MLB To Test For Human Growth Hormone Under New Contract

 By Lee Davis

MLB To Test For Human Growth Hormone Under New Contract

Gregg Clifton Reports in Collegiate and Professional Sports Blog that Major League Baseball (MLB) and its players union have executed a new five year collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that will run through the 2016 season. The highlights of the new CBA include blood testing for Human Growth Hormone (HGH) and a rise in the minimum major league salary from $414,000 to $480,000 in 2012 and $500,000 by the end of the deal. In addition, the pact will expand the current playoff format to 10 teams by 2013 and introduce luxury taxes on both annual draft signings and international free agent signings.

For us that the agreement includes testing for Human Growth Hormone is a small step in the right direction. Added to it that MLB and the players union have actually inked a contract is a positive development given the continuing contract problems with the NBA and previously the NFL.

While the agreement makes MLB the first pro major league in North America to conduct blood tests for human growth hormone with testing to begin in Feruary 2012, testing will only be allowed during spring training and in the offseason. MLB will conduct testing during the season for cases that have reasonable cause. I understand that testing during the season may be hard to sell to the players, but until the testing procedure is frequent, consistent and thorough, the seriousness of MLB to get HGH drugs out of baseball is questionable. The implicit message is,dont get caught using HGH, as opposed to a zero tolerance for positive tests. The penalty will be a 50 game suspension for a positive test. Testing for HGH has been occurring in the minor leagues since 2010 because that could be done without approval of the players union.

What is HGH? HGH boosts lean muscle mass, it aids in recovery and improved stamina, but it is illegal to possess in the United States without a prescription. The NYT reports , Although there is no urine test for H.G.H., Olympic athletes have been blood-tested for the substance for nearly a decade. Within baseball, however, there was skepticism about the test, with some critics pointing to the fact that it was not producing any positives. Meanwhile, evidence emerged that the substance was indeed being used in the sport.

Isnt that what the circus that is known as the Roger Clemens trial was and is all about the persistent use of performance enhancing drugs by Americas superstars and exhaustion by fans and the general public with their use?

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