The Biz of Baseball sums up the joint report from MLB and the MLBPA about the results of drug testing last season:
The report shows that 3,486 tests were conducted over the course of last season, and of them, 19 tests reported by the lab overseeing the testing program showed adverse analytical findings that resulted in discipline, or less than 1 percent (0.55%) of the total samples tested.
The Daily News points out that players may be getting around the test by reporting that they are taking stimulants for Attention Deficit Disorder:
Anti-doping expert Dr. Gary Wadler said he thinks baseball needs to re-examine its TUE protocol in light of the high number of TUEs.
“It seems to me as an internist, that’s a disproportionate number of adults with ADD requiring stimulants — roughly 10% of the league. I’ve seen a lot of adults (as patients) and I can count on one hand the number of people I’ve seen with ADD,” said Wadler, who is chairman of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s Prohibited List and Methods Committee. “Since so many (players) received TUEs, it’s crying out for close examination of the TUE process for baseball and how it stacks up against the international standard. I don’t know that there’s an epidemic of ADD in baseball.”
While testing has lessened the use of PED’s in MLB it is still a flawed system that needs to be constantly updated. The game of cat and mouse continues.
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