Mark McGwire Wishes He Never Used Anabolic Steroids

Mark McGwire, the former Major League Baseball single season home run record holder, wishes he never used anabolic steroids. McGwire placed himself firmly on the anti-steroid bandwagon following the 211 game suspension of Alex Rodriguez. Rodriguez was suspended for using and attempting to cover up his use of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs).

"I wish I was never a part of it," McGwire said. "Just get rid of it. If it's better to have bigger suspensions, then they're going to have to change it."

McGwire and Sammy Sosa battled in a historic race for baseball's home run record in 1998. McGwire came out on top in what was one of the most exciting periods in recent baseball history. The McGwire-Sosa home run chase revitalized the game and led to record profits for MLB owners. It also became known as the beginning of baseball's so-called "steroid era".

McGwire ended his 16-year career with 583 home runs and 1,626 hits. His performance was aided by anabolic steroids and human growth hormone since at least the mid-nineties, and possibly much earlier, if his little brother, steroid whistleblower Jose Canseco and/or former steroid dealer Curtis Wenzlaff are to be believed.

Little brother Jay McGwire claimed to have introduced Big Mac to a cycle consisting of Deca Durabolin and human growth hormone (hGH) in 1994. Canseco claimed to have used Deca and Winstrol with his fellow "bash brother" as early as 1988. Convicted steroid dealer Wenzlaff also claimed to have provided Winstrol, Equipoise and testosterone to McGwire during the mid-nineties.

It is easy for McGwire to wish he never used steroids now that he has a comfortable position as the hitting coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He has admitted and apologized for his role in the "steroid era" and has largely been forgiven. But without the steroids, what would McGwire's career have looked like? Where would he be now? Strike the single-season home run record. Strike the 583 home runs. Strike the 1,626 hits. Perhaps, his career would have ended sooner and he never would have re-emerged as a hitting coach.

McGwire has steroids to thank. It's too late to regret using them. He is still reaping the benefits even though he may have stopped using them over 15 years ago. Of course, McGwire may never be inducted into the Hall of Fame. But that is a small price to pay for the financial rewards and subsequent opportunities he has reaped. Nonetheless, McGwire wants people to believe him when he tells them steroids are not worth it.

"Unfortunately, I don't believe there will be a day that I will be in there," McGwire said. "That's OK. That's the way things are. I've dealt with it. I'm OK with it."

For Mark McGwire, it is better to have used steroids and been caught than never to have used steroids at all. But he may never publicly admit it.

Source:

Dilbeck, S. (August 6, 2013). Dodgers' Mark McGwire on PEDs: 'I wish I was never a part of it'. Retrieved from //www.latimes.com/sports/dodgersnow/la-sp-dn-mark-mcgwire-performance-enhancing-drugs-20130806,0,1305614.story