Baseball Drug-Test Arbitrator Out

Arbitrator Tom Roberts, who last week struck down the drug-testing clauses in major league baseball players’ contracts, has been fired by the owners’ Player Relations Committee.

Rich Levin, an aide to Commissioner Peter Ueberroth, announced the decision Tuesday, reading a statement from Barry Rona, director of the Player Relations Committee, that said: “The arbitrator’s decision voiding the drug-testing clauses in player contracts caused us to make a change at this time.”

Roberts said he was not surprised by the decision. “No, but I was disappointed by it,” he said.

Levin said it was the second time the owners have dismissed an arbitrator. The players’ association has dismissed four, he said.

Roberts said that being fired is part of an arbitrator’s job. “It happens with some frequency,” he added. “They’re free to dismiss me for whatever reason they like.”

The collective bargaining agreement gives either the players or owners the right to change arbitrators at any time.