Thursday, May 30, 2002
Thomas wants steroid testing
The Associated Press
Frank Thomas wants baseball to start testing for steroids, saying he feels “cheated” if other players are using drugs.
“I don't know who's on and who's not on,” the two-time MVP said Wednesday before the Chicago White Sox played the New York Yankees. “There is definitely more activity in the weight room nowadays. I was hoping that it was just old guys working hard in the weight room.
“I really think it's time for testing. It really is.”
Two high-profile former players said recently that steroid use is rampant in the major leagues. Ken Caminiti estimated that at least half of major-leaguers use steroids, and he told Sports Illustrated he was on them when he won the NL MVP award in 1996.
Jose Canseco put the number even higher, saying 85 percent of players use steroids.
New York Mets manager Bobby Valentine thought those estimates were overblown.
“Only if it's in the water or there's some way players are ingesting them without knowing it,” Valentine said. “I think it's a total exaggeration unless you're saying some of the stuff like MetRx mix and the blender stuff is a steroid, then I stand corrected.
“As far as something injected or prescribed, I think it's preposterous to say 85 percent.”
Caminiti said steroid use was common knowledge in clubhouses, but players and managers disputed that.
“I haven't seen anybody use, or anything like that,” Thomas said. “I don't think guys talk about it. I think the guys that are doing it are keeping it quiet.”
Atlanta Braves pitcher Tom Glavine, the team's player representative since 1990, said the union may have to address the issue.
“It's easy for me to sit here and say I don't care about drug testing because I don't take steroids and don't take drugs,” he said. “It's not a big deal to me, but obviously there is much greater cause for concern that goes into why you would or would not agree to that.”
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Thomas wants steroid testing
