Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling is claiming that that he was encouraged by former members of the Red Sox organization to use performance-enhancing drugs in 2008. Schilling told ESPN Radio that it was an uncomfortable conversation that started in the clubhouse. He did not name any names, only claiming that they were no longer with the team.
"At the end of my career, in 2008 when I had gotten hurt, there was a conversation that I was involved in, in which it was brought to my attention that this is a potential path I might was to purse," Schilling said.
Schilling never did play in 2008. He spent the entire season attempting to come back from a shoulder injury that was revealed before spring training. The Red Sox had signed Schilling to a one-year contract at the time. Schilling wanted to have surgery, but instead, the team wanted him to treat the injury with rest and rehab. He officially retired from baseball in March of 2009. Now Schilling is claiming he was encouraged to use PEDs to help heal it. He said the conversation was awkward and uncomfortable because it happened in the clubhouse, around other players.
"But it was an incredibly uncomfortable conversation because it came up in the midst of a group of people. The other people weren't in the conversation, but they could clearly hear the conversation, and it was suggested to me that at my age, and in my situation, why not, what did I have to lose? Because if I wasn't going to get healthy, it didn't matter, and if I did get healthy, great," Schilling said.
The argument makes sense. An established player with rising stats can mean a big pay out. Teams put more weight on increased performance than they did on the chance of the player getting caught.
If Schilling's argument holds true, it could change the picture of steroids and force the MLB to take severe action. Normally when PEDs are discussed in relation to a player, the story is they went to a rogue clinic or discussed it with an outside trainer. MLB will have to start to realize that doping may begin within the facility. Major League Baseball's fight against PEDs has been so heavily focused on outside efforts, but this comment by Schilling may force them to do digging into each team.
This is the second PED allegation to come up within the last week. MLB is currently investigating a Miami anti-aging clinic for allegedly supplying HGH and other PEDs to players, including Alex Rodriguez.
