Congress' WWE Steroid Investigation

This past Friday Representative Henry Waxman (D-California) sent a letter to the Office of National Drug Policy (ONDCP) requesting that its chief, John Walters, continue to "examine steroid use in professional wrestling and take appropriate steps to address this problem."

The Oversight Committee headed by Waxman began investing pro wrestling's drug problem a year ago, as it took a hard look at drug testing policies for both WWE & TNA. In Waxman's letter he suggested that pro wrestling "has a long way to go toward eradicating its doping culture, starting with the woefully inadequate drug testing programs in place."

From NYDailyNews.com:

"In the first year of WWE's testing program, which began in March 2006, 40% of wrestlers tested positive for steroids and other drugs, even after being warned in advance that they were going to be tested," wrote Waxman.

Waxman also detailed how wrestlers who test positive for performance enhancers receive light punishment and can often participate in wrestling events even after steroid violations. The committee investigation also uncovered how easily wrestlers can secure therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs) - permission to take banned substances for medical reasons - so they can continue performing while using steroids. When Waxman's staff interviewed Dr. Tracy Ray, a physician contracted by WWE, Ray claimed there was "shadiness in almost every (TUE) case that I've reviewed."

Recently both WWE & Waxman were unavailable for comments regarding the situation. More news to come from this investigation which will surely be an issue for some time within the ranks of pro wrestling, until things can be clearly sorted out and policies better enforced.

Read NYDailyNews.com article "Congress Needles Wrestling" here.

Impact Wrestling also provides the baseline drug testing reports from WWE to Congress, including positive results (no individuals named).