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." - Angelos, Peter. Baltimore Orioles Press Release. 1 August 2005.
Steroid Suspensions in 2005
|
||||||
| # | Player Name | Date | Team (Qty) | Lg (Qty) | Pos (Qty) | Suspension |
| 1. | Alex Sanchez | 04-03-2005 | Devil Rays (1) | AL (1) | OF (1) | 10 Days |
| 2. | Jorge Piedra | 04-11-2005 | Rockies (1) | NL (1) | OF (2) | 10 Days |
| 3. | Agustin Montero (a) | 04-20-2005 | Rangers (1) | AL (2) | P (1) | 10 Days |
| 4. | Jamal Strong | 04-26-2005 | Mariners (1) | AL (3) | OF (3) | 10 Days |
| 5. | Juan Rincon | 05-02-2005 | Twins (1) | AL (4) | P (2) | 10 Days |
| 6. | Rafael Betancourt | 07-08-2005 | Indians (1) | AL (5) | P (3) | 10 Days |
| 7. | Rafael Palmeiro | 08-01-2005 | Orioles (1) | AL (6) | 1B (1) | 10 Days |
| 8. | Ryan Franklin | 08-02-2005 | Mariners (2) | AL (7) | P (4) | 10 Days |
| 9. | Mike Morse | 09-07-2005 | Mariners (3) | AL (8) | SS (1) | 10 Days |
| 10. | Carlos Almanzar | 10-04-2005 | Rangers (2) | AL (9) | P (4) | 10 Days |
| 11. | Felix Heredia | 10-18-2005 | Mets (1) | NL (2) | P (5) | 10 Days |
| 12. | Matt Lawton | 11-02-2005 | Yankees (1) | AL (10) | OF (4) | 10 Days |
| # | Player Name | Date | Team (Qty) | Lg (Qty) | Pos (Qty) | Suspension |
Steroid Suspensions in 2006
|
||||||
| # | Player Name | Date | Team (Qty) | Lg (Qty) | Pos (Qty) | Suspension |
| 1. | Yusaku Iriki (b) | 04-28-2006 | Mets (1) | NL (1) | P (1) | 50 Games |
| 2. | Jason Grimsley | 06-12-2006 | Diamondbacks (1) | NL (2) | P (2) | 50 Games |
| 3. | Guillermo Mota | 11-01-2006 | Mets (2) | NL (3) | P (3) | 50 Games |
| # | Player Name | Date | Team (Qty) | Lg (Qty) | Pos (Qty) | Suspension |
Steroid Suspensions in 2007
|
||||||
| # | Player Name | Date | Team (Qty) | Lg (Qty) | Pos (Qty) | Suspension |
| 1. | Juan Salas | 05-07-2007 | Devil Rays (1) | AL (1) | P (1) | 50 Games |
| 2. | Neifi Perez | 07-06-2007 | Tigers (1) | AL (2) | SS (1) | 25 Games |
| 3. | Neifi Perez | 08-03-2007 | Tigers (2) | AL (3) | SS (2) | 80 Games |
| 4. | Ryan Jorgenson | 09-07-2007 | Reds (1) | NL (1) | C (1) | 25 Games |
| 5. | Mike Cameron (c) | 10-31-2007 | Padres (1) | NL (2) | OF (1) | 25 Games |
| 6. | Dan Serafini | 11-27-2007 | Rockies (1) | NL (3) | P (2) | 50 Games |
| 7. | Jose Guillen | 12-06-2007 | Royals (1) | AL (3) | OF (2) | 15 Gamesn |
| 8. | Jay Gibbons | 12-06-2007 | Orioles (1) | AL (4) | OF (3) | 15 Games |
| # | Player Name | Date | Team (Qty) | Lg (Qty) | Pos (Qty) | Suspension |
Steroid Suspensions in 2008
|
||||||
| # | Player Name | Date | Team (Qty) | Lg (Qty) | Pos (Qty) | Suspension |
| 1. | Eliezer Alfonzo | 04-30-2008 | Giants (1) | NL (1) | C (1) | 50 Games |
| # | Player Name | Date | Team (Qty) | Lg (Qty) | Pos (Qty) | Suspension |
Steroid Suspensions in 2009
|
||||||
| # | Player Name | Date | Team (Qty) | Lg (Qty) | Pos (Qty) | Suspension |
| 1. | Sergio Mitre | 01-06-2009 | Yankees (1) | AL (1) | P (1) | 50 Games |
| 2. | J.C. Romero | 01-06-2009 | Phillies (1) | NL (1) | P (2) | 50 Games |
| 3. | Manny Ramirez | 05-07-2009 | Dodgers (1) | NL (2) | OF (1) | 50 Games |
