[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 146 (Monday, November 7, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S12443]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  INTEGRITY IN PROFESSIONAL SPORTS ACT

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I am pleased to join my colleagues 
Senator Bunning, Senator McCain, Senator Stevens and Senator 
Rockefeller, as a cosponsor of the Integrity in Professional Sports 
Act. While it is unfortunate that it has come to this, it is becoming 
abundantly clear that Major League Baseball and other professional 
leagues are still more concerned about protecting their own collective 
bargaining rights than cleaning up their sport.
  I have said it before and I will say it again. The abuse of illegal 
steroids by professional athletes is inexcusable and has no place in 
competition at any level. Unfortunately, this has become a problem that 
we can no longer afford to ignore. The most recent studies indicate 
that possibly up to five to seven percent of students, even as young as 
middle school, have admitted to using steroids. This is an alarming 
statistic. If Major League Baseball won't step up to the plate on this 
issue, we will do it for them.
  Every day, millions of young people in this country dream of one day 
playing ball in the big leagues. When superstar athletes, with their 
multi-million dollar contracts and lucrative endorsements are seen 
using steroids to improve their performance, it should come as no 
surprise that many young athletes would choose to use steroids to 
improve their own performance.
  Professional athletes must be held to a higher standard when it comes 
to illegal substances such as steroids. Like it or not, young people 
look up to professional athletes as role models. The Integrity in 
Professional Sports Act will require all professional sports leagues to 
adopt a unified standard for testing as well as tougher penalties for 
any athlete found in violation of these standards. Unlike testing 
today, this act will require athletes to test during the off-season and 
frequently during their season of play. Athletes will face severe 
penalties for a positive test: a two-year ban for the first offense and 
a lifetime ban for the second.
  I have little doubt that this act will aid in the effort to rid 
professional sports of these dangerous substances and bring integrity 
back to the game. We must send a strong message to professional 
athletes. If you choose to cheat and use illegal steroids, you risk 
ending your career. In turn, our young people will hopefully get the 
message that using steroids to improve athletic performance is 
absolutely the wrong way to go.
  While this bill specifically addresses professional athletics, the 
importance of stopping steroid abuse extends well beyond the track, 
baseball diamond, or football field. We must continue to focus on the 
health and future of our children. I encourage my colleagues to join in 
support of this legislation to set the standard for fair competition.

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