ATHLETES AND DRUGS Panel: America needs to come clean on steroid use

The allegations surrounding track and baseball put the issue in the spotlight.
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
PHILADELPHIA -- It's time to lay everything on the table when it comes to athletes and steroid use.
That was the conclusion that came out of a panel discussion this weekend at the Associated Press Sports Editors convention at the Sheraton Society Hill.
"We need to talk candidly about athletes and steroids in an educated way for Americans to understand," said one of the panelists, former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Steve Courson, an admitted steroid user.
"In professional sports, there's a conflict between sports management's denial to athletes taking these drugs and the public wanting monster performances from these athletes."
And while the recent Tim Montgomery and Barry Bonds steroid allegations have once again put performance-enhancing drugs in the spotlight, there is an ever-growing danger regarding America's youth abusing these powerful drugs.
"Currently, 2.5 percent of eighth graders in the United States mess around with steroids," said panelist Gary Wadler, of the New York University School of Medicine. "This is a $19 billion industry, and we have a big, big problem with steroids. We should realize that the problem is not just with track athletes, baseball and football players ... It's pervasive."
Not enough
The panel agreed that for many athletes, young and old, training and working hard in the gym is not enough to get the edge they desire. Therefore, many of America's young athletes have turned to performance-enhancing drugs. They hear about athletes allegedly taking these drugs and they follow suit.
With the increase in athletes allegedly using steroids, professional leagues are attempting to tighten their drug-testing systems. Major League Baseball gives each player a random drug test during some point in the season.
"I think our fans do care, simply because of the history of the game," said Bob DuPuy, president and chief operating officer of Major League Baseball. "Fans care about the integrity of modern-day performance, and they are concerned."
Since 5 to 7 percent of steroid tests were positive in the initial year of testing in 2003, baseball has been trying to make progress in curbing steroid use. It has reached an agreement with the players' association and the International Baseball Federation to have drug testing.
During Courson's playing days with the Steelers, there was no standardized drug-testing system.
"I would say 65 to 95 percent of marquee linemen during my era with the NFL took steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs," Courson said. "Even today, I honestly believe coaches, trainers and owners know about their players taking enhancing drugs and don't stop them."
No leeway
Despite Courson's comments, the NFL has been adamant about its drug-testing policies.
"We have random testing for seven to eight players per team at a time," Greg Aiello, vice president of public relations for the NFL, said in a telephone interview. "During Courson's time, there was no standardized system of testing, so I don't know where exactly he gets his numbers from."
Currently, a first-time steroid offender gets a four-game suspension, one-fourth of the NFL season. A second violation results in a six-game suspension, and a third results in a full-season suspension.
Another strict testing organization is the United States Anti-Doping Agency, which deals with Olympic athletes. USADA is the organization probing Montgomery and other track athletes.
"It's necessary to test Olympic athletes of all sports with aggressive prosecution," said panelist Steve Holman, a retired track Olympian who talks to youngsters about steroids and performance-enhancing drugs. "However, I kind of feel as though track is being singled out."
The panel's final message was clear: When it comes to steroid and drug-testing policies, people need to be aware.
"I was ousted prematurely in my career," Courson said. "I just want everyone to be more understanding of the problem we have."