Guest commentary: Drugs' impact stretches beyond the games

Not only do steroids affect the athletes using them and their sports, but their reach extends to us and our children.

By Clark C. Griffith

Last update: December 15, 2007 - 8:52 PM

On Thursday, Major League Baseball released the Mitchell Report on steroids use in the game. This report, in essence, describes a widespread use of anabolic steroids over the past decade, and probably much longer.

This news item has been discussed at length over the last few years with the unfolding of the Barry Bonds saga, the publication of books such as Jose Canseco's "Juiced," and the disclosure of a steady stream of players with positive steroids tests. During this entire period, many people have asked me why the use of such substances by professional athletes, all adults, should be of concern to us. My answer is that this use of illegal substances affects all of us, especially our children.

It is important to note that anabolic steroids are controlled substances according to federal law. A prescription is required for the sale and acquisition of these substances, all powerful chemicals that have limited medical uses. Acquiring these drugs usually involves an illegal act, and the use of such substances, as described in the Mitchell Report, is dangerous to the unsupervised user.

Sports leagues are also susceptible to the damages of illegal drug use as the effects of drugging and blood doping on international cycling has been devastating as sponsors and spectators no longer support the great Tour de France. No league, amateur or professional, can exist long-term where such behavior is condoned or ignored.

Yet, despite all the evidence of drug use, there seems to be little adverse public reaction. The reason is that fans have not yet realized that illegal steroids use has a direct and potentially damaging effect on themselves, their families and their friends. This effect is due to the image conveyed of the athlete as strong; successful; idolized by millions; and emulated by hundreds of thousands.

When a father shows his teenage son how much he respects the star baseball player, and the son sees the great wealth earned by these athletes not much older than he is, he will think of following those players in an effort to attain the same adoration and wealth. If anabolic steroids are condoned in MLB, an aspiring player must begin steroids use early, probably in junior high, so that they can compete in high school and get drafted or awarded a scholarship for college, the doorway to professional sports.

This is because that player recognizes that his contemporaries are "juicing." and that if he doesn't juice, then he will probably lose at an early age. In this group of susceptible and impressionistic users there are suicides, significant health problems and continued illegal drug use.

Baseball and all sports leagues now have an obligation to cleanse themselves of steroids for many reasons, the effect on adolescents being the most important one. To do so, an independent testing organization must administer tests on a continuing basis year-round as is done in the Olympics by the World Anti-Doping Agency. To do any less is a disservice to fans and their families and risks considerable damage to the game itself.

Clark C. Griffith is a Minneapolis attorney and the son of former Twins owner Calvin Griffith. He was chairman of the board of Major League Baseball Properties from 1975 to 1984 and currently serves as commissioner of the Northern League.