Washington, D.C. (My Sportsbook) - The U.S. House of Representatives took another look at performance-enhancing drugs in sports on Wednesday.
The House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection, which also held hearings on steroids in 2005, heard testimony from various sports commissioners and their respective union chiefs with the intent of trying to legislate drug-testing policies for all of the major professional sports -- baseball, football, basketball and hockey.
Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig was on hand with MLBPA executive director Donald Fehr and the NBA's David Stern was with the NBAPA's Billy Hunter. Also on hand were the NFL's Roger Goodell and Gene Upshaw, and the NHL's Gary Bettman and Paul Kelly.
"The purpose of today's hearing is to restart -- and perhaps finish -- the legislative process we started in 2005," said Rep. Bobby Rush, (D-IL), chairman of the committee.
"Let me just say, I do resent the elitists, the cynics and cultural critics who dismiss this issue as a populist spectacle. I believe that we can move forward in a measured, deliberative and bipartisan manner with legislation that seriously tackles drugs in sports."
Early in the proceedings, Rep. Cliff Stearns, (R-FL), made noise by again calling for the resignation of Selig, the leader of the most scandal-ridden league.
"I am already on the record calling for the resignation of commissioner Selig." Stearns said.
Most witnesses objected vehemently to Congress' intervention and ballyhooed the collective bargaining process.
"The sports leagues have gotten it right in the intervening three years," Stern said. "This is an area where federal legislation is not necessary."
Tennessee Republican Marsha Blackburn, who earlier indicated Congress should be dealing with more important issues, shot back.
"Mr. Stern, I would suggest that we have not gotten it right enough. If we had gotten it right -- if you all had gotten it right -- we would not be here again today," Blackburn said.
This panel is not related to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which held hearings in January and February on former Senate majority leaders George Mitchell's investigation into performance enhancing drugs in baseball.
