What the MLB Should do About the PED Scandal

The latest scandal in sports has been the talk of sports fans and non-sports fans, this being the performance enhancing drug scandal involving at least 20 baseball players and big names such as Alex Rodriguez and Ryan Braun who have been linked to the Biogenesis Lab. Major League Baseball is looking to suspend both A-Rod and Braun for what could be up to 100 games, this without any positive testing for HGH or any other PED, instead basing the suspensions off of testimony.  Some disagree with this and the MLB Players Association may try to block these suspensions as well, to me this is wrong of the MLB PA, both A-Rod and Braun and heck why not the other 18 plus players be suspended as well.  The issues of PED usage has been something that has been talked about in baseball for many years now, and as we know it now former big name players have been linked to usage as well but not from this lab.  When players are getting away with using PEDs and denying use (like Ryan Braun) and get caught with their name on a list they deserve to get suspended.  The players have way too much leeway in the league as far as I am concerned.  These players also deserve punishment because of lying and cheating that they have partaken in, if the MLB suspends these players it WILL send a message to the rest of the league that if you are even thinking of taking PEDs to be a better player that you will be punished if caught.  I think players will think twice as well, but the MLB PA MUST stand down and allow the MLB to punish those involved.

The issue I take with these players possibly being let off due to the MLB PA is that this cannot continue, how many excuses will be made up to defend these players?  The sport has been tainted for a long time, we can talk about the home run race between Mark McWire and Sammy Sosa in which both players have been linked to PED use, and also Roger Clemens as well.  These are big name players, but to me this is only the tip of the iceberg.  If 20 players were linked to just one lab that means numerous other players could be using other labs, this should not happen, but it does because of all these protections the players have.  Also if these players get away with this it could have a major impact on baseball in general because kids as young as 18 who are drafted out of high school can see that using PEDs is okay because nobody will get in trouble and that it will give them an edge over other players trying to work their way up to the majors.  That would be a devastating blow to the integrity of the game and it would only make the game look tainted beyond what it is right now, which is pretty high considering this news.  You also have to look to a stand point that this could affect youth sports because now even younger high school athletes might think it is okay to use PEDs when they see their idols and big name players using them and not getting in any trouble. 

Only time will tell in this matter but I pray that these players are suspended for 100 games EACH because a message must be sent to the players that anyone caught using or even viewed as a user will be punished if found.