ADD medication approvals increased in 2008 compared to 2007. This is but compliance to the Mitchell report edicts. ADD, or attention deficit disorder is affecting many players and medication for the condition needs prior approval from the league. This process was instituted after criticism of MLB’s drug policy was made through a series of Congressional hearings.

In the publicly released report, from the 103 requests approved last year, the numbers rose to 106 in 2008. The sheer volume of ADD sufferers in baseball dismayed experts in the field like Dr Gary Wadler, a consultant to the World Anti-Doping Agency. Looking at the population, it seems as though it has reached epidemic proportions. Nothing though can account as a cause for the ADD in athletes of this calibre. Usually, the symptoms present in young children between 3 and 5 and would be carried over. It would be surprising to find such a high incidence of the cases when they were left undiagnosed beforehand. Also, the access to state of the art medical facilities should have diagnosed this off the bat and not when it is too late in the game.

In response, MLB’s executive for labour relations Rob Manfred said that he did not know that ADD was such a medical concern and baseball may look deeper into the matter. Also, comparing ADD in the general population to a specific focused group is, in his words, “stupid”.  Also in compliance with the recommendations in the Mitchell report, MLB has issued statistics of drug use in the game and players.

Aside from the exemption stated, out of 1, 348 players tested, nineteen yielded positive results, with five for performance enhancing drugs. Fourteen of the positive test results were for stimulants. Test numbers provided total were 3,486. This was a far cry from the results that were vilified in Congressional hearings.

ADD drug use caused concern as the numbers for therapeutic use has increased over 400%. Issues were raised that this might be a new avenue to circumvent existing amphetamine prohibitions. ADD medication has active ingredients for amphetamine. In order to remove doubts, stricter regulation was imposed on those seeking therapeutic use. Also, the league would disallow issuance of a therapeutic use when results to a positive outcome for illegal substance abuse. This is but a continuation of the reforms made by MLB in the eradication of the use of performance enhancing drugs. Aside from these, newer tests are being looked into and even more random testing would be done to have the cloud of doubt removed from baseball’s gloom.

Officials were encouraged with the lowered number of new approvals made for exemption. The Committee Chairman Henry Waxman has praised all the efforts made by MLB on the steroid issues. Though he still admits to being slightly perturbed by the number of therapeutic use exemptions, he advised that MLB look into strengthening the process against cheats in the sport. But he recognizes the sincere and valiant efforts of MLB officials, teams and even players in eliminating the use of steroids and other performance enhancing compounds.

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