Congress to Hold WWE Steroids Hearing, By: Larry Brown

Aug 30, 2007
 

Current MLB commissioner Bud Selig and former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue have been through it before, and it now it appears as if the WWE will have its steroids policy under investigation by congress. According to the New York Daily News, the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection will hold its hearing late next month as a response to the premature death of wrestler Chris Benoit.

"I am extremely concerned about the possible illegal and destructive practices by professional entertainment athletes that negatively influence the younger generation," said Rep. Bobby Rush, the Illinois Democrat who is the chairman of the committee. "We must make sure that today's wrestling sports heroes are not using illegal performance-enhancing drugs that, unfortunately, can and have led to their untimely deaths."

A congressional source told the Daily News that the panel has not yet compiled witness lists, and it is still not clear who will be asked to appear at the late-September hearing. Rush's subcommittee sent a letter to the WWE on July 31 requesting information about the wrestling federation's drug-testing policies. Similar letters were sent to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling and the National Wrestling Alliance on Aug. 13.

Heavens! If they start testing for steroids and performance-enhancers in professional wrestling, what will we be left with? Nobody will believe someone as skinny as the 1-2-3 Kid can actually win a wrestling match, wil they? It's all about the spectacle in the sport, and this will be a huge blow. Then again, if it will help save some lives, I can't say I'm opposed to it, though MJD makes a good argument for being unfazed by performance-enhancers.