Major League Baseball drug policy

Major League Baseball's drug policy—the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program—was established by agreement between the MLB Players Association and the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball. The goal was to deter and end the use of banned substances, including anabolic steroids and other illegal drugs, and to "provide for, in keeping with the overall purposes of the Program, an orderly, systematic, and cooperative resolution of any disputes that may arise concerning the existence, interpretation, or application" of the policy itself. The Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program was adopted in the Spring of 2006.

While the Health Policy Advisory Committee (HPAC) can make recommendations to the Office of the Commissioner regarding punishment, it has no power to discipline players for violations of the drug policy, except to place them in the appropriate treatment programs. Such authority belongs to the Office of the Commissioner.

Prohibited substances

Under the policy, all players are prohibited from using, possessing, selling, facilitating the sale of, distributing, or facilitating the distribution of any Drug of Abuse and/or Steroid. Any and all drugs or substances listed under Schedule II of the Controlled Substances Act are considered drugs of abuse covered by the Program. Players who require prescription medication can still use it with a "Therapeutic Use Exemption" granted by the MLB.

Prohibited Substances may be added to the list only by the unanimous vote of HPAC, provided that the addition by the federal government of a substance to Schedule I, II, or III will automatically result in that substance being added to the list.

List of banned substances (not exhaustive)

See List of banned substances in baseball. Band substance such as THG-growth hormone and testosterone-based cream were used by some of the biggest names in baseball. Rafael Palmeiro was found guilty for using steroids, he denied that it was a Vitamin B-12 shot given by his teammate, Tejada.[1]

Testing for banned substances

Steroids

Testing is administered via scientifically-validated urine test.

Each Player shall be tested upon reporting to spring training. All Players will be selected for an additional unannounced urine specimen collection on a randomly selected date.

Drugs of Abuse

Testing for drugs of abuse is not administered randomly, but on a basis of reasonable cause. If one of the HPAC panel members has evidence that a player has used, possessed, or sold banned substances in the last 12 months, they call a conference and discuss the evidence with the other members. If a majority vote to test the suspected player is reached then testing will take place no more than 48 hours later.

Testing procedure

Players and the collector must instruct the player to return in an hour, during which he can only drink 15 oz. of fluid in a sealed container(s) certified by the collector.

Testing protocols

Any test conducted under the Program will be considered “positive” under the following circumstances:

  1. If any substance identified in the test results meets the levels set forth below.
  2. A Player refuses or, without good cause, fails to take a test or refuses to cooperate with the testing process.
  3. A Player attempts to substitute, dilute, mask or adulterate a specimen sample or in any other manner alter a test.
Drugs of abuse
Drug Initial Test Level (ng/mL) Confirmation Test Level (ng/mL)
Cocaine Metabolites 300 150
Opiates/Metabolites 2000 2000
Phencyclicdine (PCP) 25 25
Cannabinoids 50 15
Steroids

A test is considered positive if a sufficient amount of Steroid is present, except the presence of nandrolone, which is considered positive only if the level exceeds 2 ng/ml.

Stimulants

The presence of a Stimulant shall be considered a positive only if the level exceeds 250 ng/ml, unless specified otherwise below:

Drug Confirmation Test Level (ng/mL)
Amfepramone (Diethylproprion) 500
Amphetaminil 2000
Chlorphentermine 500
Clortermine 500
Ephedrine 10
Methylphenidate 1000
Phenpentermine 1000
Phentermine 500
Notification

HPAC immediately notifies the Player and the Club of the positive drug test result.

In-Season testing

On January 10, 2013, MLB and the players union reached an agreement to add random, in-season human growth hormone and to a new test to reveal the use of testosterone. Testing will begin the 2013 season.[2]

Clinical and administrative tracks

All players who enter the program are placed on the Clinical track, except when a player tests positive for steroids, does not comply with the initial evaluation, cooperate in his treatment, is convicted or pleads guilty or nolo contendere to the sale or use and prohibited substance, or participates in the sale or distribution of any banned substance. In that event, the player is placed in the Administrative Track. HPAC has the discretion to place a player in the Administrative Track in any other event, but not solely on the basis that the player is in an inpatient treatment program. Transfer to the Administrative track is contingent on a majority vote, and in the case of a tie, a fifth member must cast a vote based on reasonable cause and cannot consider past practice. These votes are tallied and set forth in progressing games

Salary retention

Players are entitled to salary retention for the first 30 days they are required to be in inpatient treatment or outpatient treatment that forces his absence from the Club, and half salary retention for the next thirty days, over the course of his career. However, players are not entitled to salary retention for any such period after 60 days during the course of his career.

Player evaluations

Players are required to be evaluated at least once by HPAC, to determine the proper treatment program. HPAC may decide that additional meetings and medical and/or toxicology examinations are required.

Confidentiality

The Office of the Commissioner, the Association, HPAC, Club personnel, and all of their members, affiliates, agents, consultants and employees, are prohibited from publicly disclosing information about the Player’s test results, Initial Evaluation, diagnosis, Treatment Program (including whether a Player is on either the Clinical or Administrative Track), prognosis or compliance with the Program.

Discipline

Failure to comply with treatment program

All suspensions are without pay.

Positive steroid test results

Conviction for use of prohibited substances

All suspensions are without pay.

References

  1. . Haigh, Michel M. "'The Cream,' The 'Clear,' BALCO and Baseball An Analysis of MLB Players Image". Project Muse.
  2. "Baseball to Expand Drug-Testing Program". New York Times. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  3. Calcaterra, Craig. "MLB, MLBPA announce stronger testing, harsher penalties for PEDs". Hardball Talk. NBC Sports. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  4. http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/jenrry-mejia-permanent-ban-mlb-3rd-positive-article-1.2530056

External links

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