Baseball Steroids Agreement

[MaineDem]

WOW

A glance at Tuesday's drug-testing agreement between baseball players and owners, described to The Associated Press by two congressional aides:


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.

Amphetamine Penalties

(There was no testing for amphetamines in previous agreement)

First positive test -- Mandatory additional testing.

Second postitive -- 25-game suspension.

Third positive -- 80-game suspension.

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

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/articles/2005/11/15/baseball_steroids_agreement/

[nickgutierrez]

1. Ok, adding amphetamines is a nice start.

Although it does make me wonder whether or not the talking heads will start talking about striking the records of whoever used amphetamines from history. Somehow, I doubt it.

Still, no education program, nothing about the abuse of prescription drugs (Strattera - spelling may be wrong - comes to mind), no additional funding for research on these "designer drugs". All the focus is on the punishment, not the prevention.

[Baclava]

2. They should have a separate league for steroid users.

The games would be incredible!

At $40 a ticket, I want to see steroid-pumped freaks playing baseball! I also think that for the 9th inning, they should set the ball on fire.

[nickgutierrez]

3. They already have that league.

It's called the NFL. :hide:

Or, if that doesn't work for you, you could just watch the Olympics every other year.

[northzax]

4. the Union caved bigtime

I think it's the first time the Players have caved on anything in a long time, and this was a good one to do it on.