Brown notes that 9 pitchers, including Twins veteran starter Ervin Santana, have been caught and suspended for using stanozolol.
In March, David Rollins, a Rule 5 pitcher for Mariners was suspended 80 games after testing positive for stanozolol. In the prior year, MLB suspended five others – all minor leaguers – for the same.
Stanozolol is not a new drug. It is easily detected in the MLB drug protocol. It was one of those muscle building equine drugs that got carried over into bodybuilding circles.
Within two weeks, MLB announced the suspensions of three more pitchers – big leaguers Arodys Vizcaino, Ervin Santana and Jenrry Mejia – for stanozolol.
Eight of nine pitchers are from the Dominican Republic, while Rollins, a
Texan who played winter ball in the off-season in Puerto Rico.
MLB says it is investigating and
that it has yet to discover a common thread.
The problem is that the average major league salary this year is $4 million. That is at least four million reasons to try to get "an edge" and a major league contract. Players will do anything if they think it will get them to the majors, and its fame and fortune. Normally, people think hitters are the ones who use performance enhancing steroids, but pitchers have admitted that some of these drugs to speed along the healing process in their arms.
The CBA is very specific about drug use. The players are told about the drug policy in spring training. Their agents are well aware of the consequences of a failed drug test. But the circle of this scandal never seems to fade into the past.
