Update on Wellness Policy vs Congress

[Xero]

In news that can only be described as (at the least) a complete embarrassment to the professional wrestling world, United States Senator Henry Waxman filed a letter to the Office of National Drug Control Policy's Director, John P. Walters, providing the results of the Congressional Oversight Committee’s investigation into the steroid use within the professional wrestling industry.

You can read Waxman's complete letter in PDF form, in which he points out issues with WWE and TNA policies currently in place, by clicking here.

In the letter, Waxman notes that he is leaving the Committee to become the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, requesting that ONDCP examine the widespread steroid abuse within the business and the industry's policing methods and "take appropriate steps to address this problem."

Waxman's letter notes, among other points:

*Chris Benoit was tested and positive three times for steroids by World Wrestling Entertainment prior to his June 2006 murder/suicide of his family, but was never penalized by the promotion beyond "only a warning."

*40% of WWE talents tested positive for steroids and other drugs despite being aware they would be tested when the company instituted their "Wellness Policy."

*25% of TNA's talent roster tested positive for steroids during the promotion's first baseline test while 11 talents tested positives for other substances. Waxman went on to note that while the company has instituted a policy, there are "significant weaknesses" in the TNA program.

*WWE hired four of five wrestlers who tested positive for steroids in a pre-hiring test, despite their positives.

*Waxman was critical of WWE making changes to their Wellness Policy several months after instituting it to allow wrestlers to continue to perform (without pay) on TV and PPV events in order to maintain storyline consistency. In an interview with Aegis Science's Dr. Black (who oversees the WWE Wellness program), Black noted that was instituted, "because it was becoming difficult to deal with the talent who were being suspended". Black also noted he was "unaccustomed to programs that suspend and you're not suspended."

*Waxman also noted that WWE was allowing "therapeutic usage" of steroids from talents who were using a "testosterone replacement therapy" to issues brought on by previous steroid use in their past.

*Despite being a performer within his own company, Vince McMahon is not subject to the WWE's Wellness Policy testing procedures. Waxman noted McMahon would not comment on his own steroid use and claimed not to know of the damages brought on by long-term steroid use, noting he was "not a doctor."

From PWInsider.

[FourFifty]

Why yes, because in this great country there is no crime, there are no wars, no child is hungry, no family is homeless, and the budget is peachy keen... so let's look at something that deals with what's on tv.

[Kane Knight]

Why yes, because in this great country there is no crime, there are no wars, no child is hungry, no family is homeless, and the budget is peachy keen... so let's look at something that deals with what's on tv.

Are you back on that same nonsense rant again?

I love you like the half-jewish brother I never had, but Jesus, FourFifty, shut up on this rant. It had no legs the last time, and it still has no legs. Are you going to start complaining about Congress doing nothing, and act like the two are mutually exclusive again, as well?

Come on, man. You wouldn't even give a shit if it wasn't pro wrestling under attack.

[Blitz]

Wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minuteeeeeeeeeeeeeee...........



























Let me see if I've got this straight.....




























Are you telling me there's drugs in wrestling?

[FourFifty]

Are you back on that same nonsense rant again?

I love you like the half-jewish brother I never had, but Jesus, FourFifty, shut up on this rant. It had no legs the last time, and it still has no legs. Are you going to start complaining about Congress doing nothing, and act like the two are mutually exclusive again, as well?

Come on, man. You wouldn't even give a shit if it wasn't pro wrestling under attack.

Give me one reason why my tax dollars should be spent on getting the government in pro-wrestling instead of finding a cure for cancer.

Just for the record- if it wasn't pro-wrestling I would still care because it's still my hard earned money paying these suits do stick their noses in another industry. Yea, I'm more vocal about it because it's pro wrestling. However if it was another industry, let's take acting for example, other people would get fired up about it and I'd remain calm.

These are adults in this field. They should have an idea what they're getting into. Let Chris Benoit's family take legal action on WWE. He failed some drug tests, got a warning, killed a couple of people, then killed himself. I'm sure a jury would find WWE guilty of something that'll cost them some cash.
I'm not putting a price tag on human life by any means, but cases like that happen without my imput.

[Innovator]

What the fuck!??!


TNA has a policy?

[Blitz]

TNA's wellness policy:

Management-"Are you on anything?"
Wrestler-"Nope"
Management-"OK!"

[Impeccable]

TNA's wellness policy:

Management-"Are you on anything?"
Wrestler-"Yes"
Management-"OK...erm...have you previously been on WWE television?"
Wrestler-"Yes"
Management-"Ok, you're hired!"

Fixed!

[Outsider]

Give me one reason why my tax dollars should be spent on getting the government in pro-wrestling instead of finding a cure for cancer.

