Still Stalling On Drugs

June 15, 2006

Major League Baseball, once perceived as a model of integrity, is still turning a blind eye to the use of illegal performance-enhancing drugs by its players.

Under pressure from Congress, the industry imposed serious penalties in November on the use of steroids. But players and baseball officials alike have shied away from testing for the use of synthetic human growth hormone, even though a blood test for the substance has been administered by the World Anti-Doping Agency since the 2004 Olympics.

Players union officials and baseball executives have cited privacy laws for not testing. They also claim that the blood test is not reliable. The industry has instead announced plans to embark on a three-year, $500,000 project with UCLA to develop a urine test to detect the hormone.

This week, relief pitcher Jason Grimsley of the Arizona Diamondbacks admitted to federal investigators that he used the hormone, along with anabolic steroids and amphetamines. He named other players who were also users. Mr. Grimsley has since been released from the team.

He is yet another symbol of an era in which players used performance-enhancing drugs to break time-honored records for batting and home run totals, thereby turning the game into something of a freak show. Among the marquee players who either used or are suspected of using steroids are Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Jose Canseco, Jason Giambi and Rafael Palmeiro.

Three years is too long to wait for a urine test that may never materialize. Baseball officials would better protect the game's image if they and the players union immediately announced plans to implement the existing blood test while the UCLA project is in progress.

If the blood test is reliable enough for the World Anti-Doping Agency, it should be reliable enough for Major League Baseball.