(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-01-12 17:20

NEW YORK - Major League Baseball has introduced a Department of Investigations to lead the fight against drugs in the sport, it said on Friday.

The new department will have "primary responsibility for conducting all investigations into violations of Major League Baseball's rules and policies," said an MLB statement.

It added that this would include "investigations related to the use, possession or distribution of performance-enhancing substances by Major League or Minor League players, and other threats to the integrity of the game."

The announcement comes a month after the Mitchell Report, which exposed widespread use of steroids in the league.

The report, carried out by former Senator George Mitchell at the behest of MLB Commissioner Bud Selig, cited use of steroids and Human Growth Hormone among all 30 major league teams.

"The Department of Investigations will have critically important responsibilities in protecting the integrity of our sport," Selig said.

The creation of the department was among the recommendations made by Mitchell who also suggested year-round, unannounced drug testing to be administered by an independent authority.

"Major League Baseball will continue to act on all of Senator Mitchell's recommendations as part of our continued efforts to prevent the illegal use of performance-enhancing substances," added Selig.