What it Took to Get Baseball Clean
Mar 27, 2024
What it Took to Get Baseball Clean
Today we celebrate the return of Major League Baseball (MLB) to fields all across North America. We do so 20 years after MLB started drug testing and embarked on a commitment to clean sport. Baseball's journey to becoming a paragon of clean sport is a story of transformation and dedication. From the shadows of the "Steroid Era," MLB has emerged thanks to a commitment to integrity and clean sport. It’s done this by implementing rigorous drug testing protocols and educational initiatives that have significantly reduced the prevalence of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs).
Clearing the Bases: Baseball's Stand Against PEDs
The turning point in baseball's fight against doping came with the introduction of the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, which instituted random, year-round testing and stringent penalties for violations. High-profile suspensions of players like Alex Rodriguez underscored MLB's resolve to cleanse the sport. At the same time, the league's proactive measures, including blood tests for HGH, set new standards for anti-doping efforts in professional sports. BSCG co-founders Don and Oliver Catlin were excited to play a part in helping to shape the initial program and policies.
The Role of Third-Party Certification in Supplement Safety
MLB has recognized that dietary supplements contaminated with banned substances may put their players and the integrity of the game at risk. Third-party certification plays a major role in protecting players' health and maintaining the sport's integrity. MLB currently directs players to use NSF Certified for Sport® products to ensure they are free from PEDs. The BSCG Certified Drug Free and Informed Sport programs offer similar protection, both programs require every finished lot to be tested, which NSF does not. The reality is that contamination with PEDs can happen at any time and can appear in one finished product lot and not another. A recent survey found that 28% of more than 3,000 supplements analyzed posed a potential risk to athletes of an inadvertent positive drug test. This makes ‘batch testing’ an essential component of third-party certification.
All athletes or drug tested professionals, like MLB players, should look to third-party certified supplements to protect themselves from contamination. A vital step should be verifying that the batch or lot number they are using has been tested by checking the third-party certification program database. Third-party certification is an essential component in maintaining clean sport and helps safeguard athletes against inadvertently consuming banned substances.
Champions of Clean Sport
The commitment to a clean game is epitomized by players like Derek Jeter and Mike Trout, whose illustrious careers are celebrated for their on-field achievements and adherence to the principles of fair play. Today when we watch the best player in the game Shohei Ohtani thrill the crowds with his unique set of skills we do so unblemished by questions about PED use. These players and countless others serve as ambassadors of integrity, inspiring the next generations to achieve greatness through hard work and dedication.
Home Run for Health and Fairness ?️
Today, baseball is a testament to the positive impact of stringent testing, education, and the promotion of safe supplements. The ongoing vigilance against doping and the acknowledgement of third-party supplement certification underscores MLB's commitment to a future where the sport's integrity is as revered as its history. Baseball's migration from the "Steroid Era" to a role model in clean sport reflects a powerful commitment to health, fairness, and the true spirit of competition that we can look forward to seeing more of as the 2024 MLB season starts.
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