Major League Baseball’s New 3 strikes Rule for Drug Use

November 16th, 2005

Major League Baseball along with the players union has put into effect a new penalty for steroid use.  This move to regulate is preemptive before Congress determines appropriate testing procedures, punishments, and banned substances.

The new 3 strike policy will make it a serious career threatening mistake.   The urine drug test will be preformed during spring training physicals, another time at least once during the season and once again in the off season.

Previous restriction for failing a drug test was a 10 day suspension, now it is 50 days.  The second offense was a 30 day suspension and now is 100 games.  The third was a 60 day suspension buy now is a potential lifetime ban.  A player can be asked to be reinstated after a 2 year period if he was banned for life.

Having suspended will be hard for teams to cope if it happens and it is comparable to having a 2 month injury for being suspended.

In 2005, there have been 12 players that have failed urine drug testing.  Of these players if they don’t pass next year they will have the new penalties of 50 games because the new policy will take effect next season.  There last years offenses will not be counted in next years new rules and will not be treated as a second strike if they fail next year.