Angels OF Josh Hamilton will not be suspended by MLB

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Josh Hamilton will not be suspended by Major League Baseball for suffering a relapse in his sobriety.
Angels OF Josh Hamilton will not be suspended by MLB
Angels OF Josh Hamilton will not be suspended by MLB /

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Josh Hamilton will not be suspended by Major League Baseball for suffering a relapse in his sobriety, the league announced on Friday. 

An outside arbitrator ruled that Hamilton's conduct did not violate his treatment program, and thus MLB cannot suspend or discipline the player. The league's office of the commissioner said it disagrees with the decision, and "will seek to address deficiencies in the manner in which drugs of abuse are addressed under [MLB's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program] in the collective bargaining process."

The Angels released a statement about the arbitrator’s decision, saying they were not involved, but will support Hamilton. 

“The Angels have serious concerns about Josh’s conduct, health and behavior and we are disappointed that he has broken an important commitment which he made to himself, his family, his teammates and our fans. We are going to do everything possible to assure he receives proper help for himself and for the well-being of his family.”

Hamilton met with league officials in New York in late February about a disciplinary issue. CBS Sports' Jon Heyman later reported that Hamilton suffered a relapse in his sobriety a couple months ago that involved the use of cocaine and since confessed to MLB.

CORCORAN: Suspending Josh Hamilton would be the wrong move for MLB

The 33-year-old was then placed in the league's treatment program.

A four-person panel consisting of two attorneys and two physicians—MLB's commissioner's office and the players association appointed one of each—was deadlocked over how to punish Hamilton for a relapse of substance abuse.

The panel had to first determine if Hamilton violated the league's drug policy. The outside arbitrator was brought in to break the tie by the panel. 

When he was a Tampa Bay Rays minor leaguer last decade, Hamilton failed at least six drug tests, according to the Los Angeles Times, and was suspended from baseball from 2004-06.

The outfielder is currently rehabbing his right shoulder after undergoing surgery and isn't expected to return to the field until May at the earliest.

Hamilton was named the American League MVP in 2010 after hitting .359 with 32 home runs and 100 RBIs. He signed a five-year, $125 million contract with the Angels in 2013.

- Molly Geary

GALLERY: SI'S BASEBALL PORTRAITS OVER THE YEARS

SI's MLB Portraits Over the Years

Albert Pujols

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Howard Schatz/SI

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SI's NBA portraits over the years

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Don Zimmer

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Neil Leifer/SI

Ken Griffey Jr. and dad

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V.J. Lovero/SI

Steve Avery, John Smoltz, Pete Smith, Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine

