The topic arose from a discussion about boxers caught using banned PEDs. Stevenson made clear he demands VADA testing for all his match, and Rogan agreed the stakes in boxing make PED use a serious matter. He then drew a direct contrast with baseball.
“It’s not like che ating in baseball,” Rogan said. “Like, who gives a f**k if you hit another home run? I think they should all ch eat in baseball. I think they should all get on roids. Make it more exciting.”
Rogan continued: “The only thing that’s exciting about baseball is home runs, right? That’s the number one thing. If you got a way that you guys can hit more home runs, f**ck give it to them.”
Stevenson responded that it seemed harmless and that nobody would really get hurt. He stated: “It’s like harmless. It’s not really going to hurt nobody. So, I get it. ”
Rogan agreed immediately: “Exactly.”
Earlier in the conversation, Rogan had referenced the most notorious PED scandal in baseball history to illustrate how those seeking a competitive edge have historically stayed ahead of testing.
“This was the whole thing with Barry Bonds and the BALCO scandal in baseball,” Rogan said. “They had developed a s**roid called The Clear. And what The Clear was, it was a st**oid that was undetectable. They hadn’t figured, but eventually they got caught. And so, who knows what kind of, it’s not like they stopped trying to innovate and come up with ways to get an advantage.”
The distinction Rogan draws between baseball and boxing comes down to consequence. In baseball, more power means more home runs and more entertainment for fans. In boxing, an athlete with enhanced power is a more dangerous opponent in a sport where the explicit goal is to physically damage another person.
“Boxing is real life or death,” Rogan told Stevenson, contrasting it directly with his permissive view toward the sport of baseball.
