Baseball Steroid Suspensions

Steroid Suspensions

BALCO stands for Bay Area Laboratory Cooperative, a San Francisco, California company founded by Victor Conte. According to the U.S. Government, BALCO branched out into other areas including distribution of banned performance enhancing drugs. The "nutritional supplements" being sold by BALCO were illegal under olympic rules and track athletes were soon tested by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. During the BALCO steroid scandal, allegations that top baseball and football players had used illegal performance enhancing drugs were brought to light.

Major League Baseball had an established steroid policy which was created in 2002. Under this old policy, a first time offense would only result in treatment for the player. Not one player was ever suspended. After the BALCO scandal, Major League Baseball finally decided to buckle down and issue harsher penalties for steroid users. The new policy, which was accepted by Major League Baseball players and owners, was issued at the start of the 2005 season and goes as follows:

The first positive test will result in a suspension of up to ten days. The second positive test will result in a suspension of thirty days. The third positive test will result in a suspension of sixty days. The fourth positive test will result in a suspension of one full year. Finally, the fifth positive test will result in a penalty at the discretion of the Commissioner of Major League Baseball. Players will be tested at least once per year, with a chance that several players can be tested numerous times per year.

Bud Selig, the Commissioner of Major League Baseball, virtually created the existing policy and in light of recent evidence, has proposed even tougher penalties for positive tests than the ones in place today. The new penalties that Bud Selig has proposed are a "three strikes and you're out approach" which goes as follows:

The first positive test would result in a fifty game suspension. The second positive test would result in a one-hundred game suspension. Finally, the third positive test would result in a lifetime suspension from Major League Baseball.

These new proposed penalties are much harsher than either of the first two; however, they must be accepted by both the players union and owners before any changes can be made. Under the current policy, the first Major League ballplayers have been suspended for testing positive. The players suspended for violating Major League Baseball's drug program are listed below in chronological order.

"I am truly saddened by today's events. I have known Rafael Palmeiro for many years. He is a fine person, a great player and a true asset to his community. I know from personal experience that his accomplishments are due to hard work and his dedication to the game. I know that Rafael will accept the penalty under Baseball's important Drug Policy and that he will return to be a productive member of the Orioles." - Baltimore Orioles Owner Peter Angelos on MLB.com (08/01/2005, Press Release)

Steroid Suspensions 2005 Regular Season (Steroid Test Took Place During 2005 Season) In Chronological Order
#	Player Name	Date	Team^(Quantity)	Lg^(Quantity)	Position^(Quantity)	Suspension Type
1.	Alex Sanchez	04-03-2005	Tampa Bay Devil Rays⁽¹⁾	AL⁽¹⁾	OF⁽¹⁾	10 Day Suspension
2.	Jorge Piedra	04-11-2005	Colorado Rockies⁽¹⁾	NL⁽¹⁾	OF⁽²⁾	10 Day Suspension
3.	Agustin Montero ^*	04-20-2005	Texas Rangers⁽¹⁾	AL⁽²⁾	P⁽¹⁾	10 Day Suspension
4.	Jamal Strong	04-26-2005	Seattle Mariners⁽¹⁾	AL⁽³⁾	OF⁽³⁾	10 Day Suspension
5.	Juan Rincon	05-02-2005	Minnesota Twins⁽¹⁾	AL⁽⁴⁾	P⁽²⁾	10 Day Suspension
6.	Rafael Betancourt	07-08-2005	Cleveland Indians⁽¹⁾	AL⁽⁵⁾	P⁽³⁾	10 Day Suspension
7.	Rafael Palmeiro	08-01-2005	Baltimore Orioles⁽¹⁾	AL⁽⁶⁾	1B⁽¹⁾	10 Day Suspension
8.	Ryan Franklin	08-02-2005	Seattle Mariners⁽²⁾	AL⁽⁷⁾	P⁽⁴⁾	10 Day Suspension
9.	Mike Morse	09-07-2005	Seattle Mariners⁽³⁾	AL⁽⁸⁾	SS⁽¹⁾	10 Day Suspension
10.	Carlos Almanzar	10-04-2005	Texas Rangers⁽²⁾	AL⁽⁹⁾	P⁽⁴⁾	10 Day Suspension
11.	Felix Heredia	10-18-2005	New York Mets⁽¹⁾	NL⁽²⁾	P⁽⁵⁾	10 Day Suspension
12.	Matt Lawton	11-02-2005	New York Yankees⁽¹⁾	AL⁽¹⁰⁾	OF⁽⁴⁾	10 Day Suspension
#	Player Name	Date	Team^(Quantity)	Lg^(Quantity)	Position^(Quantity)	Suspension Type
Steroid Suspensions 2006 Regular Season (Steroid Test Took Place During 2006 Season) In Chronological Order
#	Player Name	Date	Team^(Quantity)	Lg^(Quantity)	Position^(Quantity)	Suspension Type
1.	Yusaku Iriki ^**	04-28-2006	New York Mets⁽¹⁾	NL⁽¹⁾	P⁽¹⁾	50 Game Suspension
2.	Jason Grimsley	06-12-2006	Arizona Diamondbacks⁽¹⁾	NL⁽²⁾	P⁽²⁾	50 Game Suspension
3.	Guillermo Mota	11-01-2006	New York Mets⁽²⁾	NL⁽³⁾	P⁽³⁾	50 Game Suspension
#	Player Name	Date	Team^(Quantity)	Lg^(Quantity)	Position^(Quantity)	Suspension Type
Steroid Suspensions 2007 Regular Season (Steroid Test Took Place During 2007 Season) In Chronological Order
#	Player Name	Date	Team^(Quantity)	Lg^(Quantity)	Position^(Quantity)	Suspension Type
1.	Juan Salas	05-07-2007	Tampa Bay Devil Rays⁽¹⁾	AL⁽¹⁾	P⁽¹⁾	50 Game Suspension
2.	Neifi Perez	07-06-2007	Detroit Tigers⁽¹⁾	AL⁽²⁾	SS⁽¹⁾	25 Game Suspension
3.	Neifi Perez	08-03-2007	Detroit Tigers⁽²⁾	AL⁽³⁾	SS⁽²⁾	80 Game Suspension
4.	Ryan Jorgenson	09-07-2007	Cincinnati Reds⁽¹⁾	NL⁽¹⁾	C⁽¹⁾	25 Game Suspension
5.	Mike Cameron	10-31-2007	San Diego Padres⁽¹⁾	NL⁽²⁾	OF⁽¹⁾	25 Game Suspension
6.	Jose Guillen	12-06-2007	Kansas City Royals⁽¹⁾	AL⁽³⁾	OF⁽²⁾	15 Game Suspension
7.	Jay Gibbons	12-06-2007	Baltimore Orioles⁽¹⁾	AL⁽⁴⁾	OF⁽³⁾	15 Game Suspension
Steroid Suspensions 2008 Regular Season (Steroid Test Took Place During 2008 Season) In Chronological Order
#	Player Name	Date	Team^(Quantity)	Lg^(Quantity)	Position^(Quantity)	Suspension Type
1.	--	xx-xx-xxxx	--	--	--	--
#	Player Name	Date	Team^(Quantity)	Lg^(Quantity)	Position^(Quantity)	Suspension Type
Major League Baseball Steroid Suspensions \| Bold Print=Named in Mitchell Report