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Ronald C. Modra/SI

Ernie Banks

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Walter Iooss Jr./SI

Jay Buhner

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V.J. Lovero/SI

Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire

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Brad Mangin/SI

Coco Crisp, David Ortiz

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Gary Bogdon/SI

Edgar Martinez

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Rich Frishman/SI

Kameron Loe

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Robert Seale/TSN/SI

Evan Gattis

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Pouya Dianat/SI

Justin Verlander

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Michael LeBrecht/SI

Brian Wilson

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Robert Beck/SI

Mark Fidrych

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Lane Stewart

Luis Gonzalez

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V.J. Lovero/SI

Mariano Rivera

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Walter Iooss Jr./SI

Tony Conigliaro

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Neil Leifer/SI

Evan Longoria

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Robert Seale/SI

Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio

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Herb Scharfman/SI

Denny McLain

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Neil Leifer/SI

Billy Martin

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Hy Peskin/SI

Ted Williams

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Hy Peskin/SI

Cal Ripken

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Walter Iooss Jr./SI

Pascual Perez

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Manny Millan/SI

C.C. Sabathia

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Walter Iooss Jr./SI

Yogi Berra

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Walter Iooss Jr./SI

Lou Piniella, Alfonso Soriano

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Robert Beck/SI

Deion Sanders

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Heinz Kluetmeier/SI

Alex Rodriguez

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John Iacono/SI

Aroldis Chapman

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Robert Beck/SI

Sandy Koufax

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Mark Kauffman/SI

Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire

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Bryce Harper

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Simon Bruty/SI

Magic Johnson, Matt Kemp

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Peter Read Miller/SI

Chad Gaudin

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Michael Zagaris/SI

Chase Utley

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Al Tielemans/SI

Curt Schilling

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Al Tielemans/SI

Dave Parker

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Heinz Kluetmeier/SI

Dave Winfield

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Heinz Kluetmeier/SI

David Price

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Al Tielemans/SI

Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter

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Walter Iooss Jr./SI
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Walter Iooss Jr./SI

Derek Jeter

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Gregory Heisler/SI

Manny Ramirez

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Clay Patrick McBride/SI

Dusty Baker with son Darren

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Todd Rosenberg/SI

Eric Byrnes

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Robert Beck/SI

Gary Carter

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Tom DiPace/SI

George Brett

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Anthony Neste/SI

C.J. Wilson

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Robert Beck/SI

Henry Aaron

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Walter Iooss Jr./SI

Henry Aaron

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Jeffery A. Salter/SI

Mickey Mantle

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John G. Zimmerman/SI

Max Scherzer

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Andrew Hancock/SI

Michael Jordan

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Walter Iooss Jr./SI

Ichiro Suzuki

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Walter Iooss Jr./SI

Jason Giambi

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V.J. Lovero

Jason Giambi

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Peter Read Miller/SI

Jim Rice, Dave Parker

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Walter Iooss Jr./SI

Marge Schott

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Bill Frakes/SI

Pete Rose

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Heinz Kluetmeier/SI

Eric Karros and Mike Piazza

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V.J. Lovero/SI

Jimmy Rollins

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Al Tielemans/SI

Mike Trout

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Robert Beck/SI

Johan Santana

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Heinz Kluetmeier/SI

Johnny Podres

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Richard Meek/SI

Jonny Gomes

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Robert Beck/SI

Jose Fernandez

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Bob Croslin/SI

Nolan Ryan

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John Iacono/SI

Josh Hamilton

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Jason Wise/SI

Kirby Puckett

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Heinz Kluetmeier/SI

Lenny Dykstra

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Lane Stewart/SI

Matt Harvey

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Michael LeBrecht/SI

Nomar Garciaparra

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Pablo Sandoval

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Jeffery A. Salter/SI

Alex Rodriguez

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Walter Iooss Jr./SI

Pedro Martinez

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Randy Johnson

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Walter Iooss Jr./SI

Boston Red Sox bearded players

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Michael LeBrecht/SI

Reggie Jackson

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John Iacono/SI

1974 Oakland A's

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Neil Leifer/SI

Billy Williams

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Heinz Kluetmeier/SI

Roberto Clemente

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Neil Leifer/SI

Roberto Clemente

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Neil Leifer/SI

Robinson Cano

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Mike Powell/SI

Rod Carew

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John Iacono/SI

Roger Clemens

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Walter Iooss Jr./SI

Mike Piazza

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Joe McNally/SI
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Neil Leifer/SI

Ross Ohlendorf

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Darren Carroll/SI

George Brett, Mike Schmidt

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Walter Iooss Jr./SI

Sparky Lyle

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Tony Triolo/SI

Tim Lincecum

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Mike Powell/SI

Tom Seaver

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Walter Iooss Jr./SI

Kate Upton, B.J. Upton, Justin Upton

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Walter Iooss Jr./SI

Vladimir Guerrero

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Walter Iooss Jr./SI

Willie Mays, Leo Durocher, Laraine Day

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Hy Peskin/SI

Willie Stargell

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John Iacono/SI

Yasiel Puig

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Robert Beck/SI

Yogi Berra

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Mark Kauffman/SI

Frank Thomas

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Heinz Kluetmeier/SI

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SI's NFL portraits over the years

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SI's NBA portraits over the years

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SI's college basketball portraits over the years


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