Mets Closer Meija Suspended 80 Games

11 Apr, 2015

Injured New York Mets closer Jenrry Mejia was suspended for 80 games Saturday, the fourth player in 16 days banned under the major league drug program following a positive test for the steroid Stanozolol.

Minnesota pitcher Ervin Santana, Seattle pitcher David Rollins and Atlanta pitcher Arodys Vizcaino also have been disciplined in recent weeks for Stanozolol, which is sold under the name Winstrol and is popular with body builders.

Mejia will lose $1,134,426 of his $2,595,000 salary because of the suspension.

“We’re very disappointed, extremely disappointed,” Mets manager Terry Collins said. “We came into this whole thing in spring training with huge expectations and the back end of our bullpen being very, very strong, so we’re all shocked and disappointed.”

Mejia began the season as New York’s closer while Bobby Parnell completes his recovery from Tommy John surgery, but Mejia couldn’t get loose while warming up during Monday’s opener at Washington. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday with posterior elbow inflammation, without having pitched in a game. His time on the DL counts toward suspension.

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.

“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.”

Mejia began 2014 as a starter but moved to the closer role about six weeks after Parnell tore an elbow ligament in the first game of the season. The right-hander from the Dominican Republic had 28 saves, 18 after the All-Star break to tie for second-most in the NL.

AP

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