Editing Bud Selig (section)

=== Performance-enhancing drugs ===
{{main|Mitchell Report}}

In 2005, Selig faced [[U.S. Congress|Congress]] on the issue of [[Anabolic steroids|steroids]]. After the Congressional hearings in early 2005, and with the scrutiny of the sports and national media upon this issue, Selig put forth a proposal for a stricter performance-enhancing drug testing regime to replace the current system. This proposal also included the banning of [[amphetamines]], a first for the major North American sports leagues. The [[Major League Baseball Players Association|MLB Players Association]] and MLB reached an agreement in November on the new policy.<ref>{{cite news |title = MLBPA/MLB joint announcement |url = http://mlbplayers.mlb.com/pa/releases/releases.jsp?content=111505 |publisher = MLBPA |date = November 15, 2005 |access-date = March 21, 2007 |archive-date = May 13, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070513140514/http://mlbplayers.mlb.com/pa/releases/releases.jsp?content=111505 |url-status = dead }}</ref>

Selig's testimony on the subject has been contradictory. In 2005, Selig told reporters, "I never even heard about them [steroids] until 1998 or 1999. I ran a team and nobody was closer to their players and I never heard any comment from them. It wasn't until 1998 or '99 that I heard the discussion."<ref>[http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0215-23.htm Bashing Bush: Jose Canseco Comes Clean<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120623020901/http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0215-23.htm |date=June 23, 2012 }}</ref> But a year later, testifying to Congress in 2006, Selig claimed personal credit for spotting the problem early: "In 1994, before anybody was really talking about steroids in baseball, we proposed a program of testing for such substances to the MLBPA. As early as 1998, I began formulating a strategic plan to eliminate the use of performance-enhancing substances from the game."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseballinvestigation.com/commissioners-statement.htm|title=Independent Investigation – Statement Of Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig|work=baseballinvestigation.com|access-date=June 23, 2015}}</ref> During the [[1988 American League Championship Series|1988 ALCS]], [[Oakland Athletics|Oakland]]'s [[Jose Canseco]] had been repeatedly taunted by [[Boston Red Sox|Boston]] fans with a chant of "ster-oids, ster-oids, ster-oids."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2009/07/21/baseballs-steroid-era-was-no-surprise-so-hall-of-fame-voters-should-accept-it|title=Baseball's Steroid Era Was No Surprise, So Hall of Fame Voters Should Accept It|author=David Ezra|work=U.S. News & World Report|access-date=June 23, 2015}}</ref> Speaking at the 2013 All-Star Game, Selig complained, "People say, 'Well, you were slow to react.' We were not slow to react. In fact, I heard that this morning, and it aggravated me all over again."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/aug/05/mlb-commissioner-bud-selig-drugs-peds|title=MLB commissioner Bud Selig knows drugs bans may define his legacy|author=Evan Weiner|work=The Guardian|date=August 5, 2013|access-date=June 23, 2015}}</ref>

By early 2006, Selig was forced to deal with the issue of steroid use. On March 30, 2006, as a response to the controversy of the use of performance-enhancing drugs and the anticipated career home run record to be set by [[Barry Bonds]], Selig asked former U.S. Senator [[George J. Mitchell]] to lead an independent investigation into the use of steroids in baseball's recent past. [[Joe Sheehan]] from ''[[Baseball Prospectus]]'' wrote that the commission has been focusing "blame for the era exclusively on uniformed personnel", and failing to investigate any role played by team ownership and management.<ref>{{cite web | last = Sheehan | first = Joe | title = Prospectus Today&nbsp;— Break with the Past | work = Baseball Prospectus | date = May 22, 2007 | url = http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=6261 | access-date = August 14, 2007 }}</ref>

Much controversy surrounded Selig and his involvement in Bonds' all-time home run record chase. For months, speculation surrounded Selig and the possibility that he and [[Hank Aaron|Henry Aaron]] would not attend Bonds' games as he closed in on the record. Selig announced in July 2007 when Bonds was near 755 home runs that he would attend the games. Selig was in attendance for Bonds' record-tying home run against the [[San Diego Padres]], sitting in Padres owner [[John Moores (baseball)|John Moores]]' private suite. When Bonds hit his 755th home run, Selig refused to applaud Bonds' accomplishment, instead choosing to keep his hands in his pockets and have a look of disdain on his face. Bud Selig also did not attend the [[San Francisco Giants]]' game on August 7 when Barry Bonds hit his record-breaking 756th home run against the [[Washington Nationals]]; after the event, Selig released a statement congratulating Bonds.

On December 13, 2007, former senator Mitchell released his [[Mitchell Report (baseball)|report on the use of performance-enhancing substances by MLB players]]. The report names many current and former players who allegedly used performance-enhancing drugs during their careers.

Selig has been widely criticized for not taking an active enough role to stem the tide of steroid use in baseball until it had blossomed into a debilitating problem for the industry. ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' columnist [[Jay Mariotti]] called Selig the "Steroids Commissioner."<ref>[http://www.suntimes.com/sports/mariotti/742620,mariotti011608.article Selig's only legacy: S-T-E-R-O-I-D-S]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080324132320/http://www.suntimes.com/sports/mariotti/742620%2Cmariotti011608.article |date=March 24, 2008 }}</ref> Selig has been called to [[United States Congress|Congress]] several times to testify on performance-enhancing drug use. Congressman [[Cliff Stearns]] said in December 2007 that Selig should resign because of use of performance-enhancing drugs in baseball during his tenure.<ref name="Extension"/>