Comments on: MLB Implements Blood Testing For Minor Leaguers

By: Matt Eddy

Matt Eddy — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 20:48:20 +0000

I'm sure MLB would love to institute blood testing for those players on 40-man rosters, too. But such a step probably will have to wait until the next Collective Bargaining Agreement is negotiated following the 2011 season.

By: odbsol

odbsol — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 15:13:20 +0000

"According to a Major League Baseball press release, the various minor leagues become the first professional sports leagues in the United States to conduct blood testing."
Why is MLB implementing an HGH drug test in the minor leagues and not in the major leagues as well? Collective bargaining? Seems awfully hypocritcal and cowardly.

By: dave

dave — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 23:58:42 +0000

The unchecked power that MLB has over minor leaguers is disturbing, especially concerning hispanic players. Non-English speaking players seem to be dramatically overrepresented in drug related suspensions. MLB is setting these players up to fail. As an example, a Myrtle Beach Sun article detailed how Spanish speaking Braves minor leaguers had to rely on bilingual teammates to figure out the MLB drug policy because the team did not bother hiring an interpreter.
If MLB is going to implement such an exhaustive drug testing program, and now use blood testing, it owes non-English speakers the same opportunity for success as English speaking North Americans.