Selig Says MLB Not Ready To Hand Drug Program To Third Party

Selig Says MLB Not Ready To Outsource Its Drug Program

MLB Commissioner Bud Selig yesterday said that MLB "is not ready to completely turn over administration of its joint drug program to an independent party," according to Barry Bloom of MLB.com. Selig: "Comparing our sport to Olympics sometimes in terms of penalties is just not fair because we play every day, every year. But we need to work on independence and transparency." Bloom noted the current program is being administered by a member of management, a member of the MLBPA and Dr. Bryan Smith, added when the program re-opened for negotiation in '05. In his report on steroid use in MLB, former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell called for "complete independent oversight of the sport's current program to be collectively bargained." Meanwhile, Selig indicated that he is "still evaluating a number of active players and management personnel named" in the Mitchell Report regarding possible disciplinary action (MLB.com, 2/12).