The Associated Press Picks Up Government Investigation Regarding Steroids in Pro Wrestling
Posted by Larry Csonka on 01.03.2009
More bad press for pro wrestling…
- The Associated Press has picked up the story, regarding the official government report on steroids in pro wresting, that was written by Rep. Henry Waxman. Here is the article:
Congressman: Steroids still plague pro wrestling
WASHINGTON (AP) — A key congressman says the "apparently widespread use" of steroids in pro wrestling is sending a bad message to youngsters, and he wants the government to do something about it.
In a letter released Friday, Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., requested that John Walters, director of the president's Office of National Drug Control Policy, "examine the systemic deficiencies in the testing policies and practices of professional wrestling."
Waxman, chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, has led a congressional investigation into steroid use in professional wrestling for more than a year, spurred in part by the murder-suicide deaths of wrestler Chris Benoit and his family in Georgia in June 2007.
Waxman is leaving the oversight committee to become chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, and his letter offered a final look at the findings that focused on top pro wresting bodies World Wrestling Entertainment and Total Nonstop Action.
"Since the committee began its investigation last year, both the WWE and the TNA have made efforts to improve their steroid testing programs," Waxman wrote. "But these efforts suffer from a lack of independence and transparency. As a result of these weaknesses, the organizations appear unable to effectively prevent the use of steroids and other illegal drugs by professional wrestlers."
Waxman wrote that one former wrestler who agreed to talk to the committee on condition of anonymity said that, in the wrestling business, "steroids are like white socks and tape, they're just part of your gear."
"Over three million children and teenagers watch professional wrestling each week," Waxman's letter said. "The apparently widespread use of steroids in professional wrestling sends the wrong message to youth."
Well Vince loves it when ppl give his company attention.
Any press is good press
Posted By: TWilliams (Guest) on January 03, 2009 at 08:41 PM
Good. Just end wrestling now. It sucks anyways.
Posted By: hjji (Guest) on January 03, 2009 at 08:56 PM
And the latest witch hunt commences......... Now.
Posted By: Guest#0864 (Guest) on January 03, 2009 at 08:57 PM
Looking forward to comments about how the government knows nothing about wrestling from people who know nothing about the government.
Between this and the Vickie thread and RVD and fucking hundreds of other things, I really don't know if I want to be associated with the people who comment here any longer. I know it would depress absolutely no one if I were never heard from again, but...this shit has become so embarrassing anymore. It's ridiculous.
Posted By: The REAL MP (Registered) on January 03, 2009 at 09:06 PM
"steroids are like white socks and tape, they're just part of your gear." Scott Stiener
Posted By: Roemobowski (Guest) on January 03, 2009 at 09:09 PM
Next thing you know, they'll blame steroids for Stevie Richards' collapsed lung.
Posted By: Anonymous Smart Mark (Guest) on January 03, 2009 at 09:10 PM
This is just one guy's opinion and wwe has changed things since those interviews.
Look at jeff hardy. He was suspended in 2008 and his name was made public and then wwe took his ic belt and sent him home for 2 months.
wwe did not allow him to compete at mania 24.
tna needs to be more upfront with their policy even though they are a private entity.
Are guys being suspended ?
The issue is that if wwe fires a drug user, tna would pick him up and that is why the industry circulates the problem.
It is like in the 1990's when wcw had zero drug testing. wwe had a policy but dropped it because they were losing too much money going up against ted turner.
Posted By: matt (Guest) on January 03, 2009 at 10:02 PM
I'm bothered that TWilliams and The Real MP are both right here. Vince McMahon will see this as little more than a chance to advertise his product for free, thanks to the governments heightened involvement in the locker room, and many of the fans will twist what truly is a sad situation into some sort of running joke - or worse. As a near-25-year fan of pro wrestling (with the emphasis being on WRESTLING), I'm concerned that the leader (the WWE) has become too crafty at turning helpful criticism into "the evil enemy" and the fan has become so wrapped up in the game of making light of everything in the name of entertainment (and avoiding real issues like flat storylines, stale product and an ominous series of drug related problems potentially on the horizon)that they now join in on the discussion/promotion of all things NOT related to selling wrestling, improving the product and allowing fans of the athletes (yes, I firmly believe thay are athletes)and the shows to see/be part of something they care about and are proud to be part of.
Posted By: SLW4836 (Registered) on January 03, 2009 at 10:02 PM
OMG the United States congress wants to investigate professional wrestlings steroid use!
maybe once they get rid of steroids in pro wrestling maybe they'll get rid of corruption, infidelity, and alchohol abuse congress and the senate! Yeah right!
The governer of California is an admitted steriod user! why isn't congress investigating him!
How about steroids in high school sports! kids who's bodies are even more likely to be screwed up by juice?
What about Professional Bodybuilding, those guys are even bigger than the average pro wrestler! you don't think that maybe theres an even bigger steroid problem at that sport (where McMahon gets half his recruits anyway!)
How about the NFL, MLB, NHL, Sports where steroids can actually have an outcome of the damn game, as opposed to rigged sports entertainment!
Screw the US goverment!
