[alnorth]

MLB and MLBPA announced an interesting change to the drug testing program. A first-time use will be 80 games. 2nd time will be 162 games, playoffs, and forfeit the entire year's contract (closing the A-Rod loophole). They are also more than doubling the number of urine tests and random blood tests.

If a player can prove to an arbitration panel that use of an illegal substance was not intentional, then the arbitrators may choose to reduce the penalty.

Any player who is suspended for PED use, whether its intentional or not, will be forced to go through 6 random urine tests and 3 random blood tests every year for the rest of his MLB career.