PETA Media Center > Recent News Releases : PETA Urges Roger Clemens to Swear Off Drugs

For Immediate Release:
January 9, 2008

Contact:
Dan Shannon 757-622-7382

Norfolk, Va. - As fall-out from the Mitchell Report continues to cast a shadow over more and more of baseball's top players, PETA has sent a letter to Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens, the latest player to face scrutiny in the steroids scandal, urging him to prove that he is committed to being drug-free--by going vegetarian.

While Clemens and other players may or may not have voluntarily doped up to enhance their performance, there's no question that cows, pigs, and chickens are fed growth-promoting hormones or other drugs in an effort to make them grow fatter faster and to ward off the diseases that are rampant in the cramped, filthy conditions in today's factory farms. Humans, in turn, ingest these dangerous drugs when they eat the animals' flesh--no injections from trainers required.

"These drugs cause animals to grow so fast that they often end up with crippling joint problems and heart problems; in fact, a chicken or pig drugged by the meat industry suffers more injuries than Ken Griffey Jr.," writes Assistant Director Dan Shannon in his letter to Clemens. "And if you ditch all the cholesterol and saturated fat in meat now, you'll be less likely to keel over from a stroke when testifying in front of Congress."

PETA's letter to Roger Clemens follows.

January 9, 2008

Roger Clemens
c/o Hendricks Sports Management LP

Dear Roger,

On behalf of PETA, I'm writing to offer a suggestion that may help you fend off all the critics that are descending on you like a pack of Cubs fans going after a vendor's last beer. To prove that you don't want any nasty growth-promoting drugs in your body, go vegetarian.

In order to squeeze every dime out of the animals whose bodies it sells, the corporate meat industry doses chickens, pigs, and cows with hormones or other drugs to make them grow unnaturally large. (We wouldn't be surprised to see Brian McNamee get hired by KFC to inject "flax-seed oil" into all the companies' chickens.) These drugs cause animals to grow so fast that they often end up with crippling joint problems and heart problems; in fact, a chicken or a pig drugged by the meat industry suffers more injuries than Ken Griffey Jr. And people who eat meat ingest some of these bizarre chemicals, which may help explain why meat-eaters are far more likely than vegetarians to get heart disease and cancer.

Carl Lewis (named "Olympian of the Century" by S.I.) says the best year of his track career was when he went vegan, and Salim Stoudamire of the Atlanta Hawks says his game has gotten a huge boost since he cut meat, eggs, and dairy products out of his diet. Star Ultimate Fighter Mac Danzig is also vegan; perhaps he could give you some nutrition tips so that you'll be ready for your next encounter with Mike Piazza. And if you ditch all the cholesterol and saturated fat in meat now, you'll be less likely to keel over from a stroke when testifying in front of Congress.

And while you are pondering your next career move, may I recommend that if you do play next season, you sign with the Phillies? Citizens Bank Park has the best vegetarian food of any ballpark, featuring veggie burgers, veggie dogs, and genuine Philly mock-steak sandwiches loaded with peppers and onions. But if you decide to stay closer to home, you won't be out of luck--the Astros sell veggie dogs, vegetarian burritos, and veggie wraps.

Please log on to GoVeg.com to take our 30-Day Veg Pledge, and then forward the link to your pal Andy Pettitte.

Best wishes,

Dan Shannon
Assistant Director

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