WOW...50 games for 1st Steroid offense

[He Hate Me]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2224832

 

Steroid penalties much tougher with agreementAssociated Press

 

 

WASHINGTON -- Major league players and owners agreed to toughen penalties for steroid use to a 50-game suspension for a first failed test, 100 games for a second and a lifetime ban for a third.

 

Baseball also will test for amphetamines for the first time starting next year under the deal, which must be ratified by both sides.

 

Baseball's current steroid penalties 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.

 

"This is an important step to reaching our goal of ridding our sport of performance-enhancing substances and should restore the integrity of and public confidence in our great game," commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement. "I appreciate the effort put forward by the players' association and our players in reaching this new agreement."

 

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.

 

"This agreement reaffirms that major league players are committed to the elimination of performance-enhancing substances and that the system of collective bargaining is responsive and effective in dealing with issues of this type," union head Donald Fehr said in a statement.

 

Representatives of the owners and players were on Capitol Hill on Tuesday to meet with House Government Reform Committee Chairman Tom Davis, R-Va. He's one of a handful of lawmakers who have introduced steroids bills -- and it was his panel that held the March 17 hearing with Rafael Palmeiro, Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco.

 

At that hearing, Selig and Fehr were scolded for what congressmen called a weak penalty system for drug testing.

 

The next month, Selig made a 50-100-lifetime proposal. In September, Fehr countered with 20 games, 75 games and, for a third offense, a penalty set by the commissioner.

 

At a Sept. 28 hearing of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., scolded Fehr in particular for not having reached a deal on a new steroids policy.

 

"We're at the end here, and I don't want to do it, but we need an agreement soon. It's not complicated. It's not complicated. All sports fans understand it," McCain said at the hearing. "I suggest you act -- and act soon."

 

Last week, McCain and Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky., revised their proposed legislation to soften the penalties from two years for a first offense and a lifetime ban for a second. The bill now calls for a half-season ban for a first positive test, one season for a second and a lifetime penalty for a third. Their bill would apply to the major leagues, the NFL, NBA, NHL and baseball's minor leagues.

 

Bunning said he would wait to hear more and would not be withdrawing his legislation immediately.

 

"This is what I had hoped for all along, for the two private parties to come to an agreement on their own without Congress having to do it for them," he said, but added that the deal is "not as tough as I would like."

 

While Davis didn't immediately address how Tuesday's news might affect pending legislation, he did issue a statement calling the agreement "the type of self-initiated action we were hoping for all along."

 

"While the new policy is not what it would be had I authored it, it is a much stronger policy, one with multiple random tests and far tougher penalties for even first-time offenders," he added.

 

Though steroids are a problem in many sports, baseball has been the focal point of congressional interest and pressure. As recently as 2004, there was no suspension for a first offense under the sport's steroid program. As recently as 2002, players weren't tested for steroids at all, unless there was cause.

 

Under the new deal, according to congressional aides, a first positive test for amphetamines will lead to mandatory additional testing, a second offense will draw a 25-game suspension, and a third offense gets 80 games.

 

A player will be tested during spring training physicals and at least once in the regular season, plus the possibility of random tests. The old agreement called for a minimum of one test from the start of spring training through the end of the regular season

 

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New steroids testing agreement at a glance

A glance at Tuesday's drug-testing agreement between baseball players and owners:

Steroid Penalties

• First positive test -- 50-game suspension, up from 10 days.

• Second positive test -- 100-game suspension, up from 30 days.

• Third positive test -- Lifetime ban, with player having right to apply for reinstatement after two years and an arbitrator being able to review reinstatement decision. Under the previous agreement, the earliest a player could be suspended for life was for a fifth positive test.

• In addition, a conviction for possession carries a 60-to-80 game penalty, while a second offense carries a 120-game to one-year penalty. A third offense nets the offender a lifetime ban. If a player is convicted for distribution, he will be suspended 80-to-100 games, while a second offense equals a lifetime ban.

 

Amphetamine Penalties

(There was no testing for amphetamines in previous agreement)

• First positive test -- Mandatory additional testing.

• Second positive -- 25-game suspension.

• Third positive -- 80-game suspension.

