A new drug testing policy was instituted in 2007, and it was consistent with Japan’s tougher anti-doping laws adopted in 2006 and more in line with international standards (Haugh 1). The players in Japan are smaller than the players in America (Haugh 1). They also have natural physical realities, and typically concentrate more on lower-body strength, rather than upper-body strength (Haugh 1). Upper-body strength is more commonly associated with steroid use rather than lower-body strength (Haugh 1). Former baseball player and manager and current athletic director at Sacred Heart University, Bobby Valentine managed the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan (Haugh 1). Valentine believes because of the Japanese’s preference to build more lower-body strength than upper-body, steroids and other “drugs just aren’t as big a part of the culture here (Haugh 1). The Japanese players also have participated in the last several Olympics (Haugh 1). The Olympics require more thorough drug-testing than Major League Baseball, and also give a risk of national embarrassment for your country (Haugh 1). Many believe this feared humiliation makes Japanese baseball players unlikely to take the change of getting caught taking PEDs (Haugh 1). Rick Guttormson, a pitcher for the Fukuoka Hawks, a team in Japan, said “it’s just not something really on the radar much” in reference to the Japanese players and PEDs (Haugh
A new drug testing policy was instituted in 2007, and it was consistent with Japan’s tougher anti-doping laws adopted in 2006 and more in line with international standards (Haugh 1). The players in Japan are smaller than the players in America (Haugh 1). They also have natural physical realities, and typically concentrate more on lower-body strength, rather than upper-body strength (Haugh 1). Upper-body strength is more commonly associated with steroid use rather than lower-body strength (Haugh 1). Former baseball player and manager and current athletic director at Sacred Heart University, Bobby Valentine managed the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan (Haugh 1). Valentine believes because of the Japanese’s preference to build more lower-body strength than upper-body, steroids and other “drugs just aren’t as big a part of the culture here (Haugh 1). The Japanese players also have participated in the last several Olympics (Haugh 1). The Olympics require more thorough drug-testing than Major League Baseball, and also give a risk of national embarrassment for your country (Haugh 1). Many believe this feared humiliation makes Japanese baseball players unlikely to take the change of getting caught taking PEDs (Haugh 1). Rick Guttormson, a pitcher for the Fukuoka Hawks, a team in Japan, said “it’s just not something really on the radar much” in reference to the Japanese players and PEDs (Haugh