Josh Hamilton will not be suspended for drug relapse

[KamaAina]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/josh-hamilton-will-not-be-suspended-for-drug-relapse-162247060.html

Josh Hamilton will not be suspended after an arbitrator ruled a binge around Super Bowl weekend that resulted in a positive test did not violate his drug-treatment program.

After Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association deadlocked on whether to suspend Hamilton for cocaine use, an independent arbitrator considered the case of the Los Angeles Angels outfielder and agreed with the union’s argument that one-time use did not merit a suspension.

Hamilton’s case hinged on what constituted a violation of the program. The failure to comply with a drug-treatment program – which Hamilton has been in for nearly a decade following long battles with cocaine and alcohol – was not undone by Hamilton’s episode, the arbitrator ruled.

The league issued a statement Friday afternoon acknowledging the defeat: “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.”

[bluedigger]

1. Good for Josh.

Punishing a player for a relapse that isn't PED related is bs.

[Initech]

2. I'm a life long Angels fan here.

I was never thrilled with the signing of Josh Hamilton - I have always thought he was a loose cannon and now we know for sure that's the case. I do agree that harsh punishment is not the way to go, but the dude needs to get some serious help ASAP.