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A Trainer's Perspective On Steroids

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By LARRY M. STARR

Published: January 4, 2008

After spending 30 years as a head athletic trainer in Major League Baseball, the recent Mitchell Report was of interest to me.

Although it is unfortunate that names and reputations may be tarnished by former Sen. George Mitchell's findings, the investigation was necessary to determine how the steroid issue was handled and what could have been done differently. The main outcome will be the positive message it sends to the young people who idolize these players that steroids and performance-enhancing drugs should not be taken.

The main mission of any athletic trainer or team physician is to do no harm. That translates into doing everything in our power to protect the player from injury. This is accomplished by providing the player with the best information available to make rational decisions that allows for the best health care possible.

Unfortunately, many players sought other sources to obtain information that resulted in poor choices and placed many players at risk of injury or illness. MLB athletic trainers and team physicians were handicapped because of the league's policy of no drug testing. Without testing, trainers and physicians could not help players who may be using these substances.

As far back as the late 1980s, team physicians and athletic trainers recommended to the MLB commissioner's office and the MLB Players Association (MLBPA) that mandatory, random testing was necessary. However, because the two groups could not agree on the procedures for testing, it was never incorporated. This all changed with two major incidents - Jose Canseco's book "Juiced" and the BALCO drug laboratory indictments.

Where do we go from here? The Mitchell Report does an excellent job of recommending specific policies and procedures for reporting infractions, random testing, continuing investigation of the use of performance-enhancing drugs, and creating educational programs of the dangers of steroids.

MLB should follow the examples set by the NCAA that requires mandatory testing of all student-athletes. Here at Nova Southeastern University, our main goal with random testing is to educate student-athletes on making good decisions concerning their health.

In addition, annual educational seminars are conducted to give student-athletes valuable information concerning nutrition, conditioning, and other health-related topics.
Major League Baseball could learn from the example set forth by the NCAA. Let us all hope and pray that steroids and performance-enhancing drugs will be eliminated from the game that we all have played and loved our whole lives.

Larry M. Starr, M.Ed., is assistant athletic director/sports medicine at Nova Southeastern University in Davie. Starr previously spent 21 years with the Cincinnati Reds and nine with the Florida Marlins as the head athletic trainer for each team.

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