Statement By U.S. Senator Jim Bunning Introduction Of The "Professional Sports Integrity And Accountability Act"

STATEMENT BY U.S. SENATOR JIM BUNNING INTRODUCTION OF THE "PROFESSIONAL SPORTS INTEGRITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT"

Mr. President, I rise to introduce the "Professional Sports Integrity and Accountability Act." This is not a bill I relish introducing. And I wish Congress did not have to get involved in this issue.

Unfortunately, this might be the only way to get professional sports to finally clean up their act. As a former Major League Baseball Player and a member of The Baseball Hall of Fame, protecting the integrity of our national past time is a matter near and dear to my heart. And I know it is near and dear to the hearts of so many fans across America.

I do not have any personal experience with steroids. I never encountered them during my years in the major leagues. But I can tell you this - players who use steroids are cheaters. When I played ball, if you got caught cheating - whether it was by sharpening your spikes or corking your bat - you were suspended. And the same should hold true for those athletes who use illegal performance enhancing drugs.

Something needs to be done to strike out drugs in sports. Some sports leagues have taken baby steps in an attempt to implement a new or improve a current testing program. While I can appreciate their efforts, I just do not think they have done enough. For example, the penalties under baseball's current drug testing program are - at best - puny.

My bill would not only toughen baseball's standards, but it would apply to a host of professional sports leagues:
- Major & Minor League Baseball
- Arena & National Football Leagues
- Men's & Women's National Basketball Associations
- Major League Soccer
- National Hockey League

Under my legislation, players would be tested at least three times a year. Tests would be conducted randomly with no advance notice to the athlete. Substances tested would include all those substances that are prohibited for all sports by the Olympics. Players testing positive would be suspended without pay from all leagues for two years on their first offense. And if they test positive a second time they are banned from all sports forever.

These are the kind of hard-nosed penalties that will finally wake players up to the reality that they need to stop doping up and risking losing their entire livelihood. It is going to be up to the players. And I don't think too many of them will risk playing with fire. Because if you play with fire, you will get burned.

In this legislation, leagues would also be required to disclose to the public the names of those players who violate the testing policy, the penalty they receive, and the substances involved. Any athlete who refuses to take a drug test will be immediately penalized the same as if he or she failed the test. These penalties would also apply to anyone who assists in a violation of the drug testing policy.

Tests will be conducted by an independent entity not controlled by any league. This is necessary to ensure the integrity of the tests. This independent entity will be responsible for the collection, transport, and analysis of all samples. Lab analysis will be conducted at a lab in the United States that meets Olympic standards. And all leagues will be required to keep records of these tests which will be subject to inspection by the federal trade commission.

It is important that people realize this is not about conducting a witch hunt. And that is why my bill also includes some protections for these athletes. As a former player, I recognize that training and playing a sport can take a tremendous toll on the body. Therefore, my bill would allow athletes exemptions for substances prescribed by their doctor.

My bill requires that leagues provide violators with a hearing and fair appeals process upon testing positive. These results must be disclosed to the public. However, no information about an athlete's health is required to be disclosed. In order to ensure that leagues are in compliance, the federal trade commission is designated with oversight of the drug testing program. And leagues can be fined up to one million dollars per day if they do not enforce this testing policy.

This legislation also encourages - but does not require - leagues to invalidate the records of any athlete who is caught using performance enhancing drugs. History is an important part of any sport and records should mean something. Yes, records are made to be broken. But it does not mean you should be able to cheat to do so.

I was blessed to play 17 years in the major leagues. And I never saw a player hit more home runs at age 40 than he was hitting at age 25. Unlike a good wine, professional athletes generally do not get better with age. The body breaks down and you become more prone to injury. You just do not recover as quickly from the grind of playing day after day - year after year.

Some may ask why congress would be getting involved in the business of trying to regulate major league sports. Well, Mr. President, the answer is really quite simple. It is not just about the integrity of the game. It is partly about the health of the athlete. But really, it is about the kids.

The game of baseball has been tarnished by the use of steroids. Unfortunately, this not only affects players taking these substances. But it also sends the wrong message to kids who see players as role models. It is very important that we understand just how harmful steroids can be on a person's health.

Side-effects of steroids include fatal liver cysts, liver cancer, kidney disease, blood clotting, and they can even lead to heart attack or stroke. Our children look up to players as heroes. And it is important that players set a good example.

As Members of Congress we can play an important role in educating the public on the terrible health effects from steroids. Illegal performance-enhancing drugs have become a serious problem in professional sports. And it needs to stop.

Fans expect it to stop. And former professional athletes expect it to stop. Mr. President, after my remarks I ask that an opinion piece by my friend and fellow baseball Hall of Famer - Dave Winfield - be included in the record.

He recently wrote me a personal letter on the steroid issue and included his opinion piece. In his piece, Dave outlines not only the negative physical health effects steroids cause. But he touches on the negative psychological effects, too. Dave also cites a recent survey by a national healthcare provider that nearly one million kids in America are using steroids and other substances to boost their athletic performance.

Finally, he raises the important question to athletes: "How do you want to play your sport - clean and fair, or by cheating with drugs?"

Mr. President, the fans and former athletes do not want our national past time and favorite sports to end up with black eyes because of this mess.

Mr. President, everywhere I go I hear sports fans and former athletes whistling for an end to the use of drugs in sports. I and others in this body are listening. Players and leagues must be held accountable for the state of their respective sports. And this legislation demands accountability by putting real penalties on those who cheat.

It is time to restore some integrity to the sports we all watch, pour our hearts out to, and love. I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this important cause. I look forward to the Senate moving this debate and legislation forward in a bi-partisan way.

Before I yield the floor, I want to share a letter I received from a young boy - Joseph Mattingly - from Louisville, KY. Joseph writes:

"Dear Senator Bunning, my name is Joseph Mattingly. I am a Boy Scout from Troop 327. At this year's summer camp, I am working on a merit badge that requires me to write a letter to a Member of Congress representing my state - Kentucky. This letter was required to be about a national issue which I share the same view with you. I wrote you because I am a fan of Major League Baseball and I would agree that Congress should get involved in the steroids scandal. I say this for many reasons. One is that Major League Baseball needs some help. If they can't clear up this problem, Congress could. Another reason is that taking performance enhancing drugs is cheating. Cheating should not be the American way of doing things. A third reason is that steroids are drugs. Performance enhancing drugs should be made illegal for sale without a prescription.
Finally, you are a Hall of Famer with much baseball experience. For this reason, Major League Baseball should let you help them with their problems.
These are my views on why congress should get involved in bringing down the steroids scandal in baseball and all other sports."

Sincerely, Joseph Mattingly.
Mr. President, I ask that this letter be included in the record.

It is the voice from a young fan - a child who loves the game of baseball. And he echoes the thoughts and words of so many other children across America.

Mr. President, I yield the floor.

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