1 Comparing the Coverage of Amphetamines in Baseball And
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1 Comparing the Coverage of Amphetamines in Baseball and Diving: Chris Davis and David Bonuchi Morgan Ainslie University of Georgia 2 Abstract: In this study I reviewed the media coverage of the scenarios of Chris Davis and David Bonuchi’s suspension for taking performance enhancing drugs. Key findings of the study were that baseball’s popularity made Chris Davis’ situation covered heavier than that of David Bonuchi. There was not as much background or journalistic research put behind the motives of Bonuchi’s drug use. The lack of popularity does not bring light to the fact that performance enhancing drugs are an issue for less covered sports such as diving. The popularity of baseball does drive more research into why athletes take the drugs and their background with drug use. In all, popularity drives research and attempts to drive change in sports. Discussion: As people have seen in the last few decades, baseball has been overtaken by a number of sports in the rankings of most watched American sports. Football reigns supreme, but baseball coverage still has more popularity than many other sports that face similar issues. One of the sports that are constantly over looked is diving. Diving faces the same problems as baseball and is also plagued by the use of performance enhancing drugs. One kind of performance enhancing drug that is used commonly in both sports is amphetamines, specifically Adderall. According to Drugs.com Adderall is “central nervous system stimulants that affect chemicals in the brain and nerves that contribute to hyperactivity and impulse control”. The effect of Adderall when taken by someone who is not diagnosed with ADHD is the ability to focus better and increase productivity (Pitts). But, the drug is habit forming according to Elaine Hom, LiveScience Contributor, and increases the chances for the abuser to have depression (Hom). 3 In this study, I will focus on two individuals who were caught by their sport’s governing body and suspended for their use of the amphetamine, Adderall. Chris Davis of the Baltimore Orioles and David Bonuchi of USA’s diving team will be my main focuses. Both athletes are serving their suspension at this time and were suspended in the last year and a half. In the case of David Bonuchi, he was participating in the FINA World Championships in 2013 for the United States when he had found to have taken Adderall. A quote from SwimSwam Magazine reads, “FINA confirmed that the “discovery” was not found through a FINA doping test. FINA, instead, was notified by their insurance carrier of the positive test after Bonuchi visited a hospital at the 2013 World Championships” (Keith). The article went on to discuss how carefully FINA, Fédération Internationale de Natation, worded the statement so that Bonuchi’s collegiate record went unmarked. The article later states that FINA, “discovered that during the period of the 15th FINA World Championships that Bonuchi used a prohibited substance Amphetamine…without any valid “TUE””(Keith). The Boston Herald published an article by The Associated Press that “Bonuchi's ban was applied from July 21, 2013 — the day he placed 10th in the synchronized 10-meter platform event with Toby Stanley”(Associated Press). Similarly, Chris Davis found himself in trouble when he was found to have been using Adderall without a TUE, or Therapeutic Use Exemption. However, Chris Davis was suspended after testing positive a second drug test for the substance. The odd thing about Davis’s case though is that he has had a Therapeutic Use Exemption in the past. The New York Times quoted, “He previously held a therapeutic use exemption, but it ran out and he did not have clearance at the time of testing. He is not appealing the suspension (Waldstein).” 4 Though they two athletes find themselves in similar situations of testing and bringing brought to the light, they differ in that their suspension times and media publicity were dramatically different. David Bonuchi was given a two year ban by the Fédération Internationale de Natation but remained out of the limelight of sports news due to the lack of popularity of diving in the sports world. Swimming World magazine discusses this issue and goes on to include that swimming and diving both d not get the same up to date coverage as sports such as football and baseball unless something very big happens. This is shocking because in 2012 swimming and diving was the most watched sporting event in the 2012 London Olympic Games. According to another Swimming World Magazine article, “The FINA Doping Panel decided according to the FINA DC Rule 10.2 to impose on the athlete a period of two (2) years ineligibility, starting on July 21, 2013 and ending on July 20, 2015, for his first anti-doping rule violation (Marstelle).” It is shocking that in the case of Chris Davis that he was not suspended when he failed his first drug test. In the Major League Baseball doping policy, established by the United States Anti-doping Agency, the athlete is able to fail his first drug test and keep the information to themselves but once they fail the second team they are suspended. David Bonuchi failed one drug test according to his insurance company, not FINA, and suffered a two year ban. This shows that Major League Baseball has more leniencies toward amphetamine abuse than the governing body of international diving. In an article by CBS Sports about Chris Davis’ suspension, it focused the technicalities associated with amphetamine violations and how his loss would hurt the Orioles as they progressed through the post season. The article states that, “Davis' ban here isn't part of the 5 performance-enhancing drug punishment, which is now 80 games for a first offense, a full season for a second offense and a lifetime ban for a third. Amphetamines, stimulants that were readily available in MLB clubhouses in 1960s-1980s, are covered separately (Synder).” Therefore, the use of amphetamines is less serious that other performance enhancing drugs. The history of baseball effects how the policy is covered today. As baseball tries to rid itself of all performance enhancing drugs it is a process to wean programs off that mentality that was part of the game thirty years ago. Furthermore, the article framed the suspension as not only bad for Davis but, it is bad for the Orioles. As the Orioles have moved on to play the Royals in the AL Championship series, Chris Davis’ suspension includes 25 games, and he would have been able to return for the World Series if the Orioles made it there and put him on the post season roster. He was not included in the post season roster and therefore his importance in the eyes of the Orioles is hard to perceive. The New York Times covered the story in a similar way to the CBS Sports article in that, this is a hurdle for the Orioles to manage but it included a more inside scoop with an interview with the Orioles coach. The Times article starts off with Davis’ importance on the team and how he is one of the most dangerous hitters for the Orioles. Toward the end of the article it changes, the article reviewed Davis’ statistics for this season and showed that his statistics for the season are less than impressive. A direct quotes from the article of Davis’ statistics include, “He has 26 home runs and 182 total bases and has struck out 173 times, the most in baseball. His O.P.S., so impressive last season, fell to .704 this year (Waldstein).” This is a large difference in his 2013 season where he hit 25 homeruns. Though many acknowledge this drop other articles such as CBS Sports’ Mark Snyder and Bleacher Report’s Mike Chiari still believe the Orioles will take a 6 hit from his absence in the post season. Jerry Crasnik of ESPN highlights that Davis’ suspension is even more influential with both Matt Wieters and Manny Manchado out, as well. When interviewing the Orioles manager, the New York Times included the quote: “In my situation, you got to learn to deal with the problems and challenges along the way,” Showalter said. “If they’re self-inflicted, there’s no ‘Woe is me.’ And this is self-inflicted. But Chris, like he does a lot of things, you’re going to see in the next day or so, attack it head on. I’m sure he’ll address it. I know he called some of the players last night. (Waldstein)” This shows that although the Orioles program will suffer from his loss, this is not a complete shock to the system. That is because it wasn’t. Troy Patton of the orioles was suspended for the same thing over the off season. He failed his first test in 2010 and was suspended in December (Brown). The article gives its’ opinion about Davis when he quotes, “In Patton's case, he did seek an exemption but was denied. It's possible that Davis' first positive test could have come before he was even in the O's organization, or before he'd broken out with 53 home runs last year (Brown).” In the article, I pulled away that the New York Times believes that his absence hurts the team if though his season hasn’t been as good as his last. They framed Davis as a cornerstone to the team and showed his loss by including an interview from the coach. Some accusations point to the idea that Davis could have taken the Adderall to try to improve his season.