Steroid Rage: Professional Baseball Players Outraged

By Peter Jennings

Transcript

ABC World News Tonight

March 10, 2005

(Off Camera) On Capitol Hill, there were hearings on steroids and sports. As we said yesterday, a number of professional baseball players have been subpoenaed to testify about illegal drug use in their sport. Although, many have said they will not comply. ABC's Linda Douglass, tonight, on the mood in the Congress.

LINDA DOUGLASS, ABC NEWS

(Voice Over) At a hearing in Congress today, a hint of things to come. A father told a story of his son, a 17-year-old high school senior, who killed himself after taking steroids.

DON HOOTEN, FATHER

I am absolutely convinced that Taylor's use of anabolic steroids played a significant role in causing the depression severe enough to result in suicide.

LINDA DOUGLASS

(Voice Over) Hooten had a message for professional baseball players, some of whom had been subpoenaed to testify about steroid use, "you are role models for young athletes."

DON HOOTEN

They know exactly what you've been taking to get those results. And they're following your lead.

LINDA DOUGLASS

(Voice Over) An official with Major League Baseball insisted there is now a tough, new policy on steroid use, just put into place which includes a ten-day suspension for first-time offenses. The official argued that shame is a more effective punishment than drug testing or suspensions.

FRANK COONELLY,

CHIEF LABOR COUNSEL, MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

It means more than a slap on the wrist to a major league player to be identified not as a great home run hitter, future Hall Of Famer, but as a cheater.

REPRESENTATIVE JANICE SCHAKOWSKY,

DEMOCRAT, ENERGY AND COMMERCE

If we're going to be relying on reputations and history writers, et cetera, rather than concrete sanctions, we're in deep trouble here.

LINDA DOUGLASS

(Off Camera) One powerful committee chairman warned, if baseball doesn't clean itself up, Congress will do it for them. Linda Douglass, ABC News, Capitol Hill.

PETER JENNINGS

(Off Camera) When we come back this evening, the new rules that are going to make it tougher to file for bankruptcy. Who is this going to hurt? Who might this help? We'll take "A Closer Look."