Lack of Cooperation Hinders Baseball's Steroid Inquiry, By: Jack Curry

November 2, 2006

George J. Mitchell, the former Senate majority leader who is leading an investigation into steroid use in baseball, said in a statement yesterday that some parties he would not name had not cooperated with investigators. Because of that lack of cooperation, Mitchell said, it will take longer to complete the investigation.

Skip to next paragraph  “My investigative staff has conducted hundreds of interviews and received thousands of documents; however, much more work will be necessary,” he said. “Cooperation has been good from many of those with whom we have sought testimony and documents, but has been less good from some others.”

Since Mitchell does not have the power to force anyone connected with possible steroid use to testify, he has been stalled in pursuing some information. Several team officials have given testimony, but no players have acknowledged speaking with Mitchell. Mitchell has repeatedly declined to offer a timetable for when the investigation might be finished.

“This will not affect the result of the investigation, but it has increased the length of time it will take to complete the investigation,” said Mitchell, who gave the statement after inquiries from reporters.

“It is for that reason I will continue the policy of not attempting to predict when the investigation will conclude, other than to say that we are pressing forward and will conclude our work as soon as possible,” he said. “It’s important to finish this job as soon as possible, but it’s even more important to do it right.”

When Commissioner Bud Selig appointed Mitchell as the investigator more than eight months ago, it was believed that he was targeting Barry Bonds, something Selig has denied. Bonds has 734 career home runs, 21 short of Hank Aaron’s career record. Mitchell has not revealed whether he has interviewed Bonds, but it seemed unlikely. Bonds said last season that he had not spoken to any investigators.

“When I accepted this assignment, I said that I intended to conduct an investigation that is objective, thorough and fair,” Mitchell said. “That remains my intention.”