| 4. | Pablo Ozuna | 06-11-2009 | Phillies (2) | NL (3) | IF (1) | 50 Games |
| # | Player Name | Date | Team (Qty) | Lg (Qty) | Pos (Qty) | Suspension |
Steroid Suspensions in 2010
|
||||||
| # | Player Name | Date | Team (Qty) | Lg (Qty) | Pos (Qty) | Suspension |
| 1. | Edinson Volquez | 04-20-2010 | Reds (1) | NL (1) | P (1) | 50 Games |
| 2. | Ronny Paulino | 08-20-2010 | Marlins (1) | NL (2) | C (1) | 50 Games |
| # | Player Name | Date | Team (Qty) | Lg (Qty) | Pos (Qty) | Suspension |
Steroid Suspensions in 2011
|
||||||
| # | Player Name | Date | Team (Qty) | Lg (Qty) | Pos (Qty) | Suspension |
| 1. | Manny Ramirez (d) | 04-08-2011 | Rays (1) | AL (1) | OF (1) | 100 Games |
| 2. | Mike Jacobs (e) | 08-18-2011 | Rockies (1) | NL (1) | 1B (1) | 50 Games |
| # | Player Name | Date | Team (Qty) | Lg (Qty) | Pos (Qty) | Suspension |
Steroid Suspensions in 2012
|
||||||
| # | Player Name | Date | Team (Qty) | Lg (Qty) | Pos (Qty) | Suspension |
| 1. | Guillermo Mota | 05-07-2012 | Giants (1) | NL (1) | P (1) | 100 Games |
| 2. | Freddy Galvis | 06-19-2012 | Phillies (1) | NL (2) | IF (1) | 50 Games |
| 3. | Marlon Byrd | 06-25-2012 | Free Agent (1) | n/a | OF (1) | 50 Games |
| 4. | Melky Cabrera | 08-15-2012 | Giants (2) | NL (3) | OF (2) | 50 Games |
| 5. | Bartolo Colon | 08-22-2012 | Athletics (1) | AL (1) | P (2) | 50 Games |
| 6. | Yasmani Grandal | 11-07-2012 | Padres (1) | NL (4) | C (1) | 50 Games |
| # | Player Name | Date | Team (Qty) | Lg (Qty) | Pos (Qty) | Suspension |
Steroid Suspensions in 2013
|
||||||
| # | Player Name | Date | Team (Qty) | Lg (Qty) | Pos (Qty) | Suspension |
| 1. | Ryan Braun | 07-22-2013 | Brewers (1) | NL (1) | OF (1) | 101 Games |
| 2. | Antonio Bastardo | 08-05-2013 | Phillies (1) | NL (2) | P (1) | 50 Games |
| 3. | Everth Cabrera | 08-05-2013 | Padres (1) | NL (3) | SS (1) | 50 Games |
| 4. | Francisco Cervelli | 08-05-2013 | Yankees (1) | AL (1) | C (1) | 50 Games |
| 5. | Nelson Cruz | 08-05-2013 | Rangers (1) | AL (2) | OF (2) | 50 Games |
| 6. | Fautino De Los Santos | 08-05-2013 | Padres (2) | NL (4) | P (2) | 50 Games |
| 7. | Sergio Escalona | 08-05-2013 | Astros (1) | AL (3) | P (3) | 50 Games |
| 8. | Fernando Martinez | 08-05-2013 | Yankees (2) | AL (4) | OF (3) | 50 Games |
| 9. | Jesus Montero | 08-05-2013 | Mariners (1) | AL (5) | C (2) | 50 Games |
| 10. | Jordan Norberto | 08-05-2013 | Free Agent (1) | n/a | P (4) | 50 Games |
| 11. | Jhonny Peralta | 08-05-2013 | Tigers (1) | AL (6) | SS (2) | 50 Games |
| 12. | Alex Rodriguez | 08-05-2013 | Yankees (3) | AL (7) | 3B (1) | 211 Games |
| 13. | Jordany Valdespin | 08-05-2013 | Mets (1) | NL (5) | IF/OF (1) | 50 Games |
| 14. | Miguel Tejada | 08-17-2013 | Royals (1) | AL (8) | 3B (2) | 105 Games |
| 15. | Troy Patton | 12-20-2013 | Orioles (1) | AL (9) | P (5) | 25 Games |
| # | Player Name | Date | Team (Qty) | Lg (Qty) | Pos (Qty) | Suspension |
Steroid Suspensions in 2014
|
||||||
| # | Player Name | Date | Team (Qty) | Lg (Qty) | Pos (Qty) | Suspension |
| 1. | Alex Colome | 03-24-2014 | Rays (1) | AL (1) | P (1) | 50 Games |
