If the doctors are correct in their analysis many baseball players are now using attention-deficit hyperactivity (ADHD) also known as ADD, as an excuse to use banned substances. According to the reports the number of players seeking exemptions increased despite efforts to make it more difficult to obtain exemptions.
In 2007 there were 103 exemptions for ADD granted while in 2006 there were only 28. These numbers indicate that close to 10% of major league baseball players have attention deficit disorder.
The percentage of American adults however, who have been given a diagnosis of attention deficit disorder is somewhere between one and 3.5%. This is according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
Because of this some doctors are reporting that this is incredible and quite spectacular. According to Dr. Gary Wagner, chairman of the committee that determines the banned substances list for the world anti-doping agency stated that, “There seems to be an epidemic of ADD in major league baseball”.
Meanwhile Rob Manfred, baseball’s executive vice president of labor relations, said it would be a mistake to compare ADHD in baseball with statistics for the general population. This appears to be an obvious means of allowing athletes to take banned substances.
In so many ballplayers have been suffering from ADD, it’s a wonder that they been able to play well. Or is this an excuse for when they do poorly? It seems to me that they never would have made it to the majors if there were so many truly suffering from ADD.
Once again MLB is trying to circumvent banned substance use. I guess the athletes feel they will never be able to do well without the use of steroids and other drugs. This is just another indication of how far behind baseball is in relation to the development of high level players. It appears that they know little if anything about how to improve the players ability to throw (pitch) run, hit, etc. and maintain the ability to play well over a long season.
For more information on this topic, see Build a Better Athlete.