WADA chief says MLB letting down fans

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SINGAPORE — Even as he launched an anti-doping education campaign targeting athletes at the Youth Olympics, World Anti-Doping Agency chief John Fahey took aim at sports which refuse to lead by example.
Fahey on Monday said Major League Baseball is "misleading" the public by its continued refusal to institute a transparent and rigorous drug testing program baseball jerseys.

Fahey, who in March called on the MLB and its players' union to start testing for human growth hormone, says the integrity of the game will eventually be called into question and fans will show their disapproval by refusing to attend games.

WADA has repeatedly criticized MLB for what it considers inadequate testing. WADA has been pushing for more testing for HGH after a British rugby league player early this year became the first athlete suspended for using the hormone NHL jerseys.

Management and the baseball players union have said they would accept a validated urine test for HGH and that their science advisers are checking into the accuracy of the blood test for HGH.

"Ultimately, I think the integrity of sport will come into question and in that context they have to think about the future of their game," Fahey, in an interview with The Associated Press, said of the absence of a the highest-level drug testing program.

"The public doesn't like to be taken for a ride and they will march accordingly," Fahey said. "If you say come to the contest, am I going to watch 'who has the best chemist?' You don't go to watch that." NFL jerseys

Fahey said WADA has attempted talk with baseball and set up meetings regarding HGH but has the MLB has "effectively ignored us."

"Baseball is the most recalcitrant," he said, comparing MLB with the National Football League, National Basketball League and National Hockey League among the major U.S. leagues. "You had the Mitchell inquiry and clear and concise recommendations from it and they effectively did nothing."

In contrast, Fahey said WADA was having ongoing discussions with the NFL about incorporating some aspects of drug testing into a future collective bargaining agreement and have for the first time managed to "get into the front door" of the NHL to discuss the issue. jordan shoes

"We continue to reach out," he said. "I think the interesting thing is that we are making good progress in ice hockey. We certainly have gotten through the front door. We have movement there."

But Fahey said that WADA would have to be patient in working with any sports league in the United States due to private ownership <emdash /> a contrast from the most of the rest of the world where testing usually is overseen by an international federation or government sports testing authorities.

"They are privately owned so there is no pressure that can brought to bear," Fahey said. "The American government can't do anything about that. The (sports leagues) have to volunteer. My point is that ultimately the public will decide whether they have confidence in the way the game has been run and believe what they are seeing is the real thing."

Fahey was in Singapore to unveil WADA's first anti-doping campaign aimed at young athletes. Called Play True Generation Program, it aims to teach athletes through a computer game the benefits of making health choices as well as the dangers of doping. nike air max

WADA has set up a booth in the heart of the Youth Olympic Village, offering athletes free basketball and soccer balls if they play the game and pledge not to dope.

Fahey said many of the athletes who were dropping into booth have little knowledge of doping and are for the first time experiencing the testing regiment at these games. More than 3,600 athletes, ranging from 14 to 18 years, are competing in 26 sports at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games.