Stearns Comments
In a stiff blow to WWE, Congressman Stearns said the government turning up all of these drug purchases from an online pharmacy tells him that "WWE does not have a drug policy that's worth a flip." He said that WWE didn't catch them, a district attorney in Albany, N.Y. investigated and found them.
He also said he wonders what other pharmacies might have other WWE customers. He said he wants more details on how WWE's testing policy actually works.
"We asked them for their testing information; what they came back with was not sufficient," Stearns said. "We do not have a copy (of the actual testing policy). We didn't understand whether it was random, what the threshold (level for drugs) was, whether any of these wrestlers were getting post-dated prescriptions after the fact."
He said he believes he now has their attention. Plans are going forth to hold hearings on Capital Hill later this month or early in October.
Wade Keller wrote..” On a number of levels, this is a big blow to WWE. Stearns's comments reveal he was not at all impressed by the information WWE supplied. He found it insufficient. He also sees that these WWE suspensions reveal that the drug testing just wasn't working as advertised. It indicates Stearns is also deeply involved in this investigation and will be able to ask tough questions when confronting WWE officials and wrestlers.”
BATISTA HAS A MEETING AND RELEASES A STATEMENT
During the meeting with Stephanie McMahon on Saturday night, WWE Star Batista asked Stephanie what could be done legally about his name being on that list from recent reports from media outlets. McMahon then told Batista it would be something that him and his attorneys would have to look into. He is already filing a civil lawsuit seeking damages.
Batista was telling many performers backstage that he was very
upset at Sports Illustrated and other media networks for reporting his name. He was claiming there was no connection between him and the pharmacies.A statement from Batista's web site:
To my fans and friends:
I categorically deny a report on ESPN.com, and repeated by other media outlets, that I am or ever have been a customer of Signature Pharmacy of Orlando, an on-line pharmacy company that is a target of an investigation by the Albany, New York District Attorney's Office.
I am being tested regularly by the WWE, and I am in full compliance with the WWE Wellness Program.
I regret the inaccurate reporting, and I will do all I can in the future to stop any publication or anyone from making such false accusations.
Credit: http://www.pwtorch.com/
WON POLL Results
--In hindsight, what do you believe about the WWE Wellness program
It was done with good intentions but the wrestlers abused the system 14.0%
It was a cosmetic policy designed to keep guys on steroids while giving the company a public out 46.0%
Most guys followed the policy and stayed clean and only a few guys ruined it 2.1%
Those who were using steroids were doing so largely for legitimate medical reasons 0.9%
It was a fraud from day one 21.1%
It's real for the bottom guys but the top guys knew they could do what they wanted 13.5%
It's largely a good policy and has been enforced fairly 1.9%
