Itsme
11-15-2005, 01:27 PM
Major League Baseball Stiffens Drug Penalties
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
WASHINGTON — Major League Baseball players who test positive for steroids will face a mandatory 50-game suspension for their first offense under the terms of a new drug policy to be announced Tuesday by the players and the owners.
A second offense will result in a 100-game suspension; a third offense will mean a lifetime ban from the game. A player who is banned for life may apply for a reinstatement hearing before an arbitrator after two years.
The deal also adds testing for amphetamines, with a suspension of 25 games for a second positive drug test and 80 games for a third.
A formal announcement was planned for later Tuesday.
Baseball's current steroid penalties, agreed to in January, are a 10-day suspension for a first offense, 30 days for a second offense, and 60 days for a third. The earliest a player could be banned for life is a fifth offense.
The sport's second new steroids agreement in 10 months came after lengthy negotiations prompted by urging from Congress — including the threat of legislation that would require higher penalties and stricter testing standards.
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
WASHINGTON — Major League Baseball players who test positive for steroids will face a mandatory 50-game suspension for their first offense under the terms of a new drug policy to be announced Tuesday by the players and the owners.
A second offense will result in a 100-game suspension; a third offense will mean a lifetime ban from the game. A player who is banned for life may apply for a reinstatement hearing before an arbitrator after two years.
The deal also adds testing for amphetamines, with a suspension of 25 games for a second positive drug test and 80 games for a third.
A formal announcement was planned for later Tuesday.
Baseball's current steroid penalties, agreed to in January, are a 10-day suspension for a first offense, 30 days for a second offense, and 60 days for a third. The earliest a player could be banned for life is a fifth offense.
The sport's second new steroids agreement in 10 months came after lengthy negotiations prompted by urging from Congress — including the threat of legislation that would require higher penalties and stricter testing standards.