Why do MLB and the media wage a hypocrtical War on (some) "performance enhancing" drugs?

If it is "unfair" that any player should artificially improve their performance, then that means that not only should steroids be banned, but also every performance aid (such as Tommy John surgery, which has doubled the career length of numerous pitchers). It is hypocritical to support certain forms of "performance enhancement" and oppose others. Medical decisions should be made by the players. If they determine that it is worthwhile to take steroids to improve their performance, even if it will take a few years off their life, why should anybody complain? Smoking is considered perfectly acceptable, even though it has no benefits and shortens lives far more than steroids do.

Shouldn't MLB stop being hypocritical and just end the ban on (some) "performance enhancing" drugs?

Steroids have been banned and are illegal in the US. And are very unhealthy.. if the ban was lifted competitors would have to use them in able to compete. Smoking is dangerous also but too many people were addicted before they realized how bad they were and its your choice whether or not to smoke.. but professional atheletes would have to use performance inhancing drugs or they would be out of a job.. I dont know of any job where you are practically required to smoke.

And why are you calling the media hypocrites? Anyone in the media say that smoking is good for you and steroids aren't?

Anabolic Steroids are ILLEGAL. Smoking is not.

Who are you?? Barrry Bonds

Well, you must support Barry then. Simple steroids aren't in question here. Growth hormones are. This doesn't fall into the realm of hypocritical because they are dangerous to the player himself, making it a health issue. And having surgery just to be able to play is a little different then taking growth hormoes to be bigger and smack more home runs then anybody else. That gives the player a edge he didn't have to work for.

I TOTALLY agree with you. Also novacaine and other sort of high-grade pain killers should be illegal too as they are "performance enhacing".

But tommy john surgery is something else. Some pitchers require it if their arms get hurt.

But the reason why they aren't banned is because novacaine and other drugs don't "increase your talent." In other words if you are a scrub, you remain a scrub and if you have talent...well then you can stay on the field longer. 'Roids, on the otherhand, "increases your talent." If you don't have an ounce of HR power or have bad reflexes, steroids can help improve muscle strength, reflexes, and hand-eye coordination.

It's hyprocritical that if Barry Takes roids he gets dog but Giambii admits and gets off scott free,with no media bothering his every step.Go Barry! Go Barry! Go Barry! Go Barry! Go Barry!

BTW-There are so many pitchers that barry hit against that took roids but they don't get bothered.

steroids are very popular among police specially the ones who are into body building! if all drugs become legal then we don't keep wasting resources and time on this issue. in time the number of people who abuse drugs will decrease. steroid use will be lowered by only not needing police a much as we do now! we can have an all natural or ANMLB and etc, since we may want to know how naturally can a human possibly perform! or everyone be aware that these guys are powered by ,IE; steroids !

The taking of steriods or other ILLEGAL growth hormone is the key element in this topic. Illegal performance substances and legal performance enhancers have always been a topsy-turvy science. But what defines each? Clearly, illegal substances involve anabolic steroids and growth hormones such as HGH, but what defines a LEGAL enhancer, such as Creatine supplements? Put simply, creatine is an energy source produced by the body that affects and stimulates muscle metabolism and fat-free body mass. Androstenedione, the "perfomance-enhancer" found in Mark McGwire's locker during his epic home run record chase in 1998 is a growth hormone which closely resembles anabolic steroids and is on the FDA's banned substances list.

Where do we draw the line? Steroids are banned, creatine isn't. If a player finds his performance is better while using cocaine, shall we allow that?

The hypocrisy lies in revenue. In 1994, baseball revenue was 1.5 billion dollars. Baseball went on strike, 27 of the 30 major league teams were reporting operating losses and both the media and public had grown tired of the greed and bureacracy surrounding major league baseball. They needed a hero. People dig the long ball.