| # | Player Name | Date | Team (Qty) | Lg (Qty) | Pos (Qty) | Suspension |
Steroid Suspensions in 2015
|
||||||
| # | Player Name | Date | Team (Qty) | Lg (Qty) | Pos (Qty) | Suspension |
| 1. | David Rollins | 03-27-2015 | Mariners (1) | AL (1) | P (1) | 80 Games |
| 2. | Ervin Santana | 04-03-2015 | Twins (1) | AL (2) | P (2) | 80 Games |
| 3. | Jenrry Mejia | 04-11-2015 | Mets (1) | NL (1) | P (3) | 80 Games |
| 4. | Andrew McKirahan | 04-20-2015 | Braves (1) | NL (2) | P (4) | 80 Games |
| 5. | Jenrry Mejia | 07-28-2015 | Mets (2) | NL (3) | P (5) | 162 Games |
| 6. | Cody Stanley | 09-12-2015 | Cardinals (1) | NL (4) | C (1) | 80 Games |
| # | Player Name | Date | Team (Qty) | Lg (Qty) | Pos (Qty) | Suspension |
Steroid Suspensions in 2016
|
||||||
| # | Player Name | Date | Team (Qty) | Lg (Qty) | Pos (Qty) | Suspension |
| 1. | Jenrry Mejia | 02-12-2016 | Mets (1) | NL (1) | P (1) | Permanent |
| 2. | Abraham Almonte | 02-26-2016 | Indians (1) | AL (1) | OF (1) | 80 Games |
| 3. | Daniel Stumpf | 04-14-2016 | Phillies (1) | NL (2) | P (2) | 80 Games |
| 4. | Chris Colabello | 04-22-2016 | Blue Jays (1) | AL (2) | 1B (1) | 80 Games |
| 5. | Dee Gordon | 04-29-2016 | Marlins (1) | NL (3) | 2B (1) | 80 Games |
| 6. | Josh Ravin | 05-02-2016 | Dodgers (1) | NL (4) | P (3) | 80 Games |
| 7. | Raul Mondesi | 05-10-2016 | Royals (1) | AL (3) | SS (1) | 50 Games |
| 8. | Marlon Byrd | 06-01-2016 | Indians (2) | AL (4) | OF (2) | 162 Games |
| 9. | Alec Asher | 06-16-2016 | Phillies (2) | NL (5) | P (4) | 80 Games |
| # | Player Name | Date | Team (Qty) | Lg (Qty) | Pos (Qty) | Suspension |
Steroid Suspensions in 2017
|
||||||
| # | Player Name | Date | Team (Qty) | Lg (Qty) | Pos (Qty) | Suspension |
| 1. | Starling Marte | 04-18-2017 | Pirates (1) | NL (1) | OF (1) | 80 Games |
| 2. | David Paulino | 07-01-2017 | Astros (1) | NL (2) | P (1) | 80 Games |
| # | Player Name | Date | Team (Qty) | Lg (Qty) | Pos (Qty) | Suspension |
Steroid Suspensions in 2018
|
||||||
| # | Player Name | Date | Team (Qty) | Lg (Qty) | Pos (Qty) | Suspension |
| 1. | Raudy Read | 02-07-2018 | Nationals (1) | NL (1) | C (1) | 80 Games |
| 2. | Jorge Bonifacio | 03-11-2018 | Royals (1) | AL (1) | OF (1) | 80 Games |
| 3. | Jorge Polanco | 03-18-2018 | Twins (1) | AL (2) | SS (1) | 80 Games |
| 4. | Robinson Cano | 05-15-2018 | Mariners (1) | AL (3) | 2B (1) | 80 Games |
| 5. | Welington Castillo | 05-24-2018 | White Sox (1) | AL (4) | C (2) | 80 Games |
| # | Player Name | Date | Team (Qty) | Lg (Qty) | Pos (Qty) | Suspension |
Steroid Suspensions in 2019
|
||||||
| # | Player Name | Date | Team (Qty) | Lg (Qty) | Pos (Qty) | Suspension |
| 1. | Eric Skoglund | 01-16-2019 | Royals (1) | AL (1) | P (1) | 80 Games |
| 2. | Steven Wright | 03-06-2019 | Red Sox (1) | AL (2) | P (2) | 80 Games |
| 3. | Mike Marjama | 05-02-2019 | Free Agent (1) | n/a | C (1) | 80 Games |
| 4. | Francis Montas | 06-21-2019 | Athletics (1) | AL (3) | P (3) | 80 Games |
| 5. | Tim Beckham | 08-06-2019 | Mariners (1) | AL (4) | IF (1) | 80 Games |
