Just as Baltimore Orioles first baseman Rafael Palmeiro is set to return from his 10-day suspension for testing positive for steroids, Major League Baseball and the Players' Association made a joint statement on Wednesday to try and ward off rumors regarding the drug testing program. "All drug-testing results are reported directly to HPAC (Health Policy Advisory Committee), and no one else in the sport has access to them," said Rob Manfred, MLB executive vice president, and Gene Orza, chief operating officer of the MLBPA. "Positive test results are thereupon reported directly to the player involved. After the exhaustion of any available appeal, disciplines are announced publicly." Palmeiro was suspended after reportedly testing positive for the powerful anabolic steroid stanozolol -- the same substance that Olympic sprinter Ben Johnson tested positive for in 1988. Reports of which substance Palmeiro allegedly used was leaked through published reports. He is due back to the Orioles Thursday for a game against Tampa Bay at Camden Yards. The Baltimore Sun had reported Palmeiro knew that he had failed a drug test while he attempted to reach 3,000 hits. The newspaper said a source familiar with the timeline indicated Palmeiro tested positive for a steroid in May and appealed the ruling in secret arbitration proceedings in June. "Reports of large numbers of positive tests currently unreported are totally false," the statement continued. "Reports of "big name" players having the reporting of their test results delayed are totally false. All drug-testing results are processed in precisely the same manner, and without regard to the identity of any player or to the volume of positives at any given time. These media reports and rumors are totally, and completely inaccurate, and do not deserve further comment." The 40-year-old Palmeiro, who is hitting .280 with 18 homers and 59 RBI this season, testified at Congressional steroids hearings in March and said he had "never used steroids." House Government Reform Committee chairman Tom Davis (R-VA) and ranking minority member Henry Waxman (D-CA) demanded that Major League Baseball come forward with documents related to Palmeiro's suspension, and that information has reportedly been sent to the nation's capital. "It would not be appropriate to comment while the House Committee on Government Reform is doing its work," Arn Tellum, Palmeiro's agent, said in a statement on Wednesday. "Pending review by that committee, there will be no other public comment. Raffy looks forward to rejoining the Orioles tomorrow, and he will focus his attention on baseball." Just last month, Palmeiro became only the fourth player in baseball history to record 500 home runs and 3,000 hits, joining Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Eddie Murray. He reached the milestone hit on July 15 in Seattle.