MLB to expand blood testing for human growth hormone

The organization will increase efforts to track the use of artificial testosterone

Published January 10, 2013 9:15PM (EST)

PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz. (AP) -- Major League Baseball will test for human growth hormone throughout the regular season and will step up efforts to track the use of artificial testosterone.

Players were subject to blood testing for HGH during spring training last year, and Thursday's agreement between management and the players' association expands that throughout the season. Those are in addition to urine tests for other performance-enhancing drugs.

Under the changes to baseball's drug agreement, the World Anti-Doping Agency laboratory in Laval, Quebec, will keep records of each player, including his baseline ratio of testosterone to epitestosterone, and will conduct Carbon Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS) tests of any urine specimens that "vary materially."

Also Thursday, owners approved the transfer of control of the Cleveland Indians to Paul Dolan, son of owner Larry Dolan.


By Bob Baum

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