Steroid Testing Policy

Over the past 5 years baseball has done a lot to improve their testing policy for illegal substances.  Since then more random tests have been implicated and testing is being done by the 3rd party to ensure there is no tampering.  Prior to the 2003 season there was no set policy or punishments handed out by the league for positive tests.  Players were disciplined by their own organizations at their own discretion.

In 2005 the punishments were as follows: 10 game suspension for the 1st positive test.  30 game suspension for the 2nd.  50 game suspension for the 3rd.

In 2007 the punishments were as follows: 50 game suspension for the 1st test.  100 games for the 2nd test.  And a lifetime ban for a 3rd positive test.

Just over the past month baseball executives and the players union have agreed to a new policy that has stricter enforcement of these suspensions and bans more substances.  A complete overview of this policy may be found in the “Latest News” section of my blog.