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 With Mark McGwire admitting to using steroids during his career, executives within Major League Baseball have released the following statements:
Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig issued the following statement today regarding Mark McGwire’s comments about the use of performance-enhancing substances:
“I am pleased that Mark McGwire has confronted his use of performance-enhancing substances as a player. Being truthful is always the correct course of action, which is why I had commissioned Senator George Mitchell to conduct his investigation. This statement of contrition, I believe, will make Mark’s reentry into the game much smoother and easier.
“While we, along with all sports organizations, continue to battle the use of such drugs and continue the intensive search for a valid test for HGH, I believe our drug testing program is the toughest and most effective in professional sports. Last year in the Major Leagues, we had only two positives for steroids out of 3,722 tests. We have banned and aggressively test for amphetamines, substances which club doctors and professional athletic trainers have told me had presented serious problems for the sport for decades. Our minor league program will begin its 10th year in 2010. We conducted 8,995 tests in the minor leagues last year of which less than eight-tenths of one percent was positive.
“The use of steroids and amphetamines amongst today’s players has greatly subsided and is virtually non-existent as our testing results have shown. The so-called “steroid era” – a reference that is resented by the many players who played in that era and never touched the substances – is clearly a thing of the past, and Mark’s admission today is another step in the right direction.”
CARDINALS CHAIRMAN BILL DEWITT, Jr.
"On behalf of the entire Cardinals organization, I believe Mark McGwire today did the right thing by telling the truth and openly acknowledging his past mistakes," said Bill DeWitt, the Cardinals Chairman. "No one condones what Mark did more than 10 years ago, but we hired him as our hitting coach because we know there are many contributions that Mark can and will make to our team and to this game. Because of the efforts of Commissioner Bud Selig, who implemented the toughest drugtesting program in professional sports, the Major League Baseball culture as it relates to use of performance-enhancing substances has vastly improved over the last decade.
I'm glad Mark has gone public and the Cardinals welcome him back as our hitting coach." DeWitt added.
CARDINALS VICE PRESIDENT/G.M. JOHN MOZELIAK
Cardinals Vice President/General Manager John Mozeliak added, "Mark is going to make an outstanding hitting coach. He's a smart student of the game and he has a lot of valuable lessons he can teach our ballplayers. I'm glad Mark has gotten this off his chest and he can proudly begin the next chapter of his life. I can't wait to see him back in uniform."
CARDINALS MANAGER TONY La RUSSA
Cardinals Manager Tony La Russa said, "No one on the teams I managed worked harder or better than Mark. And now, his willingness to admit mistakes, express his regret, and explain the circumstances that led him to use steroids add to my respect for him. I've defended Mark because I observed him develop his unique power hitting skill through a rigorous physical and fundamental work out program. He has a lot to offer our team as our hitting coach. We look forward to his being part of the 2010 Cardinals."
Source: Major League Baseball, St. Louis Cardinals
 Maury Brown is the Founder and President of the Business of Sports Network, which includes The Biz of Baseball, The Biz of Football, The Biz of Basketball and The Biz of Hockey. He is available for hire or freelance. Brown's full bio is here. He looks forward to your comments via email and can be contacted through the Business of Sports Network.
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