The current and continuing spate of steroid related scandals has found the wrestling world. World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. (WWE), in cooperation with several Congressional panels, announced that it would suspend wrestlers and cooperate with government agencies when its wrestlers did not meet WWE drug testing “wellness” parameters.
A sad beginning
The entire wrestling steroid scandal was brought to light when Chris Benoit, a leading WWE wrestler and dedicated family man, killed his family and then committed suicide. In an autopsy, the wrestler was found to have ten times the amount of testosterone allowed by the WWE in his body. After the investigation found that there were similar instances of higher than normal steroids in many other wrestlers the government committee investigating the ongoing steroid scandal in Baseball got involved and is currently in the midst of an investigation.
Following the “prescription mill”
Although suspensions of these wrestlers are the outcome of the investigation, authorities have been focusing on the doctors that are prescribing steroids to the athletes. The doctor that prescribed steroids for Chris Benoit has apparently also prescribed them for others and was aware of other doctors doing the same. Since the beginnings of the investigation, the search for additional doctors involved has moved from Florida, where one doctor cooperated to avoid jail time, to Albany NY. As the investigation continues within wrestling and across several other organized sports, more wrestlers and doctors are likely to be implicated.
The suspended wrestlers
Although the WWE will not release the names of suspended wrestlers it is widely reported that they were patients of a doctor and customers of a pharmacy friendly with the doctor. These wrestlers are thought to include: Sunichi Funchi, Dave Bautista, Adam Copeland, Chris Mordetsky, John Hennigan, and Shane Helms. Three others involved in the investigation have died as a result of the prescription steroids.
Playing it down
As any business would, the WWE has been keeping as quiet as possible on the steroid matter while cooperating fully. They have put a drug testing policy in place since the Chris Benoit incident and are monitoring their wrestlers closely. The organization, however, is very quick to point out that it does not see the issue as a drug testing policy but rather a wellness program designed to make sure that all aspects of the wrestler’s life are considered. Perhaps this is splitting hairs but a healthy well grounded wrestler is less likely to seek help from performance enhancing drugs.
Why the investigation
Past the fact that people have died from this ongoing situation, many lawmakers see the crisis as a possible gateway for dangerous drugs to find their way to high school and lower levels of juvenile sports. The wrestlers, baseball and football players that have used these drugs are looked up to as role models for the younger athlete. If they only see positive result from taking the performance enhancing drugs they may feel that they are given a certain license to do the same. Professional wrestlers are a particularly visible gateway to a certain type of child that is prone to imitation and making them vulnerable.
A sad beginning
The entire wrestling steroid scandal was brought to light when Chris Benoit, a leading WWE wrestler and dedicated family man, killed his family and then committed suicide. In an autopsy, the wrestler was found to have ten times the amount of testosterone allowed by the WWE in his body. After the investigation found that there were similar instances of higher than normal steroids in many other wrestlers the government committee investigating the ongoing steroid scandal in Baseball got involved and is currently in the midst of an investigation.
Following the “prescription mill”
Although suspensions of these wrestlers are the outcome of the investigation, authorities have been focusing on the doctors that are prescribing steroids to the athletes. The doctor that prescribed steroids for Chris Benoit has apparently also prescribed them for others and was aware of other doctors doing the same. Since the beginnings of the investigation, the search for additional doctors involved has moved from Florida, where one doctor cooperated to avoid jail time, to Albany NY. As the investigation continues within wrestling and across several other organized sports, more wrestlers and doctors are likely to be implicated.
The suspended wrestlers
Although the WWE will not release the names of suspended wrestlers it is widely reported that they were patients of a doctor and customers of a pharmacy friendly with the doctor. These wrestlers are thought to include: Sunichi Funchi, Dave Bautista, Adam Copeland, Chris Mordetsky, John Hennigan, and Shane Helms. Three others involved in the investigation have died as a result of the prescription steroids.
Playing it down
As any business would, the WWE has been keeping as quiet as possible on the steroid matter while cooperating fully. They have put a drug testing policy in place since the Chris Benoit incident and are monitoring their wrestlers closely. The organization, however, is very quick to point out that it does not see the issue as a drug testing policy but rather a wellness program designed to make sure that all aspects of the wrestler’s life are considered. Perhaps this is splitting hairs but a healthy well grounded wrestler is less likely to seek help from performance enhancing drugs.
Why the investigation
Past the fact that people have died from this ongoing situation, many lawmakers see the crisis as a possible gateway for dangerous drugs to find their way to high school and lower levels of juvenile sports. The wrestlers, baseball and football players that have used these drugs are looked up to as role models for the younger athlete. If they only see positive result from taking the performance enhancing drugs they may feel that they are given a certain license to do the same. Professional wrestlers are a particularly visible gateway to a certain type of child that is prone to imitation and making them vulnerable.
