NY Daily News: By moving to suspend 10 of its performers for possible steroid violations Thursday, the WWE proved one thing: "The WWE does not have a drug policy that's worth a flip," U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) told the Daily News yesterday. "Because the WWE didn't catch them, the district attorney in (Albany) New York investigated and found them."
The 10 wrestlers were not named by the WWE, but their names surfaced in the investigation led by Albany D.A. David Soares and the state Bureau of Narcotic Control. At least 14 wrestlers have been identified as having received steroids, human growth hormone and other drugs from Signature Pharmacy in Orlando, which was raided in February by Albany and Florida law-enforcement agencies. WWE officials have not explained how some of their performers avoided suspensions, and WWE attorney Jerry McDevitt did not return calls.
Stearns, the minority leader of the House Energy and Commerce committee, repeated yesterday that he would like to hold hearings about the use of illegal performance enhancers in wrestling some time late this month, but that it's up to committee chairman John Dingell (D-Mich.).
"If those are all from Signature Pharmacy, I'd like to know how many other pharmacies might be involved," Stearns said from his home in Florida.
The 14 wrestlers, as first reported by the Daily News, are: Randy Orton, Charles Haas Jr., Adam (Edge) Copeland, Robert (Booker T) Huffman, Shane Helms, Mike Bucci, Anthony Carelli, John (Johnny Nitro) Hennigan, Darren (William Regal) Matthews, Ken (Mr. Kennedy) Anderson, Eddie (Umaga) Fatu, Shoichi Funaki and Chavo Guerrero.
Stearns said he wants the WWE to fully explain how it tests performers, since it obviously isn't catching too many on its own.
"We asked them for their testing information; what they came back with was not sufficient," Stearns said. "We do not have a copy (of the actual testing policy). We didn't understand whether it was random, what the threshold (level for drugs) was, whether any of these wrestlers were getting post-dated prescriptions after the fact."
Stearns said he hopes hearings on steroids will goad the WWE into toughening its drug program the way previous Congressional hearings - including before his own committee when he was chairman - did for Major League Baseball.
"If we can at least get their attention, that's a start," Stearns said. Asked whether he thought the WWE's unprecedented move to suspend the wrestlers was a sign that he has the WWE's attention, Stearns said, "We do."
6 comments: on "Report: Congressman Blasts WWE Drug Policy"
Who cares? Really, does the US senate not have more pressing matters to attend to? Who are they hurting other than themselves? This business is all about being over the top and looking unique. If they know the consequences and still do it, isn't that their prerogative? It's not a real sport, it's entertainment. Plus these guys go through unbelievable aches and pains, don't they deserve the steroids to keep entertaining us?
Am I the only one who feels this is blown out of proportion?
I've been using an online pharmacy ( www.pharmacyavenue.com ) for about a year. It's just so much cheaper and easier than going to the drug store.
FallenOne while I agree to an extent with you, I don't feel that wrestlers are entitled to steroids, but I do understand completely where you are coming from.
I do also agree that Congress is blowing this way the fuck out of proportion, but hey, it's Congress what do you expect.
I guess since they do have more pressing matters at hand they feel that this will be an easy win for them and it will get them some positive press.
They are in effect going to damn near ruin several lives, destroy entertainment for millions and make themselves look like jackasses, all the while they think that they're putting a feather in their own cap, and I'm sure to the "media" they will get a nod of approval.
But then again, when the media consists of Nancy disGrace, O'Reilly and other insane morons like that, what is wrong in the eyes of millions, is oh-so-right in the eyes of those with national attention.
It all stems from the MLB session. They interfered because millions and millions of baseball fans like myself called for action on Bonds and Big Mac so on. It was successful for them. Then when the Benoit situation happened and there was an outcry from fans asking why they saw there next big "intervention". However, the people who like wrestling know it takes agents to get your body to look and work like a wrestlers. Its not natural thats the thing that draws people in. They miscalculated that people would want congress going into wrestling to weed it out. I'm not saying everyone should take roids but I think that if you choose too for the purpose of entertainment wrestling then go ahead as long as you know the risks involved. I do however, think that wrestlers don't really need roids butas long as bigger is better nothing will change.
This may all stem from the MLB trials, but those trials were as flawed as they could possibly be.
The guys who took steroids were sometimes chastised and chased out, but then again, it wasn't the big names.
Rafael Palmerio(or whatever) was a jackoff and got what he deserved. Jason Giambi has offered his cooperation so he's being given another chance. Mark McGuire was a hell of a ball player, but due to steroids he will always have that asterisk beside his name.
Several guys who we don't even remember were fall guys for the big dogs. They've mentioned Bonds, but not one damn thing has been done. Sure subpeonas and trials are being and have been held, but Barry Bonds is still out there breaking records.
One of the men at the forefront of the grilling is still playing the sport and setting records, and no matter how man people wear blindfolds when he goes to bat, he will still be numero uno in the record books.
If the WWE trials turn out to be as flawed as the MLB trials, the top guys that are indicted, suspended or whatever will remain there winning championships and irritating the true fans.
The call for the MLB trials were rediculous and now in the end have rendered nothing but the losses of several great players, but not the demise of the biggest so called gas man in MLB. The WWE trials are the same, and will render the same results.
Some will be weeded out and their legacies tarnished, but in the end nothing will have been accomplished.
I've said it before but condemning wrestlers for taking steroids is like chastising a tranny for having breast implants
Here's a quote from Bill Maher... thsi should give some incite into how important this is to your average non-wrestling fan
"Now, you heard this story, about the WWF – I guess that’s the World Wrestling Federation – I’m a big fan. [laughter] But, apparently, they have suspended ten of their wrestlers for steroid use. And I say, thank God. Because, you know, when I’m watching a 300-pound commando in a camouflage thong—[laughter]—pretend to break an Indian chief’s neck with his thighs—[laughter]—I say to myself, “I hope this is on the level.” [laughter] [applause] This…this would break my heart if it wasn’t."
What's next? Congress demanding all hollywood production companies drug test their contracted or hired actors? And all record companies drug test their talent?
All we'd be left with then is Ted Nugent, Henry Rollins and.... I can't think of a sober actor
I can see it now... Lindsay Lohan speaking in front of the house of reps... such a fuckin joke
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