Just for the record- if it wasn't pro-wrestling I would still care because it's still my hard earned money paying these suits do stick their noses in another industry. Yea, I'm more vocal about it because it's pro wrestling. However if it was another industry, let's take acting for example, other people would get fired up about it and I'd remain calm.

These are adults in this field. They should have an idea what they're getting into. Let Chris Benoit's family take legal action on WWE. He failed some drug tests, got a warning, killed a couple of people, then killed himself. I'm sure a jury would find WWE guilty of something that'll cost them some cash.
I'm not putting a price tag on human life by any means, but cases like that happen without my imput.

It's not about Government interference, it's about employee rights.

As an employeer, Vince McMahon should be making sure the health of those he employs is not put at risk as a part of their work. A part of this involves not promoting the use of steroids. The fact that many on steroids end up doing rather well in the company is tantamount to this and should be investigated by the Government.

The Government interferes in business all the time, hence the minimum wage. They are right to do so.

[BigDaddyCool]

I believe WWE and TNa should be doing something to protect their employees, lucky the wrestlers are independent contractors and don't have to be protected.

[Tazz Dan]

You can read Waxman's complete letter in PDF form, in which he points out issues with WWE and TNA policies currently in place, by clicking here.

I'm clicking here. It doesn't work :(

[Kane Knight]

Give me one reason why my tax dollars should be spent on getting the government in pro-wrestling instead of finding a cure for cancer.

Just for the record- if it wasn't pro-wrestling I would still care because it's still my hard earned money paying these suits do stick their noses in another industry. Yea, I'm more vocal about it because it's pro wrestling. However if it was another industry, let's take acting for example, other people would get fired up about it and I'd remain calm.

These are adults in this field. They should have an idea what they're getting into. Let Chris Benoit's family take legal action on WWE. He failed some drug tests, got a warning, killed a couple of people, then killed himself. I'm sure a jury would find WWE guilty of something that'll cost them some cash.
I'm not putting a price tag on human life by any means, but cases like that happen without my imput.

Wow. You just did an end run around reason thurr.

Rather than doing a full rundown, here's a couple of major points:

Congress got involved because what WWE did consitutes several major crimes, not the least of which is defrauding shareholders. As far as laws go, I can think of few better places to put tax money than into investigating actual crimes.

If you think drug use is okay, maybe you should petition for their legality instead of bitching that the Government actually enforces their laws.

Your tax money doesn't normally go to cancer, period. Call it an ineffecient Government, but you're naive if you actually believe that more time will be spent on cancer simply because they're ignoring WWE. You can replace "cancer" with most issues, and it's still true. Money and programs dedicated to most humanitarian causes are a joke, as is true of economic packages. These don't go away when Government gets involved in wrestling.

I'm guessing you also think rape is all about sex.

[FourFifty]

Not trying to sound like a smartass, but when did WWE defruad shareholders? I can't find anything on it.

I never said drug use is okay. I simply said these are adults who are doing this. They know the risks they take. I'm all for making a few more drugs legal because of civil rights. Not my scene, but who am I to judge?

I'm not going to say anything about your rape comment for a couple of reasons....
First and foremost, that was fuckin' funny. I'm stealing that line. Also, I did go out on a limb with bringing cancer into this.

[Vastardikai]

I believe WWE and TNa should be doing something to protect their employees, lucky the wrestlers are independent contractors and don't have to be protected.

Not if Raven gets his way...

[Kane Knight]

Not trying to sound like a smartass, but when did WWE defruad shareholders? I can't find anything on it.

So you don't know why the SEC's involved?

I never said drug use is okay. I simply said these are adults who are doing this. They know the risks they take. I'm all for making a few more drugs legal because of civil rights. Not my scene, but who am I to judge?

Note "if."

But then, if your only argument is that they're adults, they're adults breaking the law. There is evidence Vinnie was aware of this, helped the process along, and thus, defrauded shareholders.

*turns to camera three*

You see, when a public company announces something along the lines of a "wellness policy" to the public and to shareholders, and when it's demonstrated that they have violated such policy and lied to their shareholders, it is, among other things, fraud.

*end camera three*

But you already knew that!

You know, because this is the exact same shit we talked about last time you bitched about this. Hell, you didn't even look into the initial story to see what groups in congress were looking into it.

The problem with cancer is you can replace it with fighting crime or drugs, and it still works. I mean, I'd like it to happen, but the fact is that the Government resists spending more on things that benefit us.

But while we're talking about Government spending, one of the things we really should see--and it dovetails with your crime, war, and poverty complaints--Is a guarantee of workplace safety and basic human rights. WWE is not the only business to deny such things, but they are a big employer.

[Kane Knight]

The SEC, for the record, is investigating fraud based on WWE filings with them. The Oversight committee is basically doing what their job description is in investigating.

Neither sounds particularly heinous.