For some athletes aspiring to be the best in their sport, the allure of steroids can be too strong to pass up. The promises of added strength, speed and a faster recovery time from injury have led to many records falling, and many athletes falling from grace.
The most significant case of steroid use involving a Canadian athlete happened in 1988. On September 24th sprinter Ben Johnson won the Olympic gold medal in the 100 meter dash with a world record time of 9.79 seconds. Two days later he was stripped of the medal after testing positive for steroid use. He was named Newsmaker of the Year by the Canadian Press that year.
Steroids really came back into the forefront in the late 1990s as homeruns were being hit in record numbers in Major League Baseball. The issue blew up in 2003 after an investigation into California company BALCO revealed a long list of sports stars taking performance enhancing drugs. Among those named in the investigation was Barry Bonds.
In 2005, several MLB all-stars were called before the United States congress to testify on steroid use. While former slugger Jose Canseco openly answered questions, the other players dodged them. Most famously, former St Louis Cardinal Mark McGuire acknowledged that there was a steroid problem in baseball, but would only respond to questions about his own use by saying “I’m not here to discuss the past.”
After the hearings Congress, and in particular Senator John McCain, gave baseball an ultimatum. Clean up the game, or face federal legislation on drug testing standards.
Today, every player in Major League Baseball gets tested at least once, with 1,200 additional random tests getting performed each year as well. Players face a 50 game suspension for a first offense, 100 games for a second offence, and a lifetime ban for a third offense.
Baseball wasn’t the first league to test for performance enhancing drugs. After several retired players came forward to tell stories about using steroids through the 1970’s and 1980’s, the NFL became the first major sports league in North America to institute a drug testing policy in 1987. Today, ten players from every team are randomly tested each week, and players are tested up to six times in the off season. Penalties range from a four game suspension for a first offense, to a full year for a third offense.
NHL players get tested at least once per season, and can be tested up to three times. A first positive results in a 20 game suspension, with a full ban coming on a third offense.
The NBA added steroids to its list of banned substances in 1999. A first time offense results in a 50 game suspension, with a ban from the league coming on a third offense.
The latest North American professional league to institute testing is the Canadian Football League. Starting in January, 2011, 25 percent of players in the league will be randomly tested, with that number going up to 35 percent in 2012.
A first time offense will not result in a suspension, instead the player’s name will remain confidential and he will be provided the option to undergo counselling. A second offense will result in a three game suspension. A lifetime ban will be given on a fourth failed test.
In addition to the players in the CFL being tested, the league has also teamed with the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport to test the top 80 prospects in the CIS eligible for the CFL draft.
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