In 1998, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa led baseball through a dawing of a new era. Their home run chase of Roger Maris' single-season home run record drew adoring fans and media hype. Bringing fans to the ballparks, fans to their TV sets, and higher revenues to MLB. Revenues that were so desperately needed. Andro was found in McGwire's locker, more players looked to steroids for that power edge. Players such as Brady Anderson, Bret Boone and Jason Giambi are examples of players who had breakout seasons that led to bigger contracts, increased power and increased marketability. Baseball, in turn, benefitted from the revenues brought in by this newfound wave of power hitters in MLB. The media and public, was wooed by the longball. Fans were back in the stadium and everyone turned a blind eye to the andro found in McGwire's locker. Although players were coming to spring training drastically bigger and stronger, no investigations were made...baseball was profiting from illegal substances.

In 1995, the year after the strike, baseball revenues were 1.7 billion dollars. In 2000, two years after the McGwire/Sosa chase and one year before Barry Bond's record setting year of 73 homers, MLB revenue was 3 billion dollars. In 2006, MLB revenue topped 6 billion dollars.

What happened? Put simply, MLB and their increased revenues no longer needed the help and hype that power hitters gave MLB. More teams were running in the black, MLB was able to help smaller market franchises and suddenly, power hitters who before had "carte blanche" had the red carpets pulled out from under them and were told they were under investigation. The media, fueled by a new wave of scandalous news, traded in their "hero hunt" for a "witch hunt". Players were skewered, brought before house committies, and hung without trial by their once-adoring public. The hypocrisy of Bud Selig and the blind-eye of both the media and public helped to destroy the integrity of the game.

Substances deemed illegal by the FDA and other government watchlists should also be banned by all athletic sports organizations. Any banned substance should be treated the same no matter how potent. Steroids has become the new cocaine in MLB.

Is Tommy John surgery a performance enhancer? Or simply a last-chance effort to save a pitcher's career? Tommy John surgery is RECONSTRUCTIVE surgery. Of the 700 pitchers in MLB, 75 are Tommy John survivors. If Tommy John surgery was the "performance aid" posed in the question, every pitcher of every age level, would be asking themselves, "should I have this procedure done?" Should we ban Tommy John surgery only at the major league level but allow our younger children to have it done?

Arm injuries brought on by pitching have risen to astronomical levels. More 10-18 year olds are having TJ surgery done every day. Do we ban this surgery and anyone else who previously have had this procedure? Get real.

Do we ban other performance aids such as weights, more comfortable or lighter cleats, bigger gloves? Do we tell players that they all must use the same size glove to disallow advantages? Do we tell the players who take vitamins to boost their energy and health that they can't?

Where is the line drawn, and who draws it? To end this so-called war, MLB should empower a commission to both create a list of banned substances and continue researching ways to discover new "designer" steroids being introduced regularly to players. Introduce a second list with approved enhancers. These lists would clearly define where the line can be drawn and enforced by all.

To keep the integrity of the game secure and free from catastrophes such as this, medical decisions should be made by those who are QUALIFIED to make those decisions. Not by athletes looking to prolong their money-making capabilities, and MLB should also be run by a commissioner not afraid to enforce those decisions.

It is NOT hypocritical to support LEGAL forms of enhancement, while opposing ILLEGAL forms of enhancement. Make the laws, define the laws and enforce the laws and you will find MLB to have the integrity and innocence between the lines that you had found as a child.

well, for one thing, Tommy John surgery is for extending the careers of players, but it doesnt neccesarily enhance their performance. While there is no evidence that steroids helps players hit more home runs, it has improved the power of players that it was proven have taken it (Ken Caminiti, Jose Canseco), and these players were blatantly looking to enhance their ability. And that would be considered cheating. And it is considered dangerous to health. Although you make a good point about the medias hypocrisy.They seem to go out of their way to hound certain players (Barry Bonds, Jason Giambi).As for the MLB, I have a lot of problems with the way Selig has bungled the whole thing. Still steroids should be banned, because of the health concerns mostly, and because of questions as to how much they do impact the players ability.