Union Addresses Key Question in A-Rod Affair

[Omaha Steve]

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/baseball-insider/2009/02/union_addresses_key_question_i.html

Union Addresses Key Question in A-Rod Affair

Donald Fehr, head of baseball's union, just issued a statement that addressed one of the critical questions stemming from the revelation about Alex Rodriguez's positive steroids test in 2003: Why were the results from the 2003 "survey" testing not destroyed? The statement also reiterated the union's denial to the charge that COO Gene Orza tipped Rodriguez, and possibly others, about upcoming steroids tests in 2004. Here is the statement, in full:

"We are issuing this statement today to respond to two questions that
have been raised in the last few days in connection with reports about
Alex Rodriguez and the 2003 MLB testing program. First, it has been
asked why the results from our 2003 survey tests were not destroyed
before they were seized by the government in the spring of 2004. The
short answer is that in November, 2003, before that could take place, a
grand jury subpoena for program records was issued.

"In mid-November 2003, the 2003 survey test results were tabulated and
finalized. The MLBPA first received results on Tuesday, November 11.
Those results were finalized on Thursday, November 13, and the players
were advised by a memo dated Friday, November 14. Promptly
thereafter, the first steps were taken to begin the process of destruction of
the testing materials and records, as contemplated by the Basic
Agreement. On November 19, however, we learned that the government
had issued a subpoena. Upon learning this, we concluded, of course,
that it would be improper to proceed with the destruction of the materials.
The fact that such a subpoena issued in November 2003 has been part of
the public record for more than two years. See, U.S. v. CDT, 473 F3d at
920 (2006), and 513 F3d at 1090 (2008) (both opinions have now been
vacated). Other subpoenas followed, including one for all test results.

"Over the next several months we attempted to negotiate a resolution of
the matter with the United States Attorneys Office for the Northern District
of California. During that time we pledged to the government attorneys
that the materials would not be destroyed. When the government
attorneys refused to withdraw its subpoena for all 2003 test results, we
decided to ask a judge to determine to what the government was entitled.

FULL story at link.