Loss Posted April 1, 2005 Report Share Posted April 1, 2005 WWE announces new stringent steroid testing policy (Business Wire) STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 31, 2005--WWE Chairman Vincent K. McMahon announced what would appear to be a revolutionary change in his company's attitude toward the growth-enhancing substances that have been such a part of sports news over recent months; with the BALCO scandal that has affected major league baseball, with such superstars as Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds caught up in its wake; a scandal that is now potentially set to affect the National Football League with the revelations that members of the Carolina Panthers had filled steroid prescriptions during the 2003 NFL playoffs. This scandal, followed by the news that the US House Committee on Government Reform announced yesterday that it would call representatives from the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLS, NCAA, USA Track and Field and possibly other sports associations to outline their league's steroid policies; and is considering whether to propose a single, stringent steroids policy for all athletics in the United States. In light of these events, McMahon, representing his World Wrestling Entertainment company, announced today that his sports entertainment company would be instituting comprehensive, universal, and random testing for growth-enhancing substances among all his company's performers. McMahon stated that he had contemplated such a move for some time, but that the time spent in recovery after his injury suffered at a recent PPV event, where he seriously injured a quadricep muscle; allowed him to make the decision that he acknowledged might well have an effect on his business and force changes in the manner in which it is presented. McMahon stated that "this new testing policy may well force us to take a look at the manner in which we present our Superstars. But we feel, as the premier company within our industry, that our ability to create new characters and to create dramatic and entertaining storylines will overcome any short-term concerns that this policy might create." McMahon continued "Where better than the weekend that celebrates sports entertainment, Wrestlemania weekend; and in the media center of entertainment, Hollywood, that we announce a revolutionary change in our company, one that we believe will allow our artform to go forward and to grow; with less burden on our Superstars to maintain artificial standards of body image and the temptation to use growth-enhancing substances to achieve this standard." Details on the new program were not provided, but unconfirmed reports suggest that WWE may join The National Football League, United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), and the University of Utah in the development of their new new Sports Medicine Research and Testing Laboratory at the University; which will conduct state-of-the-art research on new means of detection of growth-enhancing substances. Additional information on World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. Trademarks: The names of all World Wrestling Entertainment televised and live programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans and wrestling moves and all World Wrestling Entertainment logos are trademarks which are the exclusive property of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners Surreal. Vince basically admitted that his injuries have forced him to reevaluate his views of wrestling. Good business doing their own preemptive testing before the government starts hounding them again. I'm curious how this will play out. If Vince really says what he means, this has the potential to change the company landscape. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coffey Posted April 1, 2005 Report Share Posted April 1, 2005 Eh, it'll be worked like everything else in this business. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Some Guy Posted April 1, 2005 Report Share Posted April 1, 2005 How is he going to to do this? If he tests Batista and forces him off the juice half of Big Dave's gimmick is gone and the other half will be hurt because without the muscles he won't look nearly as cool in a suit. Nearly everybody in the company is gassed up, from Rey and Eddy to Cena and Batista. Maybe Taker, Big Show, Flair, HBK, a few cruiseweights, and JBL are clean. Other than that I can't think of anyone else. RVD maybe. I have a feeling that they'll test all the guys and Kidman will get fired when he tests positive. Then they'll hold the records so they have a legitimated reason to fire someone down the rode. I just can't see Vince testing and fining or firing his son and law, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Posted April 1, 2005 Report Share Posted April 1, 2005 I saw this on PWTBS and not on WWE.com. I smell an April Fool's joke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Some Guy Posted April 1, 2005 Report Share Posted April 1, 2005 Shit, I hadn't even realized that it was April 1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loss Posted April 1, 2005 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2005 It may be an April fools joke, but if it is, it's a good one, since this would be a smart move for the company right about now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Alfdogg Posted April 1, 2005 Report Share Posted April 1, 2005 haha I just had an idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodhelmet Posted April 1, 2005 Report Share Posted April 1, 2005 Ok, I looked at Meltzer's site, no dice. I'll try the other sites or the AP but I think this is a big April Fools joke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Posted April 1, 2005 Report Share Posted April 1, 2005 It may be an April fools joke, but if it is, it's a good one, since this would be a smart move for the company right about now. I'll be honest, it had me for a second. It sure was better than The Torch's stuff last year, like "Brutus Beefcake makes return to WWE" or some nonsense like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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