Steroid and PED usage is at an unprecedented high at the collegiate and high school baseball levels. According to sources with inside knowledge, there are multiple MLB Draft prospects who are allegedly taking performance enhancers during their collegiate and high school careers.
Allegedly these players, including some from a major college program are taking PEDS to keep up with the competition. One source indicated, "everyone was using [PEDs], as competition to get drafted is so tough these days."
Most of the players believe they'll stop "cold turkey" before the MLB Draft as a way not to get caught.
NCAA drug testing is being called into question. According to the NCAA website, "drug testing in the NCAA began in 1986 when testing at championship events began, and it expanded to a year-round program in Divisions I and II in 1990. Today, 90 percent of Division I, 65 percent of Division II and 21 percent of Division III schools conduct their own drug-testing programs in addition to the NCAA's."
Despite NCAA testing, not all collegiate programs are responsible for administering their own tests. Sources say, "junior colleges especially, as well as smaller universities don't have the funds to administer testing." Because the NCAA tests are done at random, players will risk the chance at getting caught, though that doesn't seem to be a problem. Players are allegedly using "designer drugs to avoid detection."
Well, according to the NCAA website on drug use administration, "the NCAA and its member schools share the responsibility of not only testing, but also educating student-athletes to prevent drug usage. The NCAA conducts testing at all of its championships, and programs in Divisions I and II through its year-round testing program. In addition, the majority of institutions conduct their own institutional testing programs independent of NCAA drug testing. The NCAA spends more than $5 million annually on drug testing and education in an effort to deter the use of banned and harmful substances."
Another source, who played in Major League Baseball, says "it's not surprising" that collegiate players are using PEDS to this extent.
High school baseball has also seen an increase in PED use among prospects. A source with knowledge of high school baseball told me "the difference between an 88 mph fastball and a 92 mph fastball is difference between getting drafted these days. The testing at those levels will really need to be something to look at as not on anyone's radar."
This makes you wonder if Major League Baseball should do more at the collegiate and high school levels. Steroid use is still a problem at the professional level, though recent efforts made by Major League Baseball have quelled the issue. This news, if anything, shows that professional athletes like Alex Rodriguez and Ryan Braun have a negative impact on youth. Youth baseball players are watching stars in the Major Leagues cheat and think that it's acceptable.
It's not acceptable that collegiate and high school students are allegedly using PEDS. Rodriguez and Braun aside, Major League Baseball has done a good job fighting against drug use. However, youth baseball players are the future of Major League Baseball. The real question is how long have players allegedly abused PEDs in college and high school? If these players entered Minor League Baseball, have they been able to quit? Did they quit? Or are they still allegedly abusing drugs?
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