NEW YORK (AP) — The number of drug tests conducted by Major League Baseball rose 3 percent in the past year, when Colorado Rockies catcher Eliezer Alfonzo was the only big leaguer suspended for using a performance-enhancing substance.
Alfonzo was banned for 100 games and there was just one positive for PEDs among 3,868 tests, according to the annual report issued Thursday by Dr. Bryan Smith, the independent administrator for baseball’s drug program. The positive test was for methenolone, which is contained in steroids sold under the brand name Primobolan.
Under its new labor deal reached last week, baseball players will undergo blood testing for human growth hormone during spring training, starting in February. There is no agreement yet for regular-season blood testing.
