Stearns Asks Commissioner Selig for Details on Palmeiro Case and the League's Drug Testing Policy
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
- August 8, 2005 -
STEARNS ASKS COMMISSIONER SELIG FOR DETAILS ON PALMEIRO CASE AND THE LEAGUE'S DRUG TESTING POLICY
STEARNS IS AUTHOR OF THE DRUG FREE SPORTS ACT
WASHINGTON, AUG. 8, 2005 - "The suspension of eight major league baseball players, including Rafael Palmeiro, indicates that steroid use is still a problem in MLB," said Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL), Chairman of the Commerce, Trade & Consumer Protection Subcommittee. "This is especially troubling since Palmeiro vehemently denied using steroids during testimony at a congressional hearing. Stronger action is necessary to end the use of steroids in professional sports."
Stearns was joined by Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX), Chairman of the Energy & Commerce Committee, in sending a letter to MLB Commissioner Bud Selig requesting additional information on the handling of the Palmeiro case and on the league's drug testing policy.
The letter states: "I commend Major League Baseball and the Players Association for making changes in its drug program to address-performance enhancing substances such as steroids. However, it appears the current penalties under the program will not deter even those players with the most to lose. H.R. 3084, the Drug Free Sports Act, remains an important part of attacking this serious problem with a comprehensive and independent program armed with penalties with bite."
The letter requests that Selig answer eight specific questions:
1) On what date were the drug tests administered?
2) Who administered the drug tests and determined the results?
3) On what date did those drug tests show a positive result?
4) On what date was Mr. Palmeiro informed of the results of the drug tests?
5) How much time elapsed between the date of the positive result in Mr. Palmeiro's case and the when those positive results
were made public?
6) Mr. Palmeiro indicated in his press statement that his case went to an arbiter. Please provide a timeline of the arbitration
process from initiation to conclusion and whether this is consistent with the League's drug policy.
7) Was this the first case in 2005 under the new program to be heard by an arbiter?
8) Are there any conditions, further penalties, or obligations related to the positive drug test that are placed on Mr. Palmeiro
after he serves his ten day suspension?
http://www.house.gov/stearns/PressReleases/PR2005Releases/pr-050808-Steroids.html