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Saturday 22 August 2015
Domestic Violence
Continued from Page 17
Players will not receive ser- and one of the experts will In this March 17, 2015, file photo, Tony Clark, executive director of the baseball players’ union,
vice time for the period of submit a proposed treat- talks to reporters before a spring training baseball game between the Detroit Tigers and the Wash-
the suspension. ment plan to the full board ington Nationals in Lakeland, Fla.
Players can be suspended for approval. Players who
with pay in “exception- fail to comply with their Associated Press
al cases” while criminal treatment plan may be
charges are pending if the subject to discipline. sioner or a team to impose resisting arrest, battery, and ment includes a provision
commissioner determines “Players are husbands, fa- discipline, but didn’t say of assault.” that the player and union
“allowing the player to thers, sons and boyfriends. what sort, if a player was Following the decision by can be represented “only
play during the penden- And as such want to set an charged with a crime “in- Alex Rodriguez to have by in-house counsel of the
cy of the criminal or legal example that makes clear volving the use of physical outside lawyers of his players’ association and/
proceeding would result in that there is no place for force or violence, including choice handle the arbitra- or by outside counsel ap-
substantial or irreparable domestic abuse in our so- but not limited to, sexual tion of his drug suspension pointed by the players’
harm to either the club or ciety,” players’ union ex- assault, domestic violence, two years ago, the agree- association.”q
Major League Baseball.” ecutive director Tony Clark
If the discipline becomes said in the release. “We are
an unpaid suspension, the hopeful that this new com-
player has the right to off- prehensive, collectively-
set the time served against bargained policy will deter
the penalty but must re- future violence, promote
pay any salary he received victim safety, and serve as
from his team during the a step toward a better un-
paid suspension. derstanding of the causes
The deal creates a joint pol- and consequences of do-
icy board to provide treat- mestic violence, sexual as-
ment, which could include sault, and child abuse.”
mandatory counseling and Previously, the labor con-
psychological evaluation. tract included a voluntary
Three experts will serve on treatment program for cer-
the board along with two tain alcohol-related and
members appointed by off-field violent conduct.
MLB and two by the union, It also allows the commis-
