The power that cocaine and heroin have over people is scary.

 

Yes, very scary. I have to wonder when the Reds took a flyer on him, if after a while they found out he wasn't clean and decided to deal him instead of deal with his issues. It's really a shame for a man of such talent and who also "seems" a decent guy, to have such deamons.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/arbitrator-rules-josh-hamilton-angel-dodges-suspension-article-1.2172441

 

Josh Hamilton dodged a drug suspension after an arbitrator ruled that the troubled Angels outfielder, who acknowledged that he had suffered a substance abuse relapse when he met with Major League Baseball officials in February, would not be disciplined for his latest problems involving alcohol and a drug of abuse, believed to be cocaine.

 

MLB issued a statement Friday that said it disagreed with the decision made by an arbitrator appointed under the joint drug program it administers with the Players Association.

 

“The Office of the Commissioner disagrees with the decision, and will seek to address deficiencies in the manner in which drugs of abuse are addressed under the Program in the collective bargaining process,” the statement said.

 

Hamilton, the 2010 AL MVP, is subject to the treatment program for numerous prior violations involving recreational drugs stretching back a decade.

 

As the Daily News and others reported, Hamilton self-reported his relapse involving both a drug of abuse and alcohol. MLB took the position that the player violated his treatment program, which arose as far back as 2003 when Hamilton was in the minor leagues with the Tampa Bay Rays.

 

“He confessed to the relapse. If that isn’t a violation of the drug program, than what is?” one source familiar with the case said. “It is not good for him in the long-term to give him a pass, either.”

 

Hamilton has said he began using crack cocaine and alcohol after he was injured in a 2001 traffic accident. Hamilton was suspended from baseball from 2003 to 2005 as a result of addiction to those substances. The conditions of his reinstatement include three weekly drug tests. He is also required to travel with an “accountability partner” whose job is to help Hamilton avoid drugs and alcohol.

 

Hamilton failed at least six drug tests as a Rays minor-leaguer, and MLB officials are trying to determine if he should be classified as a four-time offender of the drug policy.

 

After his February confession, MLB said it took “the position that Hamilton violated his treatment program and is subject to discipline by the commissioner.”

 

A four-person treatment board created by the joint drug program, which includes one lawyer and one medical representative each appointed by management and the Players Association, deadlocked 2-2 on whether Hamilton was subject to discipline. That caused the need for an arbitrator to break the tie.

 

The arbitrator said only that Hamilton was not subject to discipline and did not give reasons for the decision, the person familiar with the case said.

 

Here is the statement MLB issued Friday:

 

“The issue of whether Josh Hamilton violated his treatment program was submitted to the Treatment Board established under Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. The MLB representatives and the Players Association representatives on the Treatment Board deadlocked on that issue, with MLB taking the position that Hamilton violated his treatment program and is subject to discipline by the Commissioner. Under the procedures of the Program, an outside arbitrator was appointed to break the tie, and the arbitrator ruled that Josh Hamilton’s conduct did not violate his treatment program. As a result of that decision, the Office of the Commissioner is not permitted to suspend or impose any discipline on Hamilton. The Office of the Commissioner disagrees with the decision, and will seek to address deficiencies in the manner in which drugs of abuse are addressed under the Program in the collective bargaining process.”

How in the hell can they justify ever suspending anyone for drugs again?

How in the hell can they justify ever suspending anyone for drugs again?

 

Because MLB leaked details of a confidential program and shot themselves in the foot. If it's really about them helping people, then what do you think having those leaks is going to do to the next person like Hamilton who wants to seek their help? Going to be a little difficult to trust them, IMO.

 

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/03/05/mlbpa-leaks-about-josh-hamilton-are-from-people-who-want-to-see-josh-hamilton-hurt-personally-and-professionally/

 

 

The fact that he self-reported probably doesn't hurt him either.

Because MLB leaked details of a confidential program and shot themselves in the foot. The fact that he self-reported probably doesn't hurt him either.

 

 

So you're telling me that I can go ahead and use PEDs, self-report the use before I get caught, and face no suspension? Sweet deal. If I'm a MLB player right now, I'm looking for my doctor.

So you're telling me that I can go ahead and use PEDs, self-report the use before I get caught, and face no suspension? Sweet deal. If I'm a MLB player right now, I'm looking for my doctor.

 

If the MLB is going to violate a confidential program like they did with Hamilton, then you'd have a good chance as well. The whole thing that the MLBPA was saying was that the terms of his treatment program, under the rules agreed to, were supposed to be confidential. The MLB violated that by going to the media and disclosing details that should have been confidential. Breaking their own rules probably meant they wrote Hamilton a pass.

Josh Hamilton has filed for divorce. Mess.

 

Ex-Ranger Josh Hamilton filed for divorce at time relapse went public, court records show | | Dallas Morning News

He's a mess I heard on a radio show he was caught cheating on his wife and now had filed divorce accusing her. It's a shame how drugs and alcohol can destroy families, even the wealthy athletes. Drugs do not discriminate for sure.