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gov135 · 11-13-2003, 05:20 PM

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1661145

NEW YORK -- Major League Baseball will begin penalizing players for steroid use next season after learning that more than 5 percent of this year's tests came back positive.

Suspicions of steroid use had run high in recent times as bulked-up sluggers set all sorts of home run records. Stars such as Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa denied taking the drugs.

But on Thursday, the results came back and proved what many in baseball assumed and what former MVPs Jose Canseco and Ken Caminiti had already admitted.

"Hopefully, this will, over time, allow us to completely eradicate the use of performance enhancement substances in baseball," commissioner Bud Selig said.

MLB said of 1,438 anonymous tests this season, between 5 and 7 percent were positive.

Under baseball's labor contract that took effect last fall, testing with penalties begins after any season in which more than 5 percent fail. And from now on, players will be identified.

A first positive test for steroid use would result in treatment and a second in a 15-day suspension or fine of up to $10,000.

The length of suspensions would increase to 25 days for a third positive test, 50 days for a fourth and one year for a fifth. The suspensions would be without pay.

Testing with penalties will continue until positive tests drop below 2.5 percent in consecutive years.

"There's a slight disagreement to where in that spectrum the exact number falls," said Gene Orza, the No. 2 official of the players' association. "It's a technical disagreement to the interpretation of the results."

"I had no expectation one way or the other," he said. "I did know the claims that put the pressure on the players to address this problem the way they did were wildly inflated."

Some players, notably on the Chicago White Sox, had called for even more stringent testing.

"I guess if people want it bad enough they find their way around the system," Oakland pitcher Ted Lilly said after the announcement. "There's still other supplements and aids out there that aren't exactly steroids. If there's anything out there that can help, I'd imagine players would find it."

____________________________________________________

This is truly amazing. The steroid testing policy was only to kick in if five percent or more of players tested tested positive. The baseball players union negotiated this. They must never have thought that this level would be reached.

I don't want to see baseball "exposed" or anything like that. I do want to see steroids removed from the game - and this is the best way to go about it.

The thing I like most about the policy is the penalties are stiff and firm. One strike, you get a warning and extra testing. Two strikes, you get a fifteen game suspension. That would absolutely kill your team - its a harsh punishment for cheating.

What are your thoughts?

11-13-2003, 05:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
gov135 Junkie Location: Midwest	MLB to test randomly for steroids http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1661145 NEW YORK -- Major League Baseball will begin penalizing players for steroid use next season after learning that more than 5 percent of this year's tests came back positive. Suspicions of steroid use had run high in recent times as bulked-up sluggers set all sorts of home run records. Stars such as Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa denied taking the drugs. But on Thursday, the results came back and proved what many in baseball assumed and what former MVPs Jose Canseco and Ken Caminiti had already admitted. "Hopefully, this will, over time, allow us to completely eradicate the use of performance enhancement substances in baseball," commissioner Bud Selig said. MLB said of 1,438 anonymous tests this season, between 5 and 7 percent were positive. Under baseball's labor contract that took effect last fall, testing with penalties begins after any season in which more than 5 percent fail. And from now on, players will be identified. A first positive test for steroid use would result in treatment and a second in a 15-day suspension or fine of up to $10,000. The length of suspensions would increase to 25 days for a third positive test, 50 days for a fourth and one year for a fifth. The suspensions would be without pay. Testing with penalties will continue until positive tests drop below 2.5 percent in consecutive years. "There's a slight disagreement to where in that spectrum the exact number falls," said Gene Orza, the No. 2 official of the players' association. "It's a technical disagreement to the interpretation of the results." "I had no expectation one way or the other," he said. "I did know the claims that put the pressure on the players to address this problem the way they did were wildly inflated." Some players, notably on the Chicago White Sox, had called for even more stringent testing. "I guess if people want it bad enough they find their way around the system," Oakland pitcher Ted Lilly said after the announcement. "There's still other supplements and aids out there that aren't exactly steroids. If there's anything out there that can help, I'd imagine players would find it." ____________________________________________________ This is truly amazing. The steroid testing policy was only to kick in if five percent or more of players tested tested positive. The baseball players union negotiated this. They must never have thought that this level would be reached. I don't want to see baseball "exposed" or anything like that. I do want to see steroids removed from the game - and this is the best way to go about it. The thing I like most about the policy is the penalties are stiff and firm. One strike, you get a warning and extra testing. Two strikes, you get a fifteen game suspension. That would absolutely kill your team - its a harsh punishment for cheating. What are your thoughts?