. You know, I often say when it comes to the player association who looks out for the good welfare of their players, they should not only be looking out for the financial good welfare of their players, but the health good welfare of their players. The consequences of these drugs are not inconsequential. Just look at what happened in professional wrestling and the number of premature deaths which we think-- we can’t prove, but we’re pretty comfortable-- related to the abuse of anabolic steroids and human growth hormone. So what’s it gonna take? I don’t know. I mean many of us have laid out the elements. You know, it’s not like they have to invent the program; it exists. They just have to read it and implement it or get a third party to implement it. You know, nuance changes within their program is not gonna change anything, but that’s where they’re at. So I don’t know the answer. I don’t know if they ever will until such time as public opinion puts enough pressure on them. And right now public opinion is intrigued, you know? Does this record count, doesn’t it count, did this guy take it or didn’t he take it, you know, are these homeruns worthy of being in the Hall of Fame or not being in the Hall of Fame, all those kind of things. People seem to be more interested in those bases that go around than gee, what’s the consequences of all of this? I got into this as a physician and I have watched what’s happened to people. It’s quite distressing.
Recorded on:04/25/2008
