Congressman Cliff Stearns has joined Congressman Bobby Rush in requesting drug prevention records from wrestling organizations other than World Wrestling Entertainment. The two Congressmen have requested drug prevention records and drug program details from TNA, not to mention the National Wrestling Alliance — which is a large governing body of small indy wrestling promotions. They want the information by close of business on August 28th. The following press release was put out on the official United States House of Representatives website. The actual letter directed towards TNA and NWA will likely be online soon, if it hasn’t already. Here is the press release:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
– August 14, 2007 –
STEARNS JOINS CHAIRMAN IN REQUESTING DRUG PREVENTION RECORDS FROM ADDITIONAL PRO WRESTLING GROUPS
REQUEST SENT TO TOTAL NON-STOP WRESTLING & NATIONAL WRESTLING ALLIANCE – WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT ALREADY CONTACTED
WASHINGTON, AUG. 14, 2007 – Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL), Ranking Member of the Commerce, Trade & Consumer Protection Subcommittee, joined the subcommittee’s chairman, Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL), in contacting additional professional wrestling associations regarding their drug prevention efforts. Stearns and Rush requested this information from World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. last month.
“After I called for a congressional hearings on the use of steroids and other drugs in professional wrestling, I have heard from wrestlers that steroids, pain killers, and other drugs are used frequently in the industry,” said Stearns. “Trafficking in steroids and other drugs is a felony and their use without a prescription is also a crime. In addition to ensuring that our laws are respected, Congress has a responsibility to protect young people from the harmful impact of drug use in pro wrestling. Some 1 million children under the age of 11 watch pro wrestling and many emulate the wrestlers they see.”
The associations are asked to outline their drug-testing policies and efforts to detect and prevent the use of steroids and other drugs. As a result of the numerous premature deaths of wrestlers, in many cases involving drugs, Stearns and Rush have discussed holding a hearing in the fall to look into drug use within the industry.
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