NEWS RELEASE

Committee on Energy and Commerce
Rep. John D. Dingell, Chairman

Committee Announces Hearing Date; Steroid Use in Professional Sports to be Examined

Washington, D.C. – The Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection will hold a hearing on Wednesday, January 23, 2008, when the U.S. House of Representatives reconvenes for the second session of the 110th Congress. The hearing will explore issues relating to steroid use in professional sports, including the findings of a report released today by former Senate Majority Leader George J. Mitchell that chronicles steroid use among major league baseball players.

Reps. Bobby L. Rush (D-IL) and Cliff Stearns (R-FL), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee, commented on the report:

“Today’s release of a sweeping report by former Senate Majority Leader George J. Mitchell marks an incredibly sad day for major league baseball and, we believe, most professional sports leagues in the United States,” said Rush. “The pattern of behavior documented in this report has the effect of undermining Americans’ faith in the honesty, integrity and accuracy of many facets of American sports. Our subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over these matters, will further investigate the findings of Sen. Mitchell’s report. We are disheartened that the report finds a ‘serious drug culture within baseball, from top to bottom,’ and that it goes on to make serious allegations against dozens of high-profile, revered sports figures. As we embrace the holiday season and much of the nation turns its attention to spectator and winter sports, the words of that sad young fan in the 1919 World Series scandal come to mind… ‘say it ain’t so.’”

“The Mitchell Report found widespread use of steroids and other substances in MLB,” said Stearns. “The use of these performance-enhancing drugs undermines the integrity of the sport and encourages their use among other athletes, including our young people. In addition, the use of steroids without a prescription is a federal crime. I applaud Chairman Rush for announcing a hearing on this issue to be held in January, Congress needs to ensure that MLB takes the necessary steps to get drugs out of the sport.”

Representatives of Major League Baseball and former Senate Majority Leader Mitchell will be invited to testify.

In August, the Committee on Energy and Commerce opened an investigation into steroid use in professional wrestling.

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