Major League Baseball initiated its first drug testing program in 2001 in the minor leagues. However, as Sen. George Mitchell’s report stated Thursday, rules long have been on the books regarding use of drugs. Major League Baseball blamed the union for not agreeing to a policy until forced to by Congress.
1971: A drug policy is written that prohibits using any prescription medicine without a prescription, according to Mitchell.
1991: Steroids are first listed as a prohibited substance, according to former commissioner Fay Vincent.
2001: MLB unilaterally implements its first random drug-testing program, in the minor leagues.
June 18, 2002: Congress orders MLB to negotiate a strict drug testing program.
Aug. 30, 2002: MLB and the union unveil Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program as an addendum to the new Basic Agreement. The new policy calls for “survey testing” in 2003 to gauge the use of steroids among players on the 40-man roster.
March 1, 2003: Drug testing begins at major-league camps.
Oct. 29, 2003: The FDA bans THG. The next day MLB places the designer drug on its testing list for the 2004 season.
Nov. 13, 2003: MLB announced that 5 to 7 percent of 1,438 tests were positive during the 2003 season, setting in motion mandatory testing for performance- enhancing drugs with punishments for the first time in major-league history.
Jan. 13, 2005: 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 are without pay.
March 5, 2005: Selig announces the results of the 2004 drug tests in Mesa, Ariz. Selig says he’s “startled” by the drop in positive test results from 5 to 7 percent in 2003 to from 1 to 2 percent in 2004.
Nov. 15, 2005: Major League Baseball and the players association reached agreement on a plan that significantly strengthens penalties for steroid and other illegal drug use. Penalties for steroid use will be 50 games for a first offense, 100 games for a second and a lifetime ban for a third. The plan also includes testing and suspensions for amphetamine use.
