Major League Baseball's drug policy—the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program—was created by agreement between the MLB Players Association and the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball. The goal was to deter and end the use of banned substances, like anabolic steroids and other illegal drugs, and to "provide for, in keeping with the overall purposes of the Program, an orderly, systematic, and cooperative resolution of any disputes that may arise concerning the existence, interpretation, or application" of the policy itself. The Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program began use in the Spring of 2006.
While the Health Policy Advisory Committee (HPAC) can make recommendations to the Office of the Commissioner regarding punishment, it can't discipline players for violations of the drug policy, except to place them in the appropriate treatment programs. Such authority belongs to the Office of the Commissioner.
Under the policy, all players can't use, possess, sell, mediate a sale of, distribute, or allow distribution of any Drug of Abuse, human growth hormone (HGH) and Steroid. Drugs or substances listed under Schedule II of the Controlled Substances Act are considered drugs of abuse by the Program. Players who require prescription medication can still use it with a "Therapeutic Use Exemption" granted by MLB.
Prohibited Substances can get on the list only by the unanimous vote of HPAC, provided that the addition by the federal government of a substance to Schedule I, II, or III will automatically result in that substance being added to the list.
Testing is administered via scientifically-validated urine test.
Each Player shall be tested when they get to Spring Training. All Players will be selected for an additional unannounced urine specimen collection during the season on a randomly selected date.
Testing for drugs of abuse isn't random, but on a basis of reasonable cause. If one of the HPAC panel members can prove that a player used, possessed, or sold banned substances in the last 12 months, they call a conference and discuss the evidence with the other members. If a majority vote to test the suspected player is reached then testing will take place no later than two days. Drugs of abuse include natural cannabinoids (e.g., THC, hashish and marijuana), synthetic THC and cannabimimetics (e.g., K2 and Spice), cocaine, LSD, opiates (e.g., oxycodone, heroin, codeine, and morphine), MDMA (ecstasy), GHB and phencyclidine (PCP).
Players and the collector must instruct the player to return in an hour, during which he can only drink 15 oz. of fluid in a sealed container(s) certified by the collector.
Any test done by the Program will be considered "positive" if one of three things happens:
| Drug | Initial Test Level (ng/mL) | Confirmation Test Level (ng/mL) |
| Cocaine Metabolites | 300 | 150 |
| Opiates/Metabolites | 2000 | 2000 |
| Phencyclicdine (PCP) | 25 | 25 |
| Cannabinoids | 50 | 15 |
A test is considered positive if a sufficient amount of steroids are present, except nandrolone, which is considered positive only if the level exceeds 2 ng/ml.
The presence of a Stimulant shall be considered a positive only if the level exceeds 250 ng/ml, unless specified otherwise below:
| Drug | Confirmation Test Level (ng/mL) |
| Amfepramone (Diethylproprion) | 500 |
| Amphetaminil | 2000 |
| Chlorphentermine | 500 |
| Clortermine | 500 |
| Ephedrine | 10 |
| Methylphenidate | 1000 |
| Phenpentermine | 1000 |
| Phentermine | 500 |
HPAC immediately notifies the Player and the Club of the positive drug test result.
On January 10, 2013, MLB and the players union reached an agreement to add random, in-season human growth hormone and to a new test to reveal the use of testosterone. Testing began the 2013 season.[1]
All players who enter the program are placed on the Clinical track, except when a player tests positive for steroids, does not comply with the initial evaluation, cooperate in his treatment, is convicted or pleads guilty or nolo contendere to the sale or use and prohibited substance, or participates in the sale or distribution of any banned substance. In that event, the player is placed in the Administrative Track. HPAC has the discretion to place a player in the Administrative Track in any other event, but not solely on the basis that the player is in an inpatient treatment program. Transfer to the Administrative track is contingent on a majority vote, and in the case of a tie, a fifth member must cast a vote based on reasonable cause and cannot consider past practice. These votes are tallied and set forth in progressing games
Players are entitled to salary retention for the first 30 days they are required to be in inpatient treatment or outpatient treatment that forces his absence from the Club, and half salary retention for the next thirty days, over the course of his career. However, players are not entitled to salary retention for any such period after 60 days during the course of his career.
Players are required to be seen at least once by HPAC, to determine the proper treatment program. HPAC may decide that additional meetings and medical and/or toxicology examinations are required.
The Office of the Commissioner, the Association, HPAC, Club personnel, and all of their members, affiliates, agents, consultants and employees, aren't allowed to publicly disclose information about the Player's test results, Initial Evaluation, diagnosis, Treatment Program (including whether a Player is on either the Clinical or Administrative Track), prognosis or compliance with the Program.
All suspensions are without pay.
All suspensions are without pay.