"If the public knows, it is a problem because the player has been identified as violating the league's substance-abuse policy," Birch said.

Taylor has been cited twice by the league for violating its substance-abuse policies.

Duper was suspended last season for violating the league's substance-abuse policy.

Seventeen players have been suspended this year for violating the league's substance-abuse policy.

Because of his previous problems with cocaine, White was subject to suspension for using alcohol under the league's substance-abuse policy.

A. You have to start from a broad substance-abuse policy that is consistent.

That is already a struggle with the substance-abuse policy.

Russell missed the first four games of this season, also for violating the substance-abuse policy.

The meeting, according to a person aware of Manley's activities, involved the player's having violated the league's substance-abuse policy for a third time.

But major league baseball's substance-abuse policy does not permit such rash action.