Editorial: Baseball stands up to steroids

Saturday, Nov. 19, 2005 | 8:01 a.m.

The House Government Reform Committee took some heat in March for its hearing on steroid use in baseball. Critics said the committee had no jurisdiction over drug use in professional sports and many maintained that its members were grandstanding. The writer of a Sports Illustrated column asked whether the committee members were serious, "Or are these politicians, as many people fear, just trying to get some face time and look tough, piling on by embarrassing the players and embarrassing the game even further?"

Perhaps the criticism was fair at the time. But now, with the benefit of hindsight, it is obvious that the House committee was right to pressure Major League Baseball on this issue. Baseball is a hallowed sport that has been followed by millions of fans for generations. But leniency on the part of baseball officials regarding steroid use among players was creating fan cynicism and setting a terrible example for the game's younger fans.

There is no question that the House hearing generated enormous publicity -- and enormous pressure on Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig, the players' union and team owners to strengthen the penalties against players who test positive for steroids. Certainly some of the pressure arose out of fear that if Major League Baseball didn't act, Congress would.

In August, after Baltimore Orioles' slugger Rafael Palmeiro was suspended for just 10 days after he tested positive for steroids, Selig was outspoken in calling for tougher penalties. Under the existing rules, a 10-day suspension was the most that could be handed out for a first offense. A player could test positive five times before having to face a lifetime suspension.

This week Major League Baseball players and team owners finally agreed on a serious policy: A 50-game suspension for a first offense, 100 games for a second and a lifetime ban for a third. This agreement must yet be officially ratified by the owners and players, but that is an almost certainty.

We would support an even tougher policy -- a whole season's suspension for a first offense and a lifetime ban for a second. Nevertheless, we are glad to see Major League Baseball taking this much tougher stand on the use of steroids, which build muscle mass that can add to an athlete's performance. Now when we hear "Play ball!" we can cheer again if the old records are being challenged or broken.