Mets Pitcher Jenrry Mejia Suspended For 80 Games After Testing Positive For Stanozolol
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) - New York Mets pitcher Jenrry Mejia has been given an 80-game suspension without pay after testing positive for Stanozolol, a performance-enhancing drug, the MLB announced Saturday.
The suspension is effective immediately.
The 25-year-old Mejia released a statement through the players' union saying he knows the rules and accepts his punishment, but "can honestly say I have no idea how a banned substance ended up in my system.''
Mejia apologized to the organization, his teammates, fans and family while also maintaining his innocence.
Mets Pitcher Jenrry Mejia Suspended For 80 Games After Testing Positive For Stanozolol
"I have been through a lot in my young career and missed time due to injury,'' Mejia said. "I have worked way too hard to come back and get to where I am, so I would never knowingly put anything in my body that I thought could hold me out further.''
"We were disappointed when informed of Jenrry's suspension for violating Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program," the Mets said in a statement. "We fully support MLB's policy toward eliminating performance enhancing substances from the sport. As per the Joint Drug Program, we will have no further comment on this suspension."
WFAN's Steve Somers said Mejia faces a significant penalty.
"I mean, it's not 'A-Roid'—as I call Alex Rodriguez—who was suspended for 162 games, but this is half a season," Sommers told WCBS 880's Monica Miller.
Mets Pitcher Jenrry Mejia Suspended For 80 Games After Testing Positive For Stanozolol
New York manager Terry Collins said on Friday that Jeurys Familia is the team's closer for now.
Mejia began the season as New York's closer, but he was placed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday due to inflammation in the back of his elbow. He was examined by Mets medical director Dr. David Altchek, underwent X-ray and MRI scans and was given a cortisone injection.
This is the fourth penalty for a positive Stanozolol test reported by MLB in less than a month, following Minnesota pitcher Ervin Santana, Seattle pitcher David Rollins and Atlanta pitcher Arodys Vizcaino.
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