Vince McMahon leaped into spin mode after the report that steroids were found in the home of pro wrestler Chris Benoit after he killed his wife and son and killed himself.The WWE issued a statement:
WWE strongly suggests that it is entirely wrong for speculators to suggest that steroids had anything to do with these senseless acts, especially when the authorities plainly stated there is no evidence that Benoit had steroids in his body, pending the toxicological reports, and that they had no evidence at this time as to the motive for these acts.
Obviously, no one would suggest that steroids are the reason Benoit did this. Many people use steroids without killing anyone and many people who kill aren't on steroids.
But McMahon, the WWE's owner, knows that steroids are prevalent in his business and that if steroids are found in Benoit's system, it's going to increase the public scrutiny surrounding his business. The WWE does have a drug testing policy, and McMahon was acquitted the only time the government has ever gone after him on steroid charges, but the Benoit story has garnered public attention in a way that other pro wrestling controversies haven't.
This is the type of story that often precedes Congressional inquiries and government regulation. McMahon had better act fast if he doesn't want steroids to be the downfall of the WWE.
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