Editorial: McGwire may have erased andro stigma

Friday, Aug. 6, 1999 | 10:03 a.m.

St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Mark McGwire may have quieted critics who wondered whether his use of a diet supplement, which some liken to a steroid, tarnished his record-setting 70-home run season in 1998. McGwire, who already has hit 44 home runs so far this season, including two he hit Thursday to give him 501 for his career, announced before Wednesday's game with the San Diego Padres that he hasn't used androstenedione at all this year. McGwire's home-run pace without the supplement in 1999 is still shy of last year's, but he isn't too far off: If McGwire continues at this rate he could hit 65 home runs this season.

During his assault last year on one of baseball's most cherished records, in which he shattered the previous single season mark of 61 home runs set by Roger Maris, controversy erupted when McGwire acknowledged using androstenedione. While the use of "andro" is allowed by Major League Baseball, it has been banned by the National Football League, the International Olympic Committee and the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

The jury is still out on whether andro is harmful and whether it actually enhances an athlete's performance, but caution still should be used with any supplements. McGwire did the right thing this year by not using andro. Along with showing that last year's season wasn't a fluke, it demonstrates andro isn't necessary to enhance an athlete's performance, sending a positive message to young athletes, many of whom bought andro in droves last year to emulate McGwire.