LA Angels player won’t be punished for drug treatment program violation
Los Angeles Angels outfielder Josh Hamilton will not be disciplined or suspended for violating his drug treatment program, an arbitrator ruled Friday.
Major League Baseball announced an arbitrator decided Hamilton did not violate the treatment program. MLB said it disagreed with the decision.
A four-person treatment board created by baseball’s 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 should be disciplined. An arbitrator was then brought in to break the tie.
“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,” MLB said in a statement. “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.”
According to reports last month, Hamilton had a relapse of cocaine and alcohol use during the offseason and went to New York in February for a meeting with MLB officials.
Hamilton, 33, is expected to miss the start of the season due to offseason shoulder surgery,
Hamilton has a history of substance abuse extending to his early career in the minor leagues that included a suspension from February 2004 to June 2006.
Hamilton had alcohol relapses in 2009 and 2012 but came back to win American League MVP award in 2010 and play in the World Series for the Texas Rangers in 2010 and 2011.
Since signing a five-year, $125 million contract with the Angels in December 2012, Hamilton has struggled with injuries and production. Last season, he was limited to 89 games and batted .263 with a .331 on-base percentage, a .414 slugging percentage, 10 home runs and 44 RBIs. He has totaled 31 homers and 123 RBIs in the last two seasons.
