In announcing his retirement Thursday at the Dodgers Stadium, Jeff Kent commended the improvements done in the drug-testing policies in Major League Baseball and the player’s union in recent years. In an interview after his announcement, however, he did mention that the policies could be way better. Jeff Kent has always spoken out against the use of steroids in baseball throughout his career and even challenged Barry Bonds to “own up” to his infamous steroid scandal.

Kent suggested that blood should also be tested in addition to the current policy of testing urine samples. He added that blood testing could be an added deterrent to those thinking of using and getting away with steroid-use. Kent’s anti-steroid campaign has made an impact in the world of baseball and the sports world in general. He has been quoted by Senator George Mitchell in the introduction of his report explaining his recommendations for further improving the testing program of baseball.

Commissioner Bud Selig also quoted Kent in his letter to Don Fehr, union chief, in requesting for harsher penalties for steroid-use. Kent said that the Major League Baseball and the players’ union are on the right path with the drug policy that they have created and that because of this the game has been elevated to a better playing field than it ever was, whether he had an impact on this happening or not. Kent said that he wanted to put the baseball game in a better place so that younger players do not become complacent and say they are in a good spot and not make any more progress.

He said that the integrity of the game always needs to be questioned, adding that the game’s integrity has been jeopardized for a long time. He also said that he is completely embarrassed about the steroid era, the same era where he hit more home runs than any other second baseman in the history of the league. Still, Jeff Kent is retiring without regrets saying that he wasn’t a cheater and that he is proud to have treated the game with the utmost respect.

“I have honored this game and its past heroes, and I have tried to carry on a legacy of winning wherever I have gone. An integrity that I have had in this game is something I’m very, very proud of. I believe I played this game right, and I believe I’m leaving this game right,” was what Jeff Kent said.

Some people speculate that Kent’s strong opposition against steroids—especially at the height of its scandal where many players were reluctant in talking about it—could highly improve his chances of being included in the Hall of Fame. Should this happen, he will most likely go to the Hall of Fame as a Giant instead of a Dodger. While he has been a “great Dodger” as what Ned Colletti, Dodgers GM called Kent, Hall of Fame officials determine which team a player has had the most impact and will award the Hall of Fame accordingly. For Kent, he has had the most impact with the New York Giants.

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