WWE Takes Tougher Stance than MLB, NFL on Illegal Drugs

World Wrestling Entertainment has tougher policies against illegal drugs than Major League Baseball and the National Football League.

Here's MLB's stance. There is no suspension for a first-time positive test, but players can be fined and are subject to medical review.

In the NFL, its policy for street drugs such as marijuana or cocaine, there is no suspension until a second violation.

Whether you agree or disagree with the politics of the drugs is not the issue.

Bottom line. Cocaine and marijuana are illegal in the United States. If a person (athlete or not) is caught once with either -- holding, using, growing, selling -- the person will be arrested.

So why does MLB and the NFL basically do nothing for a first-time offense, even though it is illegal? Like most folks in other jobs, if this happened to you or me just once, we would be suspended and could be terminated.

In WWE's Wellness Program, ``the possession, use and/or distribution of any drug made illegal to possess, use and/or distribute by the laws of the United States of America and/or any of its 50 states is prohibited by this Policy.''

A first-time offense means a WWE wrestler/sports entertainer is suspended for 30 days without pay. There are those on the Internet who wrote WWE does not test for marijuana, but a WWE spokesman contradicts that claim, writing WWE does test for marijuana use.

Congress took a tough stance on performance enhancing drugs in sports but not illegal drugs. To say there is no issue with marijuana or even cocaine in pro sports is like saying there is no problem with steroids and other performance enhancers...More?

source: miamiherald.com