Drugged World Series Stars? Ask Former White House Drug Spokesman Bob Weiner & Sports Policy Analyst Florian Prommer; Seek Drug Tests For All World Series Players

WASHINGTON and NEWARK, N.J., Oct. 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Former White House National Drug Policy spokesman Robert Weiner, who helped to create WADA and USADA, and Florian Prommer, Robert Weiner Associates' senior sports policy analyst, have published an op-ed in today's Star-Ledger, "Major League Baseball Continues to Balk on Player Drug Use -- Drugged World Series Stars?" The article requests additional drug tests for all competing World Series players to ensure "clean" champions. They also assert that baseball is "covering up for homers" for revenue and "they do not want to know."

Weiner and Prommer say that, while media is covering domestic abuse among NFL players non-stop, "an equally big and more widespread sports scandal is ongoing drug use in Major League Baseball as the Playoffs and World Series take place."

They mention that "in the aftermath of the Mitchell Report, the most significant investigation of drug abuse in the history of baseball seven years ago, Commissioner Bud Selig issued 'a call for action. And I will act.' "  Weiner and Prommer assert, however, that "what we have seen is MLB inaction despite law enforcement moving forward."

Weiner and Prommer also relate that "MVP and All-Star Ken Caminiti stated in the Mitchell Report, 'at least' half of players were using drugs," and the Mitchell Report concluded that "each of the 30 clubs has had players involved."

Weiner and Prommer assert,  "MLB does not know names or number of drugged players now – in the playoffs and even going to the World Series -- because they do not want to know. Occasional tests do not out most potential players abusing. Testing misses 'masking agents' that hide the drugs. MLB has disclosed only three players with positive tests this year. Fifty-four Minor League players have been busted in 2014: the Minors are more serious."

"MLB players with first offenses for stimulants like amphetamines," Weiner and Prommer state, "Only face six additional 'unannounced tests'." 

They continue, "Performance enhancing drugs' (PED's) are acceptable in baseball if there is a 'valid, medically appropriate prescription' to receive a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE). However, TUE's are a loophole abusers can drive a truck through, a point the Mitchell report quoted from us.  Just get a doctor on your payroll to prescribe them for any reason, and you're in! It's just a matter of submitting the paperwork because there is virtually no enforcement unless and until baseball really investigates each case."

Prommer and Weiner furthermore criticize that "even the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez, suspended last summer, could play next year. 'We've done all we can and should do and so the rest is up to Alex and the Yankees,' said outgoing Commissioner Selig September 23. According to Sports Illustrated and the book, 'Blood Sport', baseball gave A-Rod a TUE for testosterone when he was winning his third MVP award and hitting 54 home runs, in 2007. He was hardly the sickie who needed medical drugs. According to Sports Illustrated, in 2008, Rodriguez applied for a TUE for clomiphene citrate, a testosterone enhancer popular with body builders.  In both years, his doctor wrote to baseball that he had a 'testosterone deficiency,' and he was granted a TUE both times.  Baseball wanted homers. A-Rod stated, 'You'll hear the full story when the time is right.' That time is now," say Weiner and Prommer.

They also assert that "baseball acts like an ostrich's head in the sand for economic reasons: ratings and revenue. Last year's World Series games had an average of 14.9 million viewers, and the MLB reached an all-time high annual revenue of eight billion dollars."

Weiner and Prommer point out that "young fans admire their heroes. Steroid usage among teens quintupled when Mark McGwire admitted using androstenedione. Teenagers who admitted using human growth hormone (HGH) without a prescription increased from 5% in 2012 to 11% in 2013. An additional 7% declared they use steroids."

They also report that "in 2007, Jason Giambi, former Yankee player, AL MVP and five-time All-Star, went public with his PED confession: 'I was wrong doing that stuff.' Giambi wasn't disciplined and still plays, now for Cleveland."

The writers report that "it is not just baseball that hides heavy hitters. Andre Agassi, who won eight Grand Slam tennis titles, in his autobiography admitted taking crystal meth during his tournaments. He wrote, 'I snort … I've never felt such energy.' He tested positive but said his explanation was 'filled with lies.' Tennis has done nothing."

Weiner and Prommer conclude: "Suspending 16 players since last summer is a step, but baseball is not clean for dozens and even hundreds of others. There is a way forward: Baseball could test each completing player in the playoffs in the future and the World Series this year, ask likely witnesses for evidence, and protect informers. Baseball should announce this process, so the public is informed. Then we will have a clean World Series."

Robert Weiner, a Paterson native, was spokesman for the White House National Drug Policy Office and helped create the World Anti-Doping Agency and US Anti-Doping Agency that coordinate testing for Olympic Sports. Florian Prommer is senior sports policy analyst at Robert Weiner Associates and Solutions for Change.

Contact: Bob Weiner/Tom Sherman 301-283-0821, cell 202-306-1200 [email protected]

SOURCE Robert Weiner Associates and Solutions for Change