Major League Baseball announced Saturday that New York Mets relief pitcher Jenrry Mejia was suspended 80 games for using the banned substance stanozolol. Mejia is currently on the disabled list with an elbow injury he suffered while warming up on Opening Day. The Mets have been using Jeurys Familia to close games, and that will continue for now until Bobby Parnell (Tommy John Surgery) is activated from the disabled list later this month.
In the past month, four Major League pitchers have been suspended for stanozolol: Ervin Santana, David Rollins, Arodys Viscaino, and now Mejia.
Mejia released this statement regarding his suspension:
"I know the rules are the rules, and I will accept my punishment, but I can honestly say I have no idea how a banned substance ended up in my system"
Mets manager Terry Collins implied he did not believe that Mejia doesn't know what goes into his body. Collins also voiced major disappointment in his 26-year old closer saying,
"I know what goes in (my body). I can't answer for everybody. I certainly wasn't there. All I can tell you is, again, we're just extremely disappointed at this particular moment because now we've got to retool. And it's tough to do when you're in midseason."
Games that Mejia spends on the disabled list do count towards the 80-game ban. He will not appeal the suspension.