MLB team owners unanimously voted to impose a lockout at the beginning of December after the 2017-21 collective bargaining agreement (CBA) expired had several repercussions on the sport.
The work stoppage halted all Major League player activity, meaning free agent signings, trades and waiver claims are not permitted. Players also aren’t allowed to use team facilities, including those rehabbing injuries.
Another loss brought on by the lockout is drug testing. According to Ronald Blum of The Associated Press, MLB has stopped testing players for steroids — a first in two decades — due to the expiration of the CBA:
Testing for steroids was halted for the first time in nearly 20 years due to the expiration of the sport’s drug agreement between management and the players’ association, two people familiar with the sport’s Joint Drug Program told The Associated Press. The people spoke on condition of anonymity Monday because no public announcement was made.
Players were informed of the league’s pause on drug testing in a guide created by the union, which cites the NFL and NHL doing the same in past work stoppages:
Baseball’s halt in testing was signaled to players in a “Work Stoppage Guide” created by the Major League Baseball Players Association and distributed to its members, a copy of which was obtained by the AP.
“Will Joint Drug Agreement (JDA) testing be administered during a work stoppage?” read a heading on page 19. “Based on past precedent in the NFL and NHL, it is unlikely that MLB can administer JDA testing during a work stoppage,” the guide said.
MLB halting drug testing comes at an ironic time as Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens were recently denied entry into the National Baseball Hall of Fame due to suspected use of performance-enhancing drugs.
Although the league isn’t currently testing for steroids, that will once again be implemented when they strike a new CBA with the Players Association.
Players Association expecting CBA offer from MLB
After refusing to make a counteroffer last week, MLB team owners are holding meetings in Orlando, and there is an expectation they will present another proposal to the players in the coming days.
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