Posted By: Freakzilla (Guest) on January 03, 2009 at 10:21 PM
5 to 1 odds that McMahon creates a new character based on Waxman in an RTC type role..
Vince would love nothing more then to go another round with the Government..
even more so considering he already
has a steroids program in place.
this should be easier then the first time.
Posted By: DumDum (Guest) on January 03, 2009 at 11:09 PM
I would love to see something happen in Pro Wrestling to really shake up the landscape, cause what we have now is not wrestling, its a sort of douchey, fake fighting soap opera entertainment thing. A heavy crackdown by the government, having the workers unionized (maybe in SAG) would change everything and I think that could be a good thing.
Its hard enough to dedicate half an hour a week to read about it, I couldn't imagine the hell of having to actually watch it.
Posted By: Waxy balls (Guest) on January 03, 2009 at 11:10 PM
yawn.... They are still discussing this?
Posted By: natedoggcata (Guest) on January 03, 2009 at 11:32 PM
"yawn.... They are still discussing this?"
No kiddin'! Doesn't the government have (much) bigger issues to deal with these days?!
Posted By: Sam (Guest) on January 03, 2009 at 11:43 PM
Hey Waxman, you fucking douchebag, fix the god damned economy.
Posted By: Dr. Jones (Guest) on January 03, 2009 at 11:52 PM
Well, Waxman's job is to look into illegal drug usage and abuse, so what's all the hate about? Why don't some of you open your eyes and see how shady and unclear pro wrestling is at times? As was said before, the industry needs something like this to shake things up for the better so that it isn't always looked down upon.
Posted By: That CM guy (Guest) on January 04, 2009 at 12:12 AM
Batista still looks great to me.
Posted By: Propagandhi (Guest) on January 04, 2009 at 12:26 AM
"Any press is good press"
Yeah, because when the first steroid story broke in '91-'93 business went through the roof.
Seriously, your cliches suck.
Posted By: Guest#7045 (Guest) on January 04, 2009 at 12:32 AM
It's cute how people just say "Oh the government should be doing X, Y, Z instead" and ignore the actual content of what's being mentioned in the news story. Good grief. Log off the Internet.
Posted By: Guest#4845 (Guest) on January 04, 2009 at 12:33 AM
the youth who watch pro wrestling see it as a real life circus.
waxman is a moron. kids are more influenced by REAL SPORTS. they want to hit baseballs for homeruns or throw long touchdown passes etc.
in real sports, steriods are used for performance.
in pro wrestling, steriods are used for cosmetic reasons unless wrestlers have valid medical reasons for using them.
Posted By: Guest#2874 (Guest) on January 04, 2009 at 12:39 AM
are you kidding me you are still blaming the gov't. We as Canadiens are the ones losing stars, at least you're gov't. is trying, you wont regret it whn they are still alive in 5 years.
Posted By: oait19 (Guest) on January 04, 2009 at 12:42 AM
By the way, "its a sort of douchey, fake fighting soap opera entertainment thing" is THEEE worst explenation of the sport, wrestlings come a long way, you've just grown up. Goto a house show in Moncton, New Brunswick or Milwakee, Wisconsin, and see how many kids are wearing a Kane mask and go crazy when they see him. If you want your "Non-soap opera style fightin" go watch some UFC JFC or whatever you want, it aint going to bother me, nor the millions of new fans that follow every year.
Posted By: oait19 (Guest) on January 04, 2009 at 12:48 AM
I READ MCMAHON'S TESTIMONY and i am glad that he stood up for his family's company.
he knows this is just a witch hunt especially after the benoit murders.
benoit is basically a pawn that waxman and all the rassling dirtsheet writers want to use for some fake purpose.
wwe has a drug testing program; they suspend people; they give out names on the website; they do cardio tests; they test for concussions ; wwe even pays for the rehab for losers like scott hall and jake roberts and they would even help chyna if she asked for it.
mcmahon rightfully stated that he bears no respoinsibility for adults' choices and actions.
even dave meltzer who is a leech and a parasite agrees with the fact that wwe has made changes for the better in regards to their talent's health.
tna should create a valid policy like wwe and not pick up wrestlers that wwe fires for drug policy violations just so they can grow and get that unreachable 1.3 rating.
Posted By: Guest#2937 (Guest) on January 04, 2009 at 12:51 AM
"Looking forward to comments about how the government knows nothing about wrestling from people who know nothing about the government.Between this and the Vickie thread and RVD and fucking hundreds of other things, I really don't know if I want to be associated with the people who comment here any longer. I know it would depress absolutely no one if I were never heard from again, but... I love man chowder, i crave it more and more every day, this shit has become so embarrassing anymore. It's ridiculous how much i love man chowder! Posted By: The REAL MP (Registered) on January 03, 2009 at 09:06 PM"
Hmmm, well said.
Posted By: RVD (Guest) on January 04, 2009 at 12:52 AM
Acually... I think WWE and TNA should both be investigated.
Howevevr, top priority should be some investigations of Chris Dodd, Barney Frank, Fannie Maye and Freddie Mack... you know... that whole sub-prime lending shit that is causing our economy to collapse.
