A congressman requested an immediate action on his report about the rampant use of steroids in pro wrestling until this time. He announced that the “apparently widespread” use of performance enhancement drugs in pro wrestling is communicating a bad message to the young viewers. According to the Associated Press report, Rep. Henry Waxman sent a letter to John P. Walters, director of the National Drug Control Policy (NDCP). The letter contains the statement of the Congressman, which says that 40% of the WWE wrestlers got positive results for steroids and other drugs during the test performed in 2006. Meanwhile, over 40% of the TNA wrestlers got positive results for steroids and other drugs last 2008.

Being the chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Waxman has directed a congressional investigation about the use of steroid in professional wrestling for more than a year now. The case of the murder-suicide committed by Chris Benoit and his family in Georgia last June 2007 is one of the cases they examined. However, Waxman is now leaving his position in the oversight committee to act as a chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee. But his letter still performed his final check on the findings that centers on leading pro wrestling bodies—Total Nonstop Action and World Wrestling Entertainment.

“Since the committee began its investigation last year, both the WWE and the TNA have made efforts to improve their steroid testing programs,” Waxman stated in his letter. “But these efforts suffer from a lack of independence and transparency. As a result of these weaknesses, the organizations appear unable to effectively prevent the use of steroids and other illegal drugs by professional wrestlers.”

The letter also stated the committee’s conclusion by citing the evidence gathered by the Oversight committee, which affirmed that the use of steroids and other illegal drugs is a serious problem in professional wrestling. It also pointed out the failure of the wrestling organizations in properly addressing the problem.

Waxman supported this claim by mentioning in his letter the statement given by the former wrestler player who settled to talk to the staff of committee on the condition of keeping his identity. According to him, “steroids are like white socks and tape, they’re just part of your gear,” pertaining to the wrestling business.

Also, Waxman pointed out in his letter that there are over three million children and teenagers who are watching professional wrestling every week. Therefore, he concluded that the “apparently widespread use of steroids in professional wrestling sends the wrong message to youth.” Because of this, he made a request to the NDCP to examine the use of steroids in professional wrestling. He also requested the body to take the necessary actions to address the problem.

Keelan Balderson of TWNP News also said in her report that Waxman has brought the steroids controversy in wrestling under the limelight once again. Apparently, the public report he sent to the office of Walters together with the in depth interviews with the WWE’s Linda McMahon, Stephanie McMahon, Vince McMahon, Doctor Black, and TNA president Dixie Carter were enough to revive the steroid investigation in the wrestling business.

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