(*) The third player suspended by Major League Baseball in 2005 was Agustin Montero of the Texas Rangers who was on the 40-man roster during Spring Training when he violated the drug policy. As he had not yet played a Major League game his career stats are not available and he is not officially a Major League ballplayer, but since he was on a Major League roster he is included in the list of steroid suspensions. (**) The first in 2006 was the Japanese player suspended for a positive steroid test and also a Spring Training player who made it to the New York Mets 40-man roster.

After the suspension of future Hall of Fame first baseman Rafael Palmeiro, debate as to the merits of the policy were hotly debated. Players, management, and others claim that it is not clear what is and is not considered a steroid. The Baltimore Orioles superstar made the following statement / press release to Major League Baseball shortly after his suspension:

Press Release: Statement from Rafael Palmeiro

"Thank you very much for joining me on this call today. I am saddened that we are here to address this issue, but because of the importance of it, I feel the need to make a brief statement and address your questions. At the outset, let me say that under the rules of the basic agreement and the order of the independent arbitrator, there is an order of confidentiality governing the specifics of this case. I will attempt to state as much as I can and be as forthright as possible, but there will be issues I can't address based on orders imposed on me by the basic agreement and the arbitration process.

I am here to make it very clear that I have never intentionally used steroids. Never. Ever. Period.

When I found out that I failed a test under the new drug policy, I filed a grievance and challenged the suspension on the basis that I have never intentionally taken a banned substance. Ultimately, although I never intentionally put a banned substance into my body - the independent arbitrator ruled that I had to be suspended under the terms of the program.

I am sure you will ask how I tested positive for a banned substance. As I look back, I don't have a specific answer to give. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to explain to the arbitrator how the banned substance entered my body. The arbitrator did not find that I used a banned substance intentionally - in fact, he said he found my testimony to be compelling - but he ruled that I could not meet the heavy burden imposed on players who test positive under the new drug policy.

I accept this punishment and want to address it publicly. I want to apologize to MLB, the Baltimore Orioles organization, my teammates, and most of all, my fans. Given my role with the No Tolerance Committee and my relationships with Congress, I feel the need to communicate a serious message to my fellow players and to kids everywhere. All of us have to be responsible and exercise extreme care in what we put in our body. I hope that all MLB players and kids will learn from what has happened to me. I have never intentionally used a banned substance, but I unfortunately wasn't careful enough.

I take my role as a professional athlete seriously. I love baseball and have great respect for all of the players who played before me. I have always done my best to live each day in ways that would make my family proud. Everything I have accomplished is the result of hard work and dedication to being the best possible player I can be.

I feel terrible that this has happened, but I think there is something to be gained from it. If my situation results in the education of current and future players about the dangers of taking anything without a prescription from a licensed physician � that is a positive. At the end of the day, it is important for all players to understand the risk of contamination and to be very careful about what they put in their body.

This suspension is going to be incredibly difficult for me, my wife and my two boys. Over the next week and a half, I am going to spend time with my family. I am going to come back and will be as determined as ever to help the Orioles win this pennant race that we are in. We have worked very hard to be in a position to bring our fans a title, and I will not let this be a distraction.

Finally, I would like to thank Commissioner Selig and Mr. Angelos for their strong words of encouragement. I had the opportunity to speak with both of them and I am extremely appreciative of their support and friendship."

Source: AP Wire.

If Baseball Almanac were in position to create policy we would have suggested that at the start of the 2006 regular season every Major League player on a roster would be tested for a clearly defined set of drugs the day before Opening Day. If found positive, they would be banned from the game immediately. Another test would occur the day before the All-Star Game and a final test on the last day of the season. Same results for each of the final two tests. Players who use these performance enhancing drugs have done more harm to our national pastime than any group since the 1919 Black Sox. Do you agree? Do you disagree? Share your opinion on baseball and steroids on Baseball Fever.

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