DRUG TESTING COMING TO TELEVISION'S POPULAR PRO WRESTLING CIRCUIT

STAMFORD, Conn. -- World Wrestling Entertainment is developing a new
program to randomly test wrestlers for steroids, recreational and
prescription drugs, company officials said.

The move follows the death of one of the WWE's biggest stars,
38-year-old Eddie Guerrero, whose death in a Minnesota hotel room was
the latest in a string in recent years involving professional
wrestlers who struggled with drug abuse.

"This is the first time a superstar of this magnitude has passed away
on a national promotion," Dave Meltzer, editor of Wrestling Observer,
said. "I'm sure they are going to have to do a lot of thinking."

The new policy will involve frequent, random tests of wrestlers, WWE
Chairman Vince McMahon told wrestlers. He said the tests would be
done by an independent agency.

"The policy is going to be very fair. No special consideration for
any one," McMahon told the wrestlers last week.

A medical examiner has not ruled on the cause of Guerrero's death.
His widow has said a medical examiner told her that an autopsy showed
signs of heart disease. She said Guerrero's heart disease was due to
past drinking and drug abuse combined with an aggressive workout regimen.

Guerrero had admitted past drug and alcohol abuse but had been sober
for four years, relatives have said.

WWE, whose wrestling programming is among the highest-rated on cable
television, said they will announce details of the new testing
procedure in the coming weeks. They said the drugs will be banned.

"We believe that this new policy is appropriate and important to
ensure the health and well-being of our talent," WWE spokesman Gary
Davis said. "In light of the current focus on drug and steroid abuse
issues in our country, we think implementing this new policy is the
right thing to do for our performers, our fans and our business."

Major League Baseball recently strengthened its steroids policy under
pressure from Congress.

Although wrestling is entertainment, some experts say a grueling
number of matches, high acrobatics and expectations placed on
wrestlers contributes to the use of steroids and painkillers. The WWE
airs shows Fridays on UPN and Mondays on cable's USA network, as well
as conducting several lucrative pay-per-view specials each year.

The pressure to perform is even greater on smaller and older
wrestlers, Meltzer said.

"You're expected to look a certain way," Meltzer said. "The public
expectation for these guys is very difficult to live up to. To do it
200 times per year, it's very hard on the body what they do."

The issue has long been controversial. In 1994, McMahon was acquitted
of charges he pressured his athletes to bulk up on steroids. Jesse
Ventura, a flamboyant pro wrestler before he served four stormy years
as Minnesota's governor, has admitted using steroids.

Bruno Sammartino, who held the World Wrestling Federation title for
11 years in the 1960s and '70s, refused to be inducted into a
wrestling hall of fame earlier this year because he believes today's
wrestling is vulgar, profane and bad for children. He said he was
sickened to hear younger wrestlers were hooked on cocaine, pain
killers and steroids.

Guerrero's death follows a 2003 cocaine overdose that killed
professional wrestler Curt "Mr. Perfect" Hennig, 44. Elizabeth
Hulette, known as "the First Lady of Wrestling," died in 2003 at 42
in a death ruled a prescription drug overdose.

Brian Pillman, a 35-year-old wrestler and former NFL player, died in
1997 of heart disease. Pillman, whose body was found with empty
bottles of prescription painkillers in his hotel room, was taking
painkillers for injuries he suffered in 11 years as a professional wrestler.

WWE's policy before the new initiative involved testing only if the
promotion believed there was a reason to test.

If the company does crack down on performance enhancing drugs,
Meltzer predicted a return to smaller wrestlers.

Top stars make more than $1 million. The lucrative salaries can lead
some wrestlers to pick up a wild lifestyle, experts said.

"I think there is a lot of pressure put on younger guys. They have to
be so big and so strong in order to make money," said Larry Hennig, a
retired wrestler and the father of Curt Hennig.