Report: Josh Hamilton Had Relapse Involving "At Least Cocaine"

Angels outfielder Josh Hamilton had a relapse that involved "at least" cocaine, according to CBS's Jon Heyman:

Earlier today, the Los Angeles Times reported that Hamilton was meeting with MLB officials in New York over an unspecified "disciplinary issue." Whatever punishment Hamilton does end up receiving, it won't be subject to the rules of the normal MLB drug policy, as Fox Sports's Jon Morosi explains:

Hamilton has had a long history of drug and alcohol abuse, going to rehab for the first time in 2001 and getting suspended for the rest of the 2003 season after multiple failed drug tests. That suspension stretched for three years, and numerous comeback attempts were halted by stints in rehab. Hamilton was suspended for the entirety of the 2006 season, but was reinstated by then-commissioner Bud Selig part way through.

It is this reinstatement that Morosi is referring to above. The mechanism by which Hamilton re-entered the league in 2006 was not through the official drug policy, and he has been following a separate set of rules for the last nine years, which includes thrice weekly drug testing. Hamilton had alcohol relapses * in 2009 and 2012, but since this relapse reportedly involves cocaine, he will likely receive a hefty suspension.

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