| 6. | Michael Pineda (f) | 09-07-2019 | Twins (1) | AL (5) | P (4) | 60 Games |
| # | Player Name | Date | Team (Qty) | Lg (Qty) | Pos (Qty) | Suspension |
Steroid Suspensions in 2020
|
||||||
| # | Player Name | Date | Team (Qty) | Lg (Qty) | Pos (Qty) | Suspension |
| 1. | Francis Martes | 02-17-2020 | Astros (1) | AL (1) | P (1) | 162 Games |
| 2. | Victor Alcantara | 02-21-2020 | Free Agent (1) | n/a | P (2) | 80 Games |
| 3. | Emmanuel Clase | 05-01-2020 | Indians (1) | AL (2) | P (3) | 80 Games |
| 4. | Edgar Santana | 06-28-2020 | Pirates (1) | NL (1) | P (4) | 80 Games |
| 5. | Robinson Cano | 11-18-2020 | Mets (1) | NL (2) | 2B (1) | 162 Games |
| # | Player Name | Date | Team (Qty) | Lg (Qty) | Pos (Qty) | Suspension |
Steroid Suspensions in 2021
|
||||||
| # | Player Name | Date | Team (Qty) | Lg (Qty) | Pos (Qty) | Suspension |
| 1. | Paul Campbell | 05-03-2021 | Marlins (1) | NL (1) | P (1) | 80 Games |
| 2. | Gregory Santos | 06-29-2021 | Giants (1) | NL (2) | P (2) | 80 Games |
| 3. | Héctor Santiago | 07-29-2021 | Mariners (1) | AL (1) | P (3) | 80 Games |
| 4. | Ramón Laureano | 08-06-2021 | Athletics (1) | AL (2) | CF (1) | 80 Games |
| 5. | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| # | Player Name | Date | Team (Qty) | Lg (Qty) | Pos (Qty) | Suspension |
| MLB Steroid Suspensions | Bold = Mitchell Report | Research by Baseball Almanac | ||||||

(a) 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 were not available and wasn't yet officially a Major League player, but since he was on a Major League roster he was included in the list. (b) 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. (c) A lot of Internet chatter (meaning rumors) took place when Mike Cameron was suspended in 2007, but both Cameron & Major League Baseball confirmed he was suspended not for a steroid, but for a stimulant listed in the PED chart. (d) Official Press Release announced rather than take the 100 day suspension Manny Ramirez chose to retire from active player status, but would face the suspension if he returned to Major League Baseball. (e) Mike Jacobs was the first player to test positive for and be suspended for using human growth hormone (HGH). (f) The reduced suspension was due to a positive test for a Diuretic (Hydrochlorothiazide).
If you would like a detailed look at the Mitchell Report, with an easy to understand chart that lists every played named in the report, AND be able to download the entire report for yourself, simply visit our Mitchell Report analysis page.
If Baseball Almanac were in position to create policy we would have suggested that at the start of the regular season every Major League player on a roster would be tested for a clearly defined set of drugs two weeks before Opening Day. If found positive, they would be suspended without pay — for the entire season. One more positive test and they would be banned from the game of baseball. 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 drugs have done more harm to our national pastime than any group since the 1919 "Black" Sox. Agree? Disagree? Share your opinion on Baseball Fever.