David J. Stern, JD Biography

"The use by athletes of steroids and other performance-enhancing substances is an issue implicating the fundamental integrity of all athletic competition. The NBA, as a result, has a strong and continuing interest in ensuring that these drugs are not used by our players and that our games are conducted on a fair and legitimate basis. Steroids and performance-enhancing drugs also pose serious risks to the health of our players, which provides a separate and compelling rationale for preventing their use in the NBA. Finally, we cannot ignore the fact that young people – especially young athletes – look up to and attempt to emulate professional athletes. It is therefore incumbent the NBA and its players to keep performance-enhancing substances out of our game in order to send the message to all our young fans that these substances have no legitimate place in athletic competition."