• Fourth positive -- Commissioner's discretion, with an arbitrator being able to review.

• In addition, a conviction for possession carries a 15-to-30 game penalty, while a second offense carries a 30-to-90 game penalty. A third offense nets the offender a one-year ban, while a fourth offense equals punishment at commissioner's discretion. If a player is convicted for distribution, he will be suspended 60-to-90 games, while a second offense equals a two-year ban and punishment for a third offense is commissioner's discretion.

 

Testing frequency

A player will be tested during spring training physicals and at least once during the regular season, with additional random testing. Under the previous agreement, each player was tested once from the start of spring training through the end of the regular season, with additional random testing. Both the new agreement and the previous deal provided for offseason testing.

 

Independent Administrator

A person not connected to management or the union will schedule and supervise the tests, which currently are administered by a join management-union committee.

[BoSox84]

About time, Good to see they were able to put this system in place

[He Hate Me]

please test HGH, that way we can kick Bonds out of the game, and trash his records. We can also prove that Giambi is clean.

[riverside sluggers]

happy to see them actually get tough on this mess.

[26 to 6]

I was very happy to see that the Union finally agreed to this after Bud has been proposing it all year.

 

Id rather have it be an MLB issue rather than a Congress Issue.

[Optimist]

:thumbsup:

[ORS]

The amphetamines testing will have a greater impact on the game. They have been a huge part of the game since the 50's or 60's. In a segment on HBO's RealSports a few months ago, they had a report about the influence of speed on the pro game. Their sources claim that about 80-90% of the players are popping greenies and black betties to stay sharp.

[yeszir]

Should be 500.

[yankeessuck013]

We can also prove that Giambi is clean.

 

[26 to 6]

The amphetamines testing will have a greater impact on the game. They have been a huge part of the game since the 50's or 60's. In a segment on HBO's RealSports a few months ago, they had a report about the influence of speed on the pro game. Their sources claim that about 80-90% of the players are popping greenies and black betties to stay sharp.

Is the amphetamine testing mean that players will not be able to take greenies?

 

Greenies are a big part of the game, without them players would just fall apart. A guy named Dave Matranga (playedin the Angels organization this year) that ive talked to a few times told me that taking greenies is like eating gum, its that common. He also stated that they are relied upon by players just to be able to be active on a daily basis, because without them they would have no energy or anything whatsoever. I wonder if there are specific amphetamines that are being tested or if they suspend you for any. Because if thats the case many players will be suspended.

 

This is all coming from a player, not myself.

[ORS]

I don't know the specifics since I haven't bothered to read any of the press regarding the new testing policy. But all amphetamines are at least considered prescription level drugs, meaning it is illegal to use them w/o a prescription. Of course, each team does have a doctor or two working for them.

[MC Hammer]

I dont think this is strict enough. First offense should be a lifetime ban, no question. If Pete Rose got life the first time he was caught gambling than the same rules should apply for steroid users ... actually more strict rules should apply. I can live with 50 games ... but it still doesn't make me happy. I actually don't think I would be happy unless congress took over. MLB has too much behind the scenes bs, and politics going on to run the testing fairly.

[RedSoxRooter]

I don't think they should test for amphetamines. It's been a part of the game since before I was born.

 

I think it's great that steroids are being (hopefully) removed from the game, but I also find it a bit hypocritical that MLB, after years of turning a blind eye, has decided to drop the hammer on the players like this. Bud would not feel compelled to "save the game" today if he was doing his job 12 years ago.

[MC Hammer]

I don't think they should test for amphetamines. It's been a part of the game since before I was born.

 

I think it's great that steroids are being (hopefully) removed from the game, but I also find it a bit hypocritical that MLB, after years of turning a blind eye, has decided to drop the hammer on the players like this. Bud would not feel compelled to "save the game" today if he was doing his job 12 years ago.

That's true but don't you want a completely clean game?

[ORS]

I dont think this is strict enough. First offense should be a lifetime ban, no question. If Pete Rose got life the first time he was caught gambling than the same rules should apply for steroid users ... actually more strict rules should apply. I can live with 50 games ... but it still doesn't make me happy. I actually don't think I would be happy unless congress took over. MLB has too much behind the scenes bs, and politics going on to run the testing fairly.

