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Union gives its okay to tougher steroid rules
Associated Press
Published December 9, 2005
HENDERSON, Nev. - Major-league players made it official, unanimously approving a new steroid agreement that toughens penalties and could result in a lifetime ban for a third offense.
The player's association executive board, as expected, approved the deal worked out with management Nov. 15 under the threat of even tougher legislation from Congress.
Union head Donald Fehr said Thursday there was no need for all players to vote on the agreement because there were no real objections.
"We discussed it so much with the players that there is no need for it," Fehr said. "The executive board has the authority, anyway."
The approval came during the union's annual executive board meeting, attended by 45-50 members at a resort outside Las Vegas.
Owners approved the same deal last month, and the union's acceptance formalizes the pact reached in earlier negotiations.
Under the agreement, players will be suspended 50 games without pay for a first offense and 100 for a second. A third positive test would result in a lifetime ban.
The sport's current penalties are a 10-day suspension for a first offense, 30 days for a second and 60 days for a third. The earliest a player could be banned for life was a fifth offense.
The deal also includes testing for amphetamines, which many have called an even bigger problem. A first positive test would lead to mandatory additional testing, a second offense would draw a 25-game suspension and a third would get 80 games.
WORLD CLASSIC: Free-agent outfielder Sammy Sosa wants to play for the Dominican Republic in the inaugural tournament in March. "It would be a great honor to represent my country," Sosa said. He might have to hit at the bottom of the lineup or come off the bench. The Dominican team is loaded with talented sluggers, including Vladimir Guerrero, David Ortiz, Albert Pujols, Manny Ramirez, Alfonso Soriano and Miguel Tejada, all of whom plan to participate.
[Last modified December 9, 2005, 01:19:17]
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