Shays comes out swinging against baseball

After the news that Rafael Palmeiro tested positive for steriods (BTW: he testified under oath that he never took steriods), it comes to no surprise that Congress is considering a bill that would give any baseball player who tested positive for steriods, a two year ban from the game.

From the New York Daily News

"Baseball has been given enough chances, and they keep swinging and missing," said Rep. John Sweeney (R-Glens Falls), adding that he asked lawyers to look into Palmeiro's statements, made under oath.

"We've already asked counsel if there was perjury, and more importantly, if perjury can be proved," said Sweeney, although he suggested Palmeiro probably covered himself yesterday by saying he must have taken performance-enhancers by mistake.

Legislators, however, were dubious about that claim and the ballplayer's now-suspect testimony before the Committee on Government Reform alongside admitted 'roid rager Jose Canseco and one-time home run king Mark McGwire.

[...]

Rep. Chris Shays (R-Conn.), vice chairman of the committee, wants to see Congress pass the bill that came out of the spring hearings that would carry an Olympics-style two-year ban for a first offense in all four major sports.

"This guy is our star witness and comes before the committee and points his finger at us, and he's the one taking steroids," Shays said. "It's discouraging."