The Ryan Braun Rules are in effect! MLB, MLBPA Announce modifications to joint drug agreement

In the recently-completed Collective Bargaining Agreement, the league and the union agreed to make several modifications to the Joint Drug Agreement which governs drug testing, suspensions and whatnot in baseball.  They just announced that they have reached agreement on the modifications.

They’re all listed below. The ones that seem notable or major to me in bold. Many of them are designed to specifically address the Ryan Braun fiasco from this spring:

• Adding hGH blood testing during Spring Training, during the off-season, and for reasonable cause.  The parties also agreed to study expanding hGH testing to the regular season.
• Increasing the number of random tests during the season and off-season.
• Modifying the Collection Procedures of the Program to clarify when collectors must deliver specimens to the courier, and how specimens should be stored prior to delivery to the courier.
• Modifying the Appeals procedures of the Program, including the circumstances under which procedural deviations will result in the invalidation of test results.
• Creating an Expert Panel of recognized ADD/ADHD experts to advise the Independent Program Administrator (“IPA&rdquo on Therapeutic Use Exemption (“TUE&rdquo applications for ADD/ADHD medications, and another expert panel of medical professionals to advise the IPA on TUE applications for other medications.
• Strengthening the protocols for addressing use by players of drugs of abuse.
• Permitting public announcement of the specific substance that resulted in a player’s positive test result or discipline.
• Making players who are suspended for violating the Program prior to the All-Star Break (including during Spring Training and the preceding off-season) ineligible to be elected or selected for the All-Star Game.
• Establishing a protocol for evaluating and treating players who may suffer from an alcohol use problem or who have engaged in off-field violent conduct.
• Clarifying the rules for violations for use or possession of prohibited substances based on evidence other than positive test results (“non-analytical positives.&rdquo
• Increasing the penalties for criminal convictions for possession or use of drugs of abuse (including stimulants).

Some of these, such as the no-All-Star Game for those who test positive thing have been long sought-after. I’ll also note, building on yesterday’s post, that while there is now something for evaluating people with alcohol problems, and something about increasing discipline for drug convictions, there is nothing about DUI incidents or convictions. So close, guys!


(hardballtalk.com)