POINTS OUT DISCREPANCY IN MLB INDICATING NO FREE PASSES IN STEROID USE WITH POLICY GIVING COMMISSIONER DISCRETION TO IMPOSE PENALITES

Washington, Mar 16, 2005 - "In my hearing last week on steroids in sports, I put Major League Baseball (MLB) and the other leagues on notice that they must take action on steroid use in their sports," said Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL), Chairman of the Commerce, Trade & Consumer Protection Subcommittee. In testimony to Stearns panel on Thursday, March 10, 2005, Frank Coonelly, Senior VP for MLB, described baseball's new policy as having "no free passes under the new policy.  First-time offenders will be suspended, without pay, for ten days and will be publicly identified as having violated the drug policy."

Said Stearns, "Although I question the severity of a 10-day suspension for illegal acts in baseball, I am deeply concerned that the new policy is less than was portrayed to me."  Stearns was reacting to an ESPN interview with Rob Manfred, Executive VP on Labor and Human Resources for MLB, in which Manfred stated, "The way the policy is written, is for a first positive steroid test, the Commissioner has the discretion to impose a 10-day suspension, or a $10,000 fine."

"Either MLB misled the members of my subcommittee, or it does not understand fully its new steroid policy," added Stearns.  "Clearly, MLB still does not appreciate the seriousness of steroid use in baseball, and I contacted Commissioner Selig to get clarification on this discrepancy.  Also, Mr. Coonelly failed to point out that the contract for this policy has not been completely ratified by the player's union.”