A recent ESPN poll of 143 MLB players demonstrated that PED use might still be fairly prevalent across Major League Baseball.
In an anonymous poll for ESPN the Magazine, 143 MLB players shared their opinions on a wide range of baseball topics, including home plate collisions and PED use.
Regarding the percentage of players who are currently using PEDs in MLB, the 143 players polled estimated that 9.4% of current players in MLB are taking some type of PED. The poll results came out on the same day that Rays minor league pitcher Alex Colome was suspended 50 games for taking Boldenone, an anabolic steroid primarily used to treat horses.
ESPN quoted three anonymous players on the topic of steroid usage, with one AL All-Star estimating that the percentage of players using PEDs is "close to zero."
"The awareness has gotten better each year," the player said. "Players realize they're not going to get away with it. The system has worked, and the players who were on the fence aren't doing it."
Two other quoted players were less sure and optimistic about the prevalence of steroid use in baseball, however.
"I think the number is probably about 10%," guessed one AL player, "but that's not counting Adderall as a PED. If you included guys who are using Adderall, wow, that number would be through the roof."
Last season, both Carlos Ruiz and Miguel Tejada were suspended for taking Adderall, with Tejada earning an 105-game ban for failing multiple tests. Ruiz received an exemption from MLB in February that will allow him to use Adderall in 2014.
Another player felt PED usage was a bit more widespread, telling ESPN:
Twenty percent. Higher for sure than the number of ones that got caught. Those guys only got caught last year because an employee leaked all the records, otherwise they would have gotten away with it. Look at Ryan Braun. He was on one of the most complex doping regimens there is, so just take that and you know there have to be more.
Regardless of the actual number of players who are using PEDs, it's clear the topic is still a divisive one among players. Some believe the issue has mostly been eradicated, while others are much less certain.
ESPN's poll also had a number of other interesting results. Bryce Harper was named as the most overrated player in the eyes of his peers, and 81% of the 143 players believe baseball is ready for an openly gay player. Perhaps most amusingly, more players would vote to kick Alex Rodriguez out of the player's union than would legally smoke weed if they had the option.