Steroids

By sporthistory

  • Anti-Drug Abuse Act

    The Anti-Drug Abuse Act states that there are criminal penalties for those who use or posses anabolic steroids unless prescribed by physician.

  • Mark McGuire Admits to Using Steroids

    Mark McGuire admits to using steroids and then goes on to beat Sammy Sosa for the all time for record home runs. Using steroids or performance enhancing drugs is not illegal in baseball at this time.

  • MLB Unilaterally Implements its First Random Drug-Testing Program in the Minor Leagues

    All players outside the 40-man roster of each Major League club are subject to random testing for steroid-based, performance enhancing drugs. Also, drugs of abuse like, marijuana, and cocaine are tested for. The penalties are 15 games for a first positive test, 30 games for a second, 60 games for a third, and one year for a fourth. A fifth offense earns a ban from professional baseball for life.

  • Probable Drug Testing In MLB

    The senate commerce committee had to bargain for a new basic agreement to mandate a strict drug testing program at the major league level. It is agreed that no MLB player can be tested without probable cause.

  • Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program

    MLB and the union reveal the Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. The new policy calls for "Survey Testing" in 2003 to gauge the use of steroids among players on the 40-man rosters of each team. The tests will be anonymous and no one will be punished. It also educates players on the effects of using steroids.

  • Steve Bechler, a Baltimore Orioles Pitcher Dies

    Steve Bechler, a Baltimore Orioles pitcher dies during a workout. his autopsy shows that the cause of his death is from the over use of the over-the-counter, performance-enhancing drug, Ephedra.

  • Drug Testing in Spring MLB Training

    Drug testing begins in Major League Spring Training camps. Some teams, consider refusing to take the tests. A refusal to participate in the "Survey" phase is considered a positive test. All players on the 40 man roster are subject to random drug testing once and the MLB can test up to 240 random players a second time by the end of the season. If more than 5% of players tested positive then mandatory tests would continue until 2005.

  • MLB announced that 5-to-7 percent of tests were positive during the 2003 season

    MLB announced that 5-to-7 percent of 1,438 tests were positive during the 2003 season. This caused mandatory testing for performance-enhancing drugs with punishments for the first time in Major League history. The first positive test per player put them on medical track that includes treatment and further testing.

  • Grand Jury Presides Over BALCO Case Issues

    Results of all the drug tests are obtained from Major League players during the 2003 season. Negotiations by the union, argues that the subpoena is violating privacy rights afforded to the players in the Joint Drug Agreement, the drug tests are turned over.

  • Collection of Urine Samples Moved

    MLB and the Players Association agree to move all of the collection of urine samples and drug testing for both the Major Leagues and Minor Leagues to World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) facilities in Montreal and Los Angeles.

  • President Bush Signs into Law: Anabolic Steroid Control Act

    President Bush signs into law the Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 2004 that the U.S. Congress passed earlier in the month. The bill added hundreds of steroid-based drugs which are banned from over-the-counter sales without a prescription. By virtue of MLB's own agreement with the union, all of the drugs banned by Congress are now on baseball's own banned list.

  • Strengthening the Drug Program

    The new punitive measures for Major Leaguers are a 10-day suspension for the first positive test, 30 days for the second, 60 days for the third, and one year for the fourth. All without pay. On the first positive test the players name is released to the public.

  • First MLB Player to Test Positive

    Tampa Bay's Alex Sanchez becomes the first big league player to test positively under the new Joint Drug Program. He is suspended for 10 days.

  • "3 Strikes and You're Out"

    New punishment, "3 Strikes and You're Out". 1st offense is 50 game suspension, 2nd offense is 100 game suspension, 3rd offense punishment is being banned permanently.

  • First MLB Player to Appeal Positive Drug Test

    Ryan Braun successfully appealed his positive drug test. His defense was the that Fed-Ex did not ship is sample in a timely manner.