Will Pound get the straight dope on athlete druggies?

http://www.NewsAndOpinion.com | Richard Pound intends to call on Bud Selig, Paul Tagliabue, David Stern and Gary Bettman to ask one simple question: Will their sports leagues sign onto Pound's anti-doping code?

Richard Pound is the chief executive of the World Anti-Doping Agency, the organization that came up with a new doping code that detailed banned substances, drug testing procedures and penalties for sports under the International Olympic Committee's purview.

Now Pound wants the four North American sports leagues to adhere to his company's standards. That's not going to be easy. Why should the leagues and their players association pay attention to Pound? Because American athletes are imaginary role models or perceived to be cheats? Those aren't good enough reasons. Besides the leagues claim they police themselves.

And then there are individual rights issues.

Pound is correct in trying make sure banned substances are eliminated but it's unlikely Major League Baseball, the NFL, NBA and NHL will listen to him. After all, who gave Richard Pound the authority to dictate drug testing policies in any of those leagues?

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JWR contributor Evan Weiner is a radio commentator on "The Business of Sports" for Westwood One's Metro Networks. He is being presented with the United States Sports Academy's Distinguished Service Award for 2003. Comment on this column by clicking here.

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