When did Palmeiro take the test that led to his suspension?
We don’t know for certain, but there is typically a lag time of 10 days between when a positive test is returned and when it is confirmed. In this case, the lag time appears to have been longer, partly because of Palmeiro’s stature in the game. (He was allowed to have his grievance filed and heard before public disclosure.) I heard as far back as July 26 that a “major star” had flunked a drug test. Several sources confirmed the general nature of the rumor, but without a name or substance attached to those confirmations. In addition, there was no way commissioner Bud Selig was going to allow news of Palmeiro’s flunked drug test to precede the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies — and rightly so. The weekend was the highlight of the professional careers of Ryne Sandberg and Wade Boggs. They and the other Hall of Famers deserved to have their moment without having to answer for Palmeiro. Q: What substance triggered the positive result? We don’t know, and Palmeiro has made a huge mistake in
