Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Mitre Suspended for 50

The Yankees signed right-hander Sergio Mitre back in November with the hopes he could help them in the future. The 27-yr old, who has pitched for the Cubs and Marlins, is coming off of Tommy John surgery and probably wouldn't be ready to return to the mound until July. But that is probably going to change now.

Mitre has been suspended 50 games for violating the league's drug policy.
Mitre told ESPN.com that while he takes "full responsibility" for his actions, he failed a drug test because a trace amount of androstenedione appeared without his knowledge in a nutritional supplement that he bought at GNC. "Although being suspended for 50 games is tough to accept, I think that it is important to understand that I am in full support of drug testing in baseball," Mitre said in a statement released through his agent, Paul Cobbe. "I did take the supplement in question and accept full responsibility for taking it. What has been difficult for me to understand is that I legally purchased this supplement at GNC and had no intention nor desire to cheat or to circumvent the system in any way. "As confirmed through the drug testing and grievance processes, it contained a 'contaminant' amount of an illegal, performance-enhancing drug. This was not listed as an ingredient on the packaging, should not have been in the supplement and certainly should not have been available for legal purchase at a store."
Mitre will serve the suspension once he's activated from the DL.

Phillies reliever J.C. Romero, a member of the championship Phillies, is also to receive a 50 game suspension.

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