MLB targets problems in Dominican Republic

In an effort to combat widespread fraud and the use of performance-enhancing drugs in the Dominican Republic, Major League Baseball announced Friday that it will begin implementing comprehensive education, registration and testing procedures aimed primarily at prospects eligible to sign professional contracts this summer.

The moves come seven months after a committee headed by MLB executive Sandy Alderson issued a report recommending ways in which the sport can clean up its operations in Latin America, where age and identity fraud, the skimming of bonuses by big league personnel and the use of banned substances have sullied the game.

Alderson said the registration process will involve the use of a fingerprint program that will not only keep track of which training camp a player is in, but will help verify who he is and how old he is.

“It’s going to include actual registration of individual players with biographical data,” Alderson told The Times. “Everybody who is required to register will be fingerprinted.”

About 50 players will be registered this year under what a baseball official called a pilot program. “It’s a dry run,” the official said, “to see if the system actually works.”

On the drug front, baseball will begin working with independent coaches, known locally as buscones, to hold a series of workshops designed to inform players about the dangers of performance-enhancing drugs.

Over the last two seasons, more than half the minor league players who have tested positive for banned substances came from the Dominican Republic, where many supplements banned by baseball are widely and cheaply available over the counter.

--Kevin Baxter

Etc.

Justin Duchscherer’s inflamed left hip is much better following a cortisone shot Wednesday, yet the two-time All-Star has been put on the disabled list by the Oakland Athletics, considering he’s not yet ready to pitch.

The move made Friday is retroactive to April 30, a day after the right-hander last appeared in a game.

San Francisco Giants shortstop Edgar Renteria has been put on the disabled list because of a strained right groin.

The Cleveland Indians have activated closer Kerry Wood from the disabled list.