The September, 2009 cover of SZ, celebrating its 10th anniversary as the first digital sports magazine, dedicated to minor league and alternative professional baseeball, hockey, basketball, football, lacrosse and auto racing.Commissioner Bud Selig Allows Steroid Suspension-Shaving, Breaks MLB Rules; Dozens of Players' Seasons Potentially in Jeopardy

MLN Newswire - 09.20.09 - SZ SPECIAL INVESTIGATION - Did you know that there is no rule against drug or Performance-Enhancing Substance (PES) usage in either MLB or Minor League Baseball (MiLB)? 

There never has been, in the history of the game.

How, then, did Commissioner Allan (Bud) Selig issue 50 game 'suspensions' for positive PES tests under the rules of the game as they now stand?

He cannot. 

The Commissioner and his office have been allowing a labor relations agreement not in the rule book that is perhaps best described as a "gentleman's agreement" between MLB and the players' union, to trump the rules  and punishments that have been used in professional baseball for more than a century.

In "At What Cost, Peace," on the cover of the current issue of SZ, celebrating its 10th anniversary as the first digital sports magazine on the Internet,  (www.mlnsports.com ) we will tell you why MLB seems to place peace with the MLB Players Association above the rules of the game itself.

How did Manny Ramirez, J.C. Romero, Mike Cameron, and Sergio Mitre all serve less than their 50 game suspensions?  Why could they be looking at a year or more? 

How could dozens of minor leaguers, and leagues have their seasons compromised by Selig's apparent cherry-picking of rules and deals?

Players from minor league affiliates of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, Milwaukee Brewers, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Angels, Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres, Colorado Rockies, Tampa Bay Rays, Kansas City Royals and Minnesota Twins organizations may all have been affected.

Individual, team, and league stats and records for 2009 in the Pacific Coast League (AAA), International League (AAA), California League (High-A) and the Florida State League (High-A) could be subject to revision if the rules of the game as they were written for 2009 are upheld.

"At What Cost, Peace" is the culmination of  a 2-1/2 month in-depth investigation by MLN Sports into the rules and labor agreements.

We expose the failed anti-doping deals of MLB which Selig termed "the strongest drug testing program in professional sports" on Capitol Hill in the wake of the devastating Mitchell Reports.

We will tell you about the rule manipulations, the bootstrap  and back-room deals of a politically-charged anti-doping policy, the latest chapter in the power struggle between MLB and the MLB Players Association.

If cheating by gambling or throwing a game can be a crime in the rule book, why not drugs? 

Is there a way to really get to a world-class anti-doping system in MLB and MiLB baseball?

Find out. Click here to see the full feature article on the cover of the current SZ.