Pittsburgh Pirates Statement Regarding Mitchell Report

12/13/2007 -- The following statement is from Pittsburgh Pirates President Frank Coonelly:

"The Pittsburgh Pirates have fully supported the Commissioner's efforts to eliminate performance enhancing substances from our game. We understand the seriousness of this issue, not only for our organization and our players, but for the entire game of professional baseball. The use of performance enhancing substances goes to the core of the integrity of the game and cannot be tolerated.

The Pirates provided full cooperation to Senator Mitchell and his investigative team. Indeed, the Pirates spent a countless number of hours working to assist in the efforts of this investigation by providing thorough and accurate information to Senator Mitchell and his team. We appreciate the Senator's exhaustive work and his thoughtful recommendations.

We view the release of the Senator's findings as a positive step forward for the game. The Commissioner concluded that it was important to learn as much as we could about what happened in the past, and Senator Mitchell has conducted a comprehensive investigation. Senator Mitchell concluded that the use of performance enhancing substances was widespread in baseball. Critically important to the Pirates, however, is the Senator's conclusion that baseball's current drug testing program has been effective. The Senator has, nevertheless, made several recommendations regarding how the program can be strengthened even further, and the Commissioner has embraced all of these recommendations. The Pirates support the Commissioner's desire to have the most effective and transparent drug program in all professional sports. Protecting the integrity of the game is the Commissioner's most critical responsibility.

The Pirates do not and will not tolerate the use of any substances banned by baseball's comprehensive drug testing program by our players at any level, and we will continue to go to great lengths to educate our players on the dangers of using such substances. The Pirates work closely with the Commissioner's Office in the education of our players. Our medical, training, strength and conditioning, and clubhouse staffs all stress a "food first" approach to nutrition and supply our players only with those supplements that have been approved as steroid-free by Major League Baseball. The Senator has recommended additional education for players and the Pirates strongly support this recommendation and will work with the Commissioner's Office as it implements this recommendation."

Source: MLB

Bookmark/Search this post with:

 •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •