Steroid usage amongst Dominican Athletes

Steroid usage among athletes from the Dominican Republic has been a major issue within Major League baseball. This usage has become a deterimental issue in both the United States and the Dominican Republic. The "New York Times" described "two Dominican prospects [who] , hoping for an athletic edge, injected themselves with steroids intended for cattle and died." [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE0D71031F931A2575BC0A9659C8B63 American Dream, Dominican Nightmare - New York Times ] ]

Performance enhancement and age reduction

Some Dominican athletes were found to be younger than the age they reported in an effort to qualify for sporting teams including Danny Almonte. In an effor to avoid being caught using steroids, some athletes have responded by using supplements intended for cattle and horses, such as diamino. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE0D71031F931A2575BC0A9659C8B63 American Dream, Dominican Nightmare - New York Times ] ] This has resulted in the death of at least 2 Dominican Athletes. This prompted a statement of a need to probe by former New York Governor George Pataki. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE0D71031F931A2575BC0A9659C8B63 American Dream, Dominican Nightmare - New York Times ] ]

Article quotes

"Why is it that more than half of the players test positive for steroids in Major League baseball are Dominican?" [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2763194 ESPN - Steroid problem reaches critical mass in the D.R. - MLB ] ] [ [http://www.dominicantoday.com/app/article.aspx?id=23851 Dominican ball players rate high in steroids use - DominicanToday.com ] ]

This is a significant percentage when considering - according to statistics compiled by the commissioner's office - 23.5 percent of the 829 Major League players on opening-day rosters and disabled lists were born in Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Mexico or Venezuela. [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4188/is_20050505/ai_n14614482 Steroid rules tripping up Latin players | Deseret News (Salt Lake City) | Find Articles at BNET.com ] ] It is also quoted that over 80% of young dominican baseball players use steroids. [ [http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2004/05/04/youth_is_swerved_on_island/ Boston Red Sox - Youth is swerved on island - The Boston Globe ] ]

In the Dominican Republic it is illegal to fire someone for testing positive for drugs. [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/14/sports/baseball/14chass.html?fta=y The New York Times > Sports > Baseball > On Baseball: A Message in a Coffin for Baseball ] ] The "New York Times" said "Myra Sung, a spokeswoman for Hispanics Across America, said it believed the percentage would soar if baseball tested for diamino, a supplement given to horses and cows but used by teenagers because it is cheaper than steroids and more easily obtained in the Dominican Republic." [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/14/sports/baseball/14chass.html?fta=y The New York Times > Sports > Baseball > On Baseball: A Message in a Coffin for Baseball ] ] [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2763304 ESPN - Activist: MLB should keep promise to test prospects - MLB ] ] [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE0D71031F931A2575BC0A9659C8B63 American Dream, Dominican Nightmare - New York Times ] ]

http://historyofalcoholanddrugs.typepad.com/alcohol_and_drugs_history/dominican_republic/index.html

List of Dominican athletes who have tested positive for steroids or other sports enhancing drugs

*Luis Castillo
*Miguel Tejada - alleged [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/01/17/sports/main3725244.shtml?source=RSSattr=Entertainment_3725244]

References