SAN FRANCISCO (CN) - The 9th Circuit agreed to rehear a dispute over whether federal prosecutors legally obtained the positive drug test results of 104 professional baseball players during their investigation of steroid use in the sport.
A three-judge panel ruled in December 2007 that prosecutors can keep evidence seized from the major league's drug-testing administrator and enforce additional subpoenas for more than 100 players who tested positive for illegal substances in 2003.
The decision reversed a federal judge's ruling to discard the tests on the grounds that the government lacked the power to seize players' drug-testing records. Comprehensive Drug Testing conducted the testing during an investigation of BALCO, which was accused of distributing illegal steroids to professional athletes. The disputed results include a test of Barry Bonds, who is scheduled to go on trial in March for making false statements about his use of performance-enhancing drugs.
The Major League Baseball Players Association challenged the searches, claiming they violated players' constitutional rights.
An 11-judge panel will rehear the case in the coming months. If the union loses, it might appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Subscribe to Closing Arguments
Sign up for new weekly newsletter Closing Arguments to get the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and hot cases and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world.
Additional Reads
-
-
Contributor-Test-Post-2024-04-12 April 12, 2024
