Fast Facts: Steroids Agreement

The following is a summary of the New Joint Drug Agreement reached by players and owners in Major League Baseball.

Summary of New Joint Drug Agreement

I. Penalties for Steroids

A. Test Results

1. First positive: 50 games

2. Second positive: 100 games

3. Third positive: Lifetime ban, subject to right to seek reinstatement after two years of suspension, with arbitral review of reinstatement decision.

B. Conviction for Possession

1. First offense - 60 to 80 games

2. Second offense - 120 games to 1 year

3. Third offense - Lifetime ban, subject to right to seek reinstatement after two years of suspension, with arbitral review of reinstatement decision.

C. Conviction for Distribution

1. First offense - 80 to 100 games

2. Second offense - Lifetime ban, subject to right to seek reinstatement after two years of suspension, with arbitral review of reinstatement decision.

II. Amphetamines

A. Suspicionless testing for amphetamines and other amphetamine-like stimulants during regular season and post-season

B. Disciplinary schedule for positive tests

1. First positive: Mandatory follow-up testing

2. Second positive: 25 games

3. Third positive: 80 games

4. Fourth positive: Discipline imposed by the Commissioner up to and including a lifetime ban, with arbitral review.

C. Conviction of Possession

1. First offense: 15 to 30 games

2. Second offense: 30 to 90 games

3. Third offense: 1 year

4. Fourth offense: Discipline imposed by the Commissioner up to and including a lifetime ban, with arbitral review.

D. Conviction for Distribution

1. First offense: 60 - 90 games

2. Second offense: 2 years

3. Third offense: Discipline imposed by the Commissioner up to and including a lifetime ban, with arbitral review.

III. Frequency of Testing

A. Every player will have:

1. A pre-season test in connection with spring training physicals.

2. An unannounced test during the season on a randomly selected date

B. There will be additional, year-round random testing

1. No matter how many times a player is tested, he remains subject to an additional random test

2. Testing will occur during the off-season

IV. Independent Administrator

A. Health Policy Advisory Committee ("HPAC") responsibilities reduced substantially.

B. An independent person, not affiliated with Baseball or the Major League Baseball Players Association, will be responsible for:

1. The scheduling of tests

2. Supervision of the collection process

3. Transportation of samples to the WADA-Certified Laboratory

4. Oversight of the laboratory

5. Reporting of positives

V. Governmental Investigations —

A. Agreement expressly recognizes the parties' cooperation with Congressional investigations.