New Steroid Testing Bill

WASHINGTON, APRIL 26, 2005 – Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL), Chairman of the Commerce, Trade & Consumer Protection Subcommittee, today outlined his new bill entitled the Drug Free Sports Act. In a press release yesterday, he stated that young athletes emulate their role models in professional sports, including steroid usage, and called for stronger anti-doping standards in professional sports. “Even the International Chess Federation adopted the World Anti-Doping Agency’s drug code two years ago to subject chess players to the same standards as Olympic athletes.”

The bill creates a national testing policy for professional sports and includes a minimum 2 year suspension for a first doping offense. The Commerce, Trade & Consumer Protection Subcommittee has jurisdiction over sports and will take up consideration of Stearns’ bill.