04/26/24
July 23, 2009
Baseball Begins DNA Testing Prospects: Major League Baseball has begun DNA testing some prospects and their families with their consent, a response to people lying about their age and their identities. This is a possible violation of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act. "DNA contains a host of information about risks for future diseases that prospective employers might be interested in discovering and considering," said Kathy Hudson, the director of the Genetics and Public Policy Center. Earlier this year, the league discovered that Washington Nationals prospect Esmailyn Gonzalez, a 19-year-old who received a $1.4 million bonus -- was actually Carlos David Alvarez Lugo, 23.
I don't see how this will be legal once this law goes into effect. MLB is subject to U.S. laws regardless of where they are doing the testing. I guess they can farm it out to another company, but they aren't even allowed to acquire that information.
Regardless of the legality, this is totally unethical.
posted by bperk at 11:02 AM on July 23, 2009
Earlier this year, the league discovered that Washington Nationals prospect Esmailyn Gonzalez, a 19-year-old who received a $1.4 million bonus -- was actually Carlos David Alvarez Lugo, 23.
"He wouldn't turn around when we called his name."
It would only be better if his real name was Cliff Schultz, 37 of El Segundo.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 07:24 PM on July 23, 2009
yea, um, this is a very bad idea. Something needs to be done about this, but this doesn't sound to me to be the best solution.
A spokesman for Major League Baseball declined to say how many players had been tested and whether the results were stored or destroyed.
Yes, because we know they always destroy lab samples