According to the Associated Press, Major League Baseball will institute a drug testing program for unsigned prospects of the Dominican Republic. The hope of the program is to reduce the use of prohibited substances and also reduce identity and age falsification.

This has been an issue as recent as the signing of Dominican Prospect Duanel Jones.  Jones originally signed with the San Francisco Giants, but his contract was voided after he failed a team-administered drug test, according to Jorge Arangure Jr. in January 2010. At the time, the 16-year-old third baseman signed a $1.3 million contract.

He signed with the Padres last month for $900,000 and will serve a 50 game suspension once he starts to play professional ball.

With the addition of these drug testing programs, prospects such as Jones will be educated before they go down the wrong path.