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An annual report released as part of Major League Baseball’s drug program shows that of 5,136 tests for performance-enhancing drugs and stimulants, a total of 18 tested positive, or less than 1 percent (0.35%) during the 2012 season. While 18 players tested positive for banned substances, not all served suspensions as a first offense for stimulants only results in follow-up testing. Only at the time of second violation does game suspension occur with that resulting in 25 games. Two players served suspensions for stimulants as part of this past season’s testing. Baltimore Orioles shortstop Ryan Adams, who at the time was on the roster of the Triple-A Norfolk Tides was suspended on Nov. 2, and just this past Tuesday, Philadelphia Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz joined him. Both players will see their suspensions served beginning next season.
There were a total of 7 positive tests for performance-enhancing substances that resulted in discipline, with four accounting for testosterone that resulted in 50 game suspension. Three were announced suspensions during the course of the year (San Diego Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal; Oakland Athletics pitcher Bartolo Colon, and; San Francisco Giants outfielder Melky Cabrera), but the fourth was not announced. That now appears to be Manny Ramirez who retired in early 2011 to avoid a 100-game suspension for a second violation of the drug policy. After sitting out the entire 2011 season, a deal was reached with MLB and the MLBPA to allow his reinstatement and to serve just 50 games rather than 100 after signing with the Athletics.
In terms of the other three PED violations that resulted in discipline, they were one for Clostebol (Philadelphia Phillies infielder Freddy Galvis, 50 games), one for Tamoxifen (free agent outfielder Marlon Byrd, 50 games), and one for Clenbuterol (San Francisco Giants pitcher Guillermo Mota who received a 100 game suspension for a second PED violation. His first was Nov 1 of 2006 while with the Mets).
As part of the new labor agreement— and a historic first, the league—the sides agreed to and conducted blood testing for human-growth hormone (hGH) this past season. The tests were all conducted during Spring Training, and for 2012, there was no in-season blood draws for testing. Of the 5,136 tests, there were 1,181 blood tests for hGH. The league and union are nearing changes to the policy that could be announced shortly, and with it, it is possible that testing during the regular season could occur as the current labor agreement states that the sides will look into the “possibility of implementing in-season testing.” This will also be the first full offseason in which random offseason testing will occur. The drug policy does not state how many tests for hGH can occur during that time. The drug policy states that the blood draws “will be tested for the presence of hGH only.”
READ THE LATEST MLB/MLBPA DRUG AGREEMENT
Below is a breakdown of what substances resulted in discipline:
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Adverse Analytical Findings
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Substances
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#
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Performance Enhancing Substances
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7
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| Clenbuterol |
1 |
| Clostebol |
1 |
| Tamoxifen |
1 |
| Testosterone |
4 |
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Stimulants
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11
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| Adderall |
10 |
| d-amphetamine |
1 |
Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs), which allow a player to use banned substances based upon approved medical needs, totaled 119 in the report, up from 111 last year when there were 105 were for attention deficit disorder, two for hypertension, one for hypogonadism, one for narcolepsy, and two for postconcussion syndrome.
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Theraputic Use Exemptions (TUEs)
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|
Exemption
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#
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| Attention Deficit Disorder |
116 |
| Hypertension |
2
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| Hypogonadism |
1
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Total
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119
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There are other changes that have taken place with this being the first report after the new labor agreement…
- Gone is Bryan Smith as the independent drug program administrator. He was replaced with Jeffrey M. Anderson.
- This is the first season in which the exact substance that a player was suspended for was released.
- Starting with the 2012-2013 off-season, players will be subject to random unannounced testing for hGH.
Source: Major League Baseball, Major League Baseball Player's Association
 Maury Brown is the Founder and President of the Business of Sports Network, which includes The Biz of Baseball, The Biz of Football, The Biz of Basketball and The Biz of Hockey. He writes for Baseball Prospectus and is a contributor to Forbes. He is available as a freelance writer. Brown's full bio is here. He looks forward to your comments via email and can be contacted through the Business of Sports Network (select his name in the dropdown provided).
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