First offense would carry a 50 game suspension. Third would be a LIFETIME ban.

Quote :

"Associated Press WASHINGTON -- Major League Baseball players and owners agreed to toughen penalties for steroid use to a 50-game suspension for a first failed test and a lifetime ban for a third, The Associated Press learned. The deal, which also adds testing for amphetamines, was described to the AP by two congressional aides on condition of anonymity because it had not been officially announced. A formal announcement was planned for later Tuesday, a baseball official told the AP. Baseball's current steroid penalties are a 10-day suspension for a first offense, 30 days for a second offense, and 60 days for a third. The earliest a player could be banned for life is a fifth offense. The sport's second new steroids agreement in 10 months came after lengthy negotiations prompted by urging from Congress -- including the threat of legislation that would require higher penalties and stricter testing standards. "

[Edited on November 15, 2005 at 1:37 PM. Reason : f]

11/15/2005 1:36:30 PM

here here

11/15/2005 1:45:39 PM

YESSSSS

11/15/2005 1:57:27 PM

cool

i still wont watch

11/15/2005 2:00:00 PM

i dont understand why this wasnt done 10 years ago

11/15/2005 2:03:33 PM

The game was coming off an alltime low so the powers that be decided to 'look the other way.' Ten years later, the game is at all time HIGH as far as popularity, attendence, merchandising sales, etc so they can afford to make it clean again.

That is my opinion at least.

11/15/2005 2:05:40 PM

Yeah, that's at least a reasonable theory.

11/15/2005 2:09:09 PM

Wasn't this the lowest viewing audience for a World Series in like, forever? Also, what is the penalty for the second offense?

11/15/2005 2:11:39 PM

^ TV ratings don't mean much honestly. MLB is breaking attendence records IN the ballparks which is what really matters.

Plus. Seriously the teams playing have MINISCULE fan bases...

11/15/2005 2:14:40 PM

I know there were talks of 100 games for a second offense. It's probably around that.

11/15/2005 2:14:56 PM

1st offense - 50 games

2nd offense - 100 games

3rd offense - lifetime ban

after 2 yrs can appel to remove ban



but too little too late

11/15/2005 2:17:12 PM

How do you figure too little too late?

11/15/2005 2:18:21 PM

I don't trust baseball, and it will be a long time till people can trust the owners and players

Don't think I am not glad....just think they should have been stiffer penalties like this a loooooong time ago.

MLB lost a lot of fans.

11/15/2005 2:22:24 PM

but the thing is that they HAVE NOT lost a lot of fans. Just look at the attendence numbers and merchandies sales. It's just not true.

it was a long time coming though..

[Edited on November 15, 2005 at 2:26 PM. Reason : f]

11/15/2005 2:25:37 PM

Im glad congress took all this time to straighten up Baseball
I mean its not like they have anything better to do

11/15/2005 3:17:50 PM

do amphetamenes carry the same penalty as steroids?

On ESPN radio they were talking to a player sometime last year and he said he would guess that 80% of players used some sort of amphetamenes, b/c the schedule was so grueling

they called them greenies, or uppers, and came in a bunch of formats, it seems like there might be a big difference in baseball (as far as how many games guys play) if these types of uppers carry the same penalty as steroids

11/15/2005 3:29:50 PM

This is whats listed on espn.com for amphetamines

Quote :

"Amphetamine Penalties (There was no testing for amphetamines in previous agreement) • First positive test -- Mandatory additional testing. • Second positive -- 25-game suspension. • Third positive -- 80-game suspension. • Fourth positive -- Commissioner's discretion, with an arbitrator being able to review. • In addition, a conviction for possession carries a 15-to-30 game penalty, while a second offense carries a 30-to-90 game penalty. A third offense nets the offender a one-year ban, while a fourth offense equals punishment at commissioner's discretion. If a player is convicted for distribution, he will be suspended 60-to-90 games, while a second offense equals a two-year ban and punishment for a third offense is commissioner's discretion."

11/15/2005 3:40:13 PM

Quote :

"^ TV ratings don't mean much honestly. MLB is breaking attendence records IN the ballparks which is what really matters."

This is just not true. MLB got an extra 140 million in ad revenue from the Sox run to the championship last year when viewership was up 30% from the year before.

11/15/2005 4:47:11 PM

Context. As far as a barometer for popularity is what I meant...

11/15/2005 4:48:03 PM

so does that mean if a player was caught this year but requested a hearing ala Palmeiro and it comes out after today would they go by this policy or the old policy, because rumors are swirling that another big name is coming out soon.

11/15/2005 5:37:13 PM

I agree with this except for the appeal after 2 years

if they get rid of that then IMO they are golden

11/15/2005 5:52:01 PM

^^^ gotcha

11/15/2005 5:55:31 PM

At least they finally instated real penalties, not this 10-game bullshit.

11/15/2005 5:56:22 PM

all pro sports should allow steroid usage. it's the only thing that's made baseball and football enjoyable.

11/15/2005 6:26:57 PM

Quote :

"so does that mean if a player was caught this year but requested a hearing ala Palmeiro and it comes out after today would they go by this policy or the old policy, because rumors are swirling that another big name is coming out soon."

I believe I heard Bud Selig say on SportsCenter that the new policy goes into effect for the 2006 season

11/16/2005 12:02:42 AM

apparently the "another big name" that was rumored was Eddy Guerrerro

11/16/2005 12:32:30 AM