Fizzled Steroid-Abuse Investigation May Be Linda's Lucky Break

Brian Lockhart

Hearst Newspapers

February 28, 2010

The White House and Congress dropped the ball in 2009 on an effort to investigate the use of steroids in professional wrestling - a lapse that represents a break for Republican U.S. Senate candidate Linda McMahon, the former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment who is campaigning on her success as a businesswoman.

Had the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy initiated an inquiry, as it was asked to by U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., in January 2009, some critics said they suspect it would have posed problems for McMahon's audacious, self-funded entrance into politics.

McMahon jumped into the race in September for Democratic U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd's seat. "If that did go somewhere and WWE was either being questioned or under investigation or subject to some type of public hearings. ... I think that would have a significant impact as far as when she got in the race (and) how she got in the race," said George Gallo, a longtime Republican strategist backing former U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons for Senate.

But instead, a Hearst Connecticut Newspapers investigation has determined that Waxman never followed up on his request after changing committee chairmanships, and neither John Walters, drug czar under Republican President George W. Bush, or Gil Kerilkowske, who is the director of the White House office under Democratic President Barack Obama, pursued the matter. Also, Waxman's successor as chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has not sought to revive the request.

On January 2, 2009, McMahon was days away from being nominated to the state Board of Education by the government and eight months away from surprising political observers by announcing her Senate campaign. That day, Waxman sent a letter to the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy urging an examination of steroid use in professional wrestling. Formed in 1988, the office is responsible for drafting national drug control policies and priorities and a strategy to implemented by federal, state and local entities. Waxman's tenure as chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform was coming to a close, and he decided to act on testimony and evidence his bipartisan staff had gathered months earlier from McMahon; her husband Vince; daughter Stephanie; and others involved in WWE and competitor Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.

Waxman's committee had begun studying the issue after WWE wrestler Chris Benoit killed his wife, son and himself in 2008. Some have blamed Benoit's actions on steroid abuse and concussions. "The documents produced to the committee and the information provided during interviews indicate that steroid use is pervasive in professional wrestling and that the organizations involved have not take adequate steps to address this problem," Waxman wrote the-ONDCPO Director John Walters.

Although Waxman acknowledged improvements, he said the current program lacked "independence and transparency" and were unable to prevent use of steroids or other illegal drugs by wrestling talent.

His letter resurfaced after McMahon entered the Senate race last September, touting herself as a successful businesswoman and political outsider who could defeat Dodd, who has since announced he will not run again.

Critics, notably her GOP opponent Simmons, have been using Waxman's findings to raise questions about McMahon. After McMahon was questioned about the steroids issue two weeks ago on MSNBC's "Morning Joe," Simmons' campaign manager Jim Barnett issued a lengthy, scathing critique of WWE's steroid policies, referring early on to Waxman's request of the ONDCP. "Far from comprehensive, the program she defends now is regarded as a jobs by leading experts and the U.S. Congress who only last year completed one investigation and requested another," Barnett wrote. ...

"Director Kerilkowske appreciates the concerns outlined by Chairman Waxman in his ... letter to former ONDCP Director John Walters," the statement said. ...

"[W]e share the Chairman's view that the abuse of steroids presents a pernicious public health threat. The use of steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs by sports figures is particularly problematic given the powerful influence athletes have on young people. ... ONDCP is fully committed to promoting doping-free sports and looks forward to working with Chairman Waxman on this important issue." ...

Then-ranking Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., joined Waxman when he launched his investigation of steroids in wrestling in 2007. ...

[B]arnett with the Simmons campaign noted Waxman's steroid probe was bipartisan. In fact, when McMahon's husband, Vince McMahon failed in early 2008 to join heads of various American sports leagues at Energy and Commerce Committee steroids hearings on Capitol Hill, it was a Republican Rep. Lee Terry, R-Neb., who accused him of "flipping his finger" to lawmakers.

Regardless of ONDCP's inaction, Barnett said the fact remains that McMahon and her business were investigated and the results were "deadly serious. ... The very fact that a candidate for U.S. Senate has been under congressional investigation should set off alarm bells with voters, and of course the Democrats are just waiting in hopes she is the nominee before they pounce all over this." "The findings speak for themselves ... and they totally contradict everything Linda McMahon is telling Connecticut voters, calling into question her character and judgment," Barnett added.

Gallo agreed, saying that though Waxman's letter wound up in "legislative limbo ... it still raises questions." ...

Full Article Only Available In Print Editions Of Hearst Newspapers, Including The Connecticut Post, Stamford Advocate, Greenwich Time And Danbury News-Times.

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