Miami doping questions
puts a damper on a bright team and shows that drugs are still very much a part
of baseball.
By Kelvin Read
 |
| AP Photo/ Willfredo Lee |
With new PED reports coming out in the past couple of weeks
linking players from Alex Rodriguez to Gio Gonzalez to PEDs,
college students have come away almost unscathed. One person being linked
to drug use is Miami strength coach Jimmy Goins. Goins is currently under
investigation by the MLB, but hasn’t been convicted of any illegal activity
yet.
The University of Miami released a statement saying that
none of their students had tested positive for steroids since 2005, when it
started to release its test results, but that doesn’t mean that untested and
illegal substances aren’t being used. There is no test for HGH, a commonly used
drug for injured players. Additionally, we recently learned about Deer Antler
Spray and its mischievous usage. Drugs like these are common in baseball and
other sports. Oddly, though, there are no plans to implement more severe testing
procedures in order to diminish the prevalence.
Miami is currently ranked 29th in the first week
of college baseball. While this investigation is unlikely to impact the team’s
season, a shadow has been cast on Miami’s success. More testing needs to be
done. Drug use is rampant in junior college baseball, where players are
striving to get picked up by more competitive teams. Players like Rodriguez are
not the real problem. It’s young men that use drugs starting in their teens and
twenties. It’s unfortunate that we must have such a watchful eye on the young
men who are enjoying their prime years, but the Miami report means that oversight
of their superiors is needed.
High school and college testing will have to become much
more severe. College may be a time where you can make some mistakes in your
life, but PED usage to gain an advantage should not be allowed.
