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JUICE JUSTIFIED
Steroids/HGH Should be Legal in MLB for Injuries.
The debate surrounding performance-enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball often places all players associated with the steroid era into the same category. However, a closer examination of New York Yankee Andy Pettitte’s circumstances reveals important distinctions between his case and those of Jose Canseco and Barry Bonds.
Andy Pettitte admitted that he used human growth hormone (HGH) during the 2002 season after suffering an elbow injury. According to Pettitte, his intent was not to become a stronger pitcher or gain an unfair competitive advantage over other players. Rather, he believed HGH might help accelerate the healing process and allow him to recover from an injury that threatened his ability to continue pitching. Pettitte has consistently maintained that he used HGH only briefly, discontinued its use, and later publicly acknowledged his actions without attempting to deny or conceal them. His honesty and willingness to accept responsibility earned him the respect of many teammates, opponents, and baseball fans, even among those who disagreed with his decision.
Nevertheless, Major League Baseball and many critics maintained that Pettitte’s motivation did not change the fundamental issue. HGH is classified as a performance-enhancing substance because faster recovery from injury can itself provide a…
