The drug-testing agreements necessary for the staging of a truly international World Cup of Baseball are now in place, Major League Baseball announced (Monday).
Major League Baseball, the Major League Baseball Players Association and the International Baseball Federation (IBAF) have agreed to a drug-testing regimen that is consistent with the requirements of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the Olympic Movement. Those athletes who participate in the event will be subject to testing during the course of the World Cup. The International Baseball Federation will serve as the drug-testing agent for the competition.
While the agreements announced today concern only the drug-testing component of the international event, they enable Major League Baseball and the Players Association to begin the process of developing plans for a World Cup of Baseball that it would like to stage as early as March 2005.
"We are excited about the prospects of a World Cup of Baseball," said Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig. "The drug-testing agreement allows us the opportunity to stage a true World Cup that will showcase our sport to the entire world. This is a great opportunity for us to grow the game and I am grateful to all of those involved in shaping the agreements."
Major League Baseball and the Players Association now will meet with the various international federations and professional leagues to determine the eligibility of players and which nations will compete.
