The New MLB Drug Testing Policy
If youve been
following the news lately, no doubt youve
heard about
the new MLB
drug testing policy. While you may have heard about
the policy you might not understand
the specific implications
of the policy and how it may affect
your favorite players
and teams.
The new policy was brought about by threat
of legislation from Congress.
Under the policy
tougher penalties
for steroid use are implemented.
Under the new policy
the players are
to be tested during
their spring
training along
with at least one additional test during the
regular season as
well as being subject to
random testing throughout the
regular season.
Under the previous
policy, penalties were much less severe. For example,
for a first offense a player would be subject to
a 10-day
suspension and then
30 days for a second offense.
A third offense would rate
a 60 day suspension. The new policy calls
for a 50
game suspension for the
first offense and a 100 game offense for the second offense. For a third offense the player
will receive a
lifetime ban.
Additionally, after the
first offense the player will be
subjected to amphetamines testing as well as steroid testing. This
is the first time the problem of
amphetamine use will have been addressed by a policy
with MLB. Under the old policy a player
could not receive a
lifetime ban until he had been hit with at least a fifth offense.
Under the previous policy testing was
also conducted on a much less frequent basis. Testing was conducted at the beginning of spring
training with no additional testing through the regular season other
than random testing. Under this policy, it was quite possible for a player to only be tested once from the beginning of spring training throughout the regular season.
The policy stipulated that players who tested
positive for steroid the year
prior to the new policy taking affect would be
treated as first time offenders under the new policy
if they should test positive again.
It should be noted that
in the event a player is banned for life after a third offense under the new policy, a player can apply for permission to
return to the game two years after receiving the ban. An independent
arbitrator can be assigned for the purpose of reviewing the
Commissioners decision in this instance.
The policy also takes a stab at
possession of illegal steroid use in addition to use of illegal steroids. Players
convicted for the possession of illegal
steroids are subject to a 60-80 game suspension for the first offense and
120 games to one year for a second offense. A lifetime ban is on the table for a third offense. Players who are convicted of steroid distribution face tougher suspensions for the first offense and are subject to a lifetime ban after the first offense.
Penalties for amphetamine use are slightly less severe than for steroid use. Mandatory follow-up testing is dictated for the first offense with a 25 game suspension for the second offense. An
80 game suspension will be given for the third positive test and at the fourth offense the
penalty is left up to the
Commissioner, which could
include a lifetime ban.
Joe Kenny writes for the UK
soccer forum site, FootballTalk.org.
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