Lifetime the first time is way too harsh IMO. I think the new policy is a good one.

 

I also don't think it is fair to compare gambling to trying to enhance your performance. If someone is using steroids, they still have to hit or throw the ball. Gambling on baseball always carries the possibility of the big no-no, throwing games, which is far worse than trying to do better IMO.

[He Hate Me]

 

I'm just being real

[MC Hammer]

Lifetime the first time is way too harsh IMO. I think the new policy is a good one.

 

I also don't think it is fair to compare gambling to trying to enhance your performance. If someone is using steroids, they still have to hit or throw the ball. Gambling on baseball always carries the possibility of the big no-no, throwing games, which is far worse than trying to do better IMO.

So cheating the game and everyone around you who doesn't use steroids, is less of a "baseball crime" than placing bets on games? Steroid users are not only cheating non users out of games, and championships, but they're cheating them out of money. Pete Rose never cheated anyone out of anything, and the only thing he's guilty of is better on the wrong games. He never cost a team a game because of his gambling, never cost anyone a championship, never cost anyone a pay day. Steroid use is so much more serious than gambling. Why do you think a cheater deserves a second chance?

[ORS]

So cheating the game and everyone around you who doesn't use steroids, is less of a "baseball crime" than placing bets on games?

Yes, because players gambling on games carries the possibility of them having a financial interest in the game they are playing in (an interest other than their salary). I think that is a greater threat to the integrity of the game.

 

Pete Rose never cheated anyone out of anything, and the only thing he's guilty of is better on the wrong games. He never cost a team a game because of his gambling, never cost anyone a championship, never cost anyone a pay day.

And you can prove this? How do we know he didn't bet on his own team and throw games? Because he told us? He also told us that he didn't gamble when the story initially broke, and he has recanted that statement. If you are unwilling to believe Bonds, Giambi, and Sheffield, why are you so quick to believe Rose?

[He Hate Me]

agree with ORS. A guy who's such a compulsive gambler he that breaks the #1 rule in baseball to bet on games that he is involved in, can you really say he could stop himself fomr betting against his own team? Compulsive gamblers will steal from their own mothers.

[ksushi]

Does anyone know if HGH can be tested for? I'm not sure, but i think they might not be able to detect it if someone takes it, but i don't know i could be wrong.

[26 to 6]

Does anyone know if HGH can be tested for? I'm not sure, but i think they might not be able to detect it if someone takes it, but i don't know i could be wrong.

No, still no blood testing.

[Optimist]

http://www.nydailynews.com/ips_rich_content/376-1116bigback.jpg

[Sizzlin22]

This is a great day in abseball, the players association is slowly losing thier chokehold on everything, and the players will actually have to stop using roids (or some roids / performance enhansers anyways).

 

As far as the punishment goes this is a perfect punishment system. You screw up you get a slap on the wrist but get given a second chane, do it again? Fine. Much bigger punishment but you getanother chance. Three strikes? You're out, lifetime first time is wayyy too harsh.

[ARod2212]

What about the guy (name escapes me, I'll see if I can find it) who tested positive for steroids once, to which he admitted and then tested positive again, but it was because the same thing was still in his system from the previous test? There will be problems with this, still.

[26 to 6]

The only guy I think tested positive twice was Ryan Franklin of the Mariners. Like I said I THINK he tested positive twice, could be wrong. But dont remember his explanation being that it was from what was in his system before.

[MC Hammer]

This is a great day in abseball, the players association is slowly losing thier chokehold on everything, and the players will actually have to stop using roids (or some roids / performance enhansers anyways).

 

As far as the punishment goes this is a perfect punishment system. You screw up you get a slap on the wrist but get given a second chane, do it again? Fine. Much bigger punishment but you getanother chance. Three strikes? You're out, lifetime first time is wayyy too harsh.

I'm sorry but lifetime for the first offense is not too tough. If your job requires random drug tests and you test positive for any drug you're fired on the spot, basically equivalent to a lifetime ban from that workplace. Why should MLBP be allowed to cheat the game twice before they're kicked out? Doesn't make any logical sense that just becasue you're a baseball player you have more rights than everyone else in the country.