Stanozolol, a "powerful, old-school steroid," has become a "nagging problem" in MLB, as four players have tested positive for it so far this season, according to Juliet Macur of the N.Y. TIMES. No MLBers "had failed a test for stanozolol in about seven years" before this season. However, minor leaguers "have been testing positive for it with disturbing regularity." Almost 125 minor league players were "caught using the drug" in the last six seasons. The stanozolol positives "accounted for one-fourth of all of MLB’s drug violations in that period." About 80% "were pitchers," and about 70% "were from the Dominican Republic." MLB Chief Legal Officer Dan Halem said that the league "recognized the problem, and for years had been trying to tackle it." Macur notes MLB has "employed two full-time staff members focused on drug prevention and education in the Dominican." The "good news is that the education programs are making a difference." Positive tests for stanozolol "appear to have peaked" in '12, with 33. Last year, "there were 11." Halem indicated that MLB is "trying to determine" if the four positive tests this spring were connected, but "so far the only thin link is that three of the pitchers are Dominican" (N.Y. TIMES, 4/22).
BRAVES BUSTED AGAIN: In Atlanta, David O'Brien notes MLB suspended Braves P Andrew McKirahan 80 games for testing positive for a banned substance, becoming the second Braves reliever suspended this season. Arodys Vizciano was one of the four pitchers given an 80-game ban for testing positive for stanozolol. Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said, "If you're not smart enough to realize major league baseball is serious about this and they should be, then you're not real smart. I know some of our veteran guys are upset. Guys keep getting caught and then all of a sudden you're hurting the team." Braves P Jason Grilli: "It's old news. Just new players that want to take the risk and gamble, and the penalties are in place. So if you want to gamble with your career, then by all means, good luck. It's a shame because we're still talking about this stuff." He added, "We have a list of things we can take, and if it's not on that list, then you don't take it. I mean, it's that simple, it's spelled out for us" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 4/22).
