On Wednesday morning in Washington, D.C., the House subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection took testimony from MLB, NBA, NFL, and NHL leaders about drug and steroid abuse in their respective reports.

The intent of the meeting was to propose legislation that would require major professional sports to have government oversight over drug testing. Rep. Bobby Rush told sports representatives, "It is my full intention to move a bill, a bipartisan bill."

Newsday reported that Rush backed away from his aggressive position on government oversight when talking to a group of reporters after the Committee meeting. Rush reportedly said, "There might be a possibility that legislation might not be required."

During the Committee meeting, Rush said he was "exceptionally and extremely disappointed" that WWE chairman Vince McMahon turned down the offer to appear before the subcommittee. Rush said McMahon was the only potential witness who declined the invitation to speak.

Rush's exact comments were: "I am extremely and exceptionally disappointed with [McMahon's] decision not to appear at this hearing. ...While I recognize that professional wrestling is not a quote, sport, unquote, it still requires significant athletic talent and is widely watched by our young people. I want to assure Mr. McMahon that we fully intend to address the issue of steroid use in professional wrestling."

Rep. John Dingell, who is the Chairman of the Committee, commented on why they are pursuing the role of steroids in sports, specifically related to pro wrestling. Dingell said, "...Sometimes the outcome is incomprehensively tragic, such as the tragic event last summer when World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) wrestler Chris Benoit killed his wife and 7 year old son, and then committed suicide. Shortly thereafter, WWE suspended 10 WWE performers tied to an alleged steroid ring. This has to stop."

On Wednesday afternoon, Vince McMahon responded to the Committee through a press release. He said the comments from the Committee were "inaccurate and unfair". He cited that WWE has provided over 3,000 pages of documents to the Committee, and to the separate Oversight and Government Reform Committee, headed by Mr. Waxman, which originally sent letters to WWE, TNA, and NWA requesting information on the drug testing policies in the respective promotions.

McMahon further explained that he received an invitation to appear before the Commerce & Trade Committee on January 23. He sent a letter on January 28 turned down the offer to testify, citing that his legal counsel, Jerry McDevitt, would be unavailable for the Feb. 27 meeting.

McMahon further claimed, "Since I sent my letter of declination 30 days ago, there had been no response from the Committee until today’s unfair and inaccurate comments made by members of the Committee. Despite this, as I pledged in my January 28, 2008 letter to the Committee, I remain willing to cooperate fully with the Committee's inquiry."

Also of note from the Committee meeting is that John Fahey, president of the World Anti-doping Agency, said there might be a reliable HGH drug test ready for the Olympics in China. That technology currently is not available to test athletes, especially pro wrestlers.

Related to the pro wrestling connection to the Committee's meeting, Chris Masters and Bobby Lashley were named as two of the wrestlers who were contacted by the Committee to get their testimony on steroids in pro wrestling. The committee sought information from Masters on whether he was publicly chided for losing his muscular physique when he was employed by WWE.

Pro Wrestling Torch has been following today's news on the Congressional Subcommittee's comments on WWE and Vince McMahon throughout the day on the Torch News Ticker. Be sure to check the Ticker throughout the day for the latest breaking news from around pro wrestling.

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