Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig made the following statement today regarding the discipline issued
to players in relation to Major League Baseball’s Biogenesis investigation:
“Major League Baseball has worked diligently with the Players Association for more than a decade to make our
Joint Drug Program the best in all of professional sports. I am proud of the comprehensive nature of our efforts – not
only with regard to random testing, groundbreaking blood testing for human Growth Hormone and one of the most
significant longitudinal profiling programs in the world, but also our investigative capabilities, which proved vital to the
Biogenesis case. Upon learning that players were linked to the use of performance-enhancing drugs, we vigorously
pursued evidence that linked those individuals to violations of our Program. We conducted a thorough, aggressive
investigation guided by facts so that we could justly enforce our rules.
“Despite the challenges this situation has created during a great season on the field, we pursued this matter
because it was not only the right thing to do, but the only thing to do. For weeks, I have noted the many players
throughout the game who have strongly voiced their support on this issue, and I thank them for it. I appreciate the
unwavering support of our owners and club personnel, who share my ardent desire to address this situation
appropriately. I am also grateful to the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society and our club physicians, who
were instrumental in the banning of amphetamines and whose expertise remains invaluable to me. As an institution,
we have made unprecedented strides together.
“It is important to point out that 16,000 total urine and blood tests were conducted on players worldwide under
MLB Drug Programs in 2012. With the important additions of the hGH testing and longitudinal profiling this season, we
are more confident than ever in the effectiveness of the testing program. Those players who have violated the
Program have created scrutiny for the vast majority of our players, who play the game the right way.
“This case resoundingly illustrates that the strength of our Program is not limited only to testing. We continue
to attack this issue on every front – from science and research, to education and awareness, to fact-finding and
investigative skills. Major League Baseball is proud of the enormous progress we have made, and we look forward to
working with the players to make the penalties for violations of the Drug Program even more stringent and a stronger
deterrent.
“As a social institution with enormous social responsibilities, Baseball must do everything it can to maintain
integrity, fairness and a level playing field. We are committed to working together with players to reiterate that
performance-enhancing drugs will not be tolerated in our game.”
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