Posted By: David Burcham (Guest) on January 04, 2009 at 05:04 AM
The Govt. should worry about more important things like the economy,corruption, ect.
Posted By: Johnny Wadd (Guest) on January 04, 2009 at 07:03 AM
Prowrestling will never have a union and especially not be a part of the Screen Actors Guild. There are too many problems that would come.
Posted By: PHOENIXZERO (Guest) on January 04, 2009 at 07:09 AM
Oh and gotta love the typical politician "for the children" grandstanding bullshit.
Posted By: PHOENIXZERO (Guest) on January 04, 2009 at 07:10 AM
To SLW4836, I agree with you. The only thing VKM, or any promoter for that matter, is money. If all this bad press hits his pocketbook, maybe he will realize that you do not make light of serious situations, and turn it into some stupid angle.
I'm bothered that TWilliams and The Real MP are both right here. Vince McMahon will see this as little more than a chance to advertise his product for free, thanks to the governments heightened involvement in the locker room, and many of the fans will twist what truly is a sad situation into some sort of running joke - or worse. As a near-25-year fan of pro wrestling (with the emphasis being on WRESTLING), I'm concerned that the leader (the WWE) has become too crafty at turning helpful criticism into "the evil enemy" and the fan has become so wrapped up in the game of making light of everything in the name of entertainment (and avoiding real issues like flat storylines, stale product and an ominous series of drug related problems potentially on the horizon)that they now join in on the discussion/promotion of all things NOT related to selling wrestling, improving the product and allowing fans of the athletes (yes, I firmly believe thay are athletes)and the shows to see/be part of something they care about and are proud to be part of.
Posted By: SLW4836 (Registered) on January 03, 2009 at 10:02 PM
Posted By: Guest#8089 (Guest) on January 04, 2009 at 07:29 AM
While WWE has changed some things they still allow certain "exceptions" which is absolutely absurd. I hope more media picks this up and shines a light on them. It needs to happen. People keep bitching about NFL ect ect
Ad your point? They're all getting around to it. Wrestling is in the spotlight right now and soon the spotlight will be shone in different areas. If healthy athlete's is the results people need to quit their fucking bitching.
Posted By: Guest#4128 (Guest) on January 04, 2009 at 09:47 AM
lol, deaths, drugs, and crappy movies.......welcome to wrestling kids, hehe
Posted By: sprite (Guest) on January 04, 2009 at 10:31 AM
Two words: Sonjay Dutt.
Posted By: hillarybriss (Guest) on January 04, 2009 at 04:54 PM
Just another witch hunt
Posted By: Touchable (Guest) on January 04, 2009 at 09:47 PM
26 of the 60 TNA wrestlers who were tested were on steroids or other drugs in January 2008. The amazing thing about those numbers is that the talent was warned in advance that they would be tested. However, it must be noted that they were told that they would not face punishment for that round of testing. There were 15 positive tests for steroids, one positive test for propoxyphene, two positive tests for benzodiazepines, six positive tests for marijuana, one positive test for opiates, and one positive test for amphetamines. The performers were also tested for barbituates, methaqualone, phencyclidine, cocaine, and methadone, but not one tested positive for those drugs.
According to a report released by the Congressional Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, WWE issued 505 drug tests (an average of 4.2 samples per talent) to performers from July 1, 2007 through March 31, 2008. Of the positive tests, 73 percent were for marijuana, 16 percent were for anabolic steroids, and 11 percent were for stimulants. Perhaps the high percentage of positive marijuana tests helps explain why WWE officials have been cracking down on repeat offenders in recent months. However, if they eliminated the positive marijuana tests in WWE, then the percentage of positive tests for steroids and stimulants would increase, right? So if you really think about it, the positive marijuana tests are a blessing in disguise for WWE. Wait, does that make sense? I'm confused. Oh, just shut up and pass the Cheetos, dude.
Posted By: InsideExpert (Guest) on January 05, 2009 at 12:21 AM
Two things. 1. I wanna give the U.S. congress a big thumbs up for putting pro wrestling on trial. and 2. After all this is said & done, revenue will be lost, ratings will plummet, PPV buyrates will drop, merchandising sales will drop sharply and the wrestling fanbase will fade into obscurity.
Posted By: GamrNrd77 (Guest) on January 05, 2009 at 12:22 AM
I want to know how much this BS and the baseball steroid scandal is costing the taxpayers. Seriously it's bullshit. WWE wrestlers are actors and if they want to shoot up a ton of steroids let them. They are not hurting anyone but themselves. Same with the baseball players. There has been millions of OUR money wasted on this kind of crap already. Congress and senate...please focus on stuff that really matters at this point and time because there are millions out of work right now and I know they could give a shit less about steroids in wrestling, baseball, or anything else
Posted By: Willie D (Guest) on January 05, 2009 at 01:19 AM
I guess the marks are out in full force defending the WWE. Steroids are illegal. Thus, the government has every right to investigate the WWE and call them out. They're breaking the law.
Posted By: The Man (Guest) on January 05, 2009 at 06:25 PM
I guess RVD really isnt resigning. Or is he?
Posted By: Guest#2349 (Guest) on January 06, 2009 at 11:15 AM
