Introduction
In 2004, there was a great scandal in the world of athletics. Things could have been otherwise had it not been for a careless athlete who mistakenly forgot a syringe in his hotel room. As a result, a coach came across the syringe and reported the matter to the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) handing them the syringe for chemical experiments. It was later found that many athletes were using Tetrahydrogestrinone (THG) a performance-enhancing drug that was designed in such a way that it could not be detected. This led to retesting of urine samples taken during 2003 IAAF world championships and also Winter Games in 2002. The penalty was stripping off all medals won during these two competitions (Fordyce, 2004).
Main body
The use of performance enhancing drugs has been a great draw back in the world of sports. Many champions have fallen from grace to grass after testing positive to the illegalized drugs. This problem that cuts through all sporting fields has brought down sports personalities who would have otherwise been legends including athletes like Ben Johnson, Kelli White, soccer’s Diego Maradona, Marion Jones and many others. Baseball has not been spared. This includes Jason Giambi who played at Fenways. It is therefore justified to say that the new policy by Major League to stiffen the penalties and also change the testing schedule is among the best move taken by the management. This is because it will help to avoid such incidences where stars are reduced to nothing due to testing positive.
Managements have been forced to put up measures to curb this shameful black spot on the white garment of sport. There major aim has been to create a balanced play ground for all athletes so that they do not shine and attain respect that they do not deserve. This is what led the American Major League baseball management and players Union revisit their steroid rules and tighten some points so as to ensure that most of the players are discouraged from using these drugs lest they fall into the unlucky position of facing the strict penalties that could otherwise ruin their careers (Bodley, 2005).
In January 2005, the Major League management came up with stricter measures as compared to the existing earlier ones. Based on changes in the testing program, the new rules brought with them the random testing program. This means that players will be tested randomly without a clear time table of who is to be tested when. Other amendments are made in the off season testing. Unlike other times when testing was done only once during the League season, the new testing will be done even during off season. This is one big step in the fight against the use of drugs in Major League Baseball (Bodley, 2005). There are players who are bright enough to use means that will temper with results making them test negative while they are positive in real sense. Through this randomization, a player will either choose to stop using drugs or risk being picked upon for testing when he is not ready.
Previously, the name of a player who failed the test was not made public. This is not the case after the new policies were enacted. Any player who tested positive of using performance enhancers was to be publicly announced for all to see. This includes other players in the league plus the fans in who will be notified through media. This means doom to any player’s career. If known to use the drugs, the player stands a chance of losing favor from the fans. This will temper with his performance especially when he meets opposing team’s fans who will jeer at him as a drug user (Dobkowski, 2005).
Penalties have also been doubled. Previously, a first time offender was made to attend a rehab course to help him do away with the drugs. This is no more the case. A first time offender will face a ten day suspension without pay. 30 days will be offered to a second time offender, 60 days for a third time offender while a fourth time offender will be contented with a year’s ban. This is a harsh one for a player to miss all the matches and thus all the salary. They will be forced to abstain from drug use or face the penalty (Bodley, 2005).
These measures are really justified. It is very unfair for a person to swim in fame that he does not really deserve. This does not only give him undeserved praise but it also denies a chance to a good player who could have otherwise been a star. It therefore makes the drug user have an unfair upper hand in the battle which is supposed to be level. These measures are therefore justified because they will bring equality to the platform and therefore give chance to genuine good players to receive praise that they deserve.
The sum of money used to pay these players is quite big. Getting such money through cheating is as good as conning or robbing. Through performance enhancement, the player will be getting too much money through cheating. The move to stiffen the penalties is therefore good for it will try to ensure that the players get what they deserve. They will not cheat to earn these staggering amounts of money.
Basic rights are not being infringed in this case. It is just what would be termed as playing by the rules. Playing baseball is not a basic need in the survival of a human being. Therefore, one who feels that being forced to get tested without notice is infringing rights, then he should change his game to another sport that will not force him to get tested. But if he must play baseball, then he must adhere to the rules that are set to govern the game.
Finally, these policies will be constructive not only to the players and the league, but also to the millions of children who look upon the star players as their role models. If they discover that they use performance enhancers to make it, then they will also be lured into using the drugs. By seeing the shame that accompanies the use of drugs, they might be compelled to think otherwise about using the drugs.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the new policies in the Major League are justified because they will help in bringing about justice and fairness in the game. Players will be forced to earn what they deserve unlike before where they used cheating to earn what they don’t deserve. This is through monetary benefits and fame.
References:
Bodley, H., (2005). “Baseball officials announce tougher steroids policy.” USA Today.
Dobkowski, K., (2005). “New steroid policy in effect.” Major League Baseball News. Web.
Fordyce, T., (2004). “The THG scandal explained.” BBC Sport. Athletics.