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State Representative Joe Atkins
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4192
For more information contact: Matt Swenson 651-297-8406
Press/News Releases
MINNESOTA WAS AHEAD OF THE "CURVEBALL" ON PERFORMANCE-ENHANCING DRUGS
Recently Senator George Mitchell released a document known widely as the "Mitchell Report," linking over 80 Major League Baseball players to the use of steroids and human growth hormone (HGH). Sen. Mitchell's investigation underscores the pervasive problem of steroid use in American professional sports, and highlights the need for tougher national efforts to crack down on the trade and use of performance-enhancing drugs.
Two years ago, prior to the Mitchell Report, State Representative Joe Atkins was ahead of the "curveball" when he authored and passed a landmark bill in the Minnesota Legislature that classified HGH as a Schedule III drug, and stiffened penalties for use and distribution of illegal steroids and HGH (See Minn.Stat. 152.02, subd. 4; 152.023, subd. 1; 152.024 subds. 1, 2). Atkins' law garnered attention from Sports Illustrated, NBC Sports, the Associated Press, and other major news outlets for taking the lead in state efforts to crack down on illegal steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs. Minnesota lawmakers gave Atkins' initiative unanimous bipartisan support in 2005, and today, Minnesota's law is still considered one of the toughest in the country.
"My goal in 2005 was to inject honesty back into sports, and protect our young athletes from the growing influence of illegal steroid use," said Rep. Atkins, who now chairs the House Commerce and Labor Committee responsible for the oversight of professional sports in Minnesota. "Fans ought to get what they paid for – a fair contest, not a contest to see who can cheat better. But more than that, our kids deserve the chance to grow and compete in a healthy environment free from the reach of dangerous performance-enhancing drugs."
Today, Atkins' forward-thinking initiative has put Minnesota on the leading edge of the crackdown on the sale and use of steroids. Following the release of the Mitchell Report, members of Congress are seeking to establish a new national model to eliminate the prevalence of steroids, HGH, and other performance-enhancing drugs in American sports. Their proposed model closely mirrors Rep. Atkins’ 2005 Minnesota law.
"I'm glad that Congress is pushing to crack down on the use of illegal performance-enhancing drugs in American professional sports – and I'm glad they're considering methods that are working well right here in Minnesota," said Atkins. "We did the right thing in 2005 for the health and well-being of Minnesota athletes, and the future of professional sports in our state. I believe it's the right thing to do for our country as well."
Atkins’ steroid legislation attacked the problem of performance-enhancing drugs in Minnesota in several ways. First, it created tougher penalties for selling steroids, especially to minors – up to 20 years in jail and a $250,000 fine. It also updated Minnesota’s previous regulations, which only prohibited about 10% of the steroids currently on the market.
“Professional athletes are people that our kids look up to," Atkins said. “Our fear is that our children will look at all of this and start to believe that cheating and harming their bodies through illegal steroids is acceptable. We need to make sure that we are teaching our children about the values of good health and fair play, and getting rid of illegal steroids is an important part of that.”
News Items
- Rep. Atkins, Sen. Lourey Introduce Health Insurance Exchange Legislation - (Posted: Jan 9 2013 3:44PM)
- Rep. Atkins – Statement on Deal to End NHL Lockout - (Posted: Jan 7 2013 2:05PM)
- Rep. Atkins to Hold Minnesota House Hearing on Economic Impact of Hockey Lockout - (Posted: Jan 2 2013 3:20PM)
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