Problem: AP: MLB drops Alfonzo's 100-game drug ban

Alfonzo missed 48 games — the final 15 of last season and the first 33 of this year.

Braun's 50-game suspension for a positive drug test was overturned in February by arbitrator Shyam Das after Braun's lawyers argued his urine sample was not handled in the manner specified by baseball's drug agreement.

The collector took Braun's sample on a Saturday and did not drop it off immediately at a Federal Express office. He testified that because it would not have been sent until Monday to the drug-testing laboratory outside Montreal, it would make more sense to store the sample at his home over the weekend than in a FedEx office.

The commissioner's office said Monday that Alonzo's suspension had been dropped "by mutual agreement of Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association."

"Alfonzo's grievance challenging his suspension raised issues that were nearly identical to those resolved in the arbitration involving Ryan Braun," MLB said. "It is not anticipated that any other future cases will be impacted by the circumstances raised in the grievances of these two players."

Colorado designated Alfonzo for assignment May 7 and sent him outright to Class AAA Colorado Springs of the Pacific Coast League two days later.

"It's scary because of course nobody wants to go through what they went through," said Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez. "And if they're not guilty it's even more scary for us because you never want anything like that to happen to you. After all, you find out that you're not guilty. There's a lot of pressure and other things going on."

MLB and the union have been negotiating changes to their drug-collection procedures as part of the process of finalizing a new labor contract.

Das, baseball's arbitrator since 1999, was told last week by management that he is being terminated. He remains an NFL arbitrator and is to hear the NFL players' union grievance against the league in the New Orleans Saints bounties case Wednesday.

Alfonzo also was suspended for 50 games in April 2008 while a member of the San Francisco Giants.

"I am surprised by this positive test," he said last September in a statement released by the players association. "I learned my lesson in 2008 and have not taken any prohibited substances since then. With the union's help, I intend to fight this suspension and look forward to appearing before the arbitrator in the near future."

After the suspension four years ago, Alfonzo said he never knowingly took steroids but did take medicine for bronchitis while home in Venezuela.

"If the suspension's gone, I guess he's able to play again," said Gonzalez. "I don't know what they're going to do, but it's good for him."

Manny Ramirez and Guillermo Mota are the only other major league players to be penalized twice for positive drug tests.

Baseball began testing with penalties in 2004. Under the current rules, a third violation would carry a lifetime ban.

Alfonzo is a .240 career hitter with 17 homers and 67 RBI in 591 at-bats over 193 major league games. He has also played for San Diego and Seattle.

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Summary: MLB dropped its 100-game suspension of Rockies catcher Eliezer Alfonzo for a positive drug test because of procedural issues.


Problem: New Australian anti-terror laws vital in fighting Paris-style attacks: Brandis

As the world reels from the Parisian terror shootings, Attorney General George Brandis has announced new anti-terror laws that come into effect in Australia this week will help keep the country safe from similar attacks.

The controversial new laws, which have attracted criticism from legal experts, have given the government more powers to detain and punish extremists who fight overseas or plan to commit terrorist acts in Australia.

Senator Brandis said the Paris attacks were an assault on freedom of expression, "the lifeblood of free societies".

"Legislation recently passed by the Parliament has strengthened our ability to arrest, monitor, investigate and prosecute returning foreign fighters and anyone who facilitates or supports that activity," he said in a statement.

"Provisions which came into effect this week continue to strengthen our control order regime, which make it easier for our security and intelligence agencies to monitor people who are a potential threat to the Australian community."

The new laws allow courts to impose control orders that prevent returned foreign fighters from associating with certain people where that would assist in preventing a terrorist attack on Australian soil.

The attacks in Paris have left the world in shocked mourning. (Supplied)

Under the new laws, returned fighters who have intentionally been in a declared area face a maximum 10-year jail sentence.

Returning fighters linked to listed terrorist organisations also face up to 25 years jail.

A new offence, "advocating terror", prohibits promoting or encouraging terrorism and carries a maximum five-year sentence.

Control orders can also now be sought if a court is satisfied the order would assist the prevention of a terrorist act, or where a person has engaged in hostile activities overseas or participated in training with a listed terrorist organisation.

Lower arrest thresholds mean the police can arrest somebody suspected of being involved in terrorism on "reasonable suspicion", which Mr Brandis claimed would allow law enforcement to disrupt plots at an earlier stage.

Courts will have greater flexibility in deciding whether to admit foreign evidence in court proceedings.

Funding will be allocated for another 22 investigators and analysts for the Australian Crime Commission.

Still before Parliament is another Bill that will allow the government to ask telecommunications companies to retain metadata for two years.

The government claims this will help police track and prosecute potential terrorists.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has praised the law changes, even as he said yesterday it was impossible to constantly monitor every extremist returned from fighting overseas.

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Summary:
As the world reels from the Parisian terror shootings, Attorney General George Brandis has announced new anti-terror laws that come into effect in Australia this week will help keep the country safe from similar attacks.