Major League Baseball umpire Brian Runge was dismissed on June 14 for reportedly failing at least one drug test, according to The Associated Press.
MLB umpire Brian Runge fired for failed drug tests
Recently, Brian Runge reportedly became the first known case of an umpire being let go because of a failed drug test.
Christian Petersen
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Runge had reached an agreement to keep his job after failing a drug test but did not comply to the terms of the deal, according to the AP’s sources. Runge, 43, had been an MLB umpire since 1999. Triple-A umpire Chris Conroy was promoted to take Runge’s place.
Runge did not umpire in a big-league game this season, but was on the umpires’ equivalent of a rehab assignment, calling Triple-A games while trying to work his way back from a knee injury that caused him to miss the final month of last season. He worked in three postseasons and an All-Star game during his major league umpiring career.
MLB did not release details on which drug was involved, and union president Joe West declined comment on Tuesday, per the AP.
The Runge family has produced three generations of umpires. Brian’s grandfather, Ed, served as an American League umpire from 1954-70. His father, Paul, worked National League games from 1973-97.
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