Mets: Jenrry Mejia suspended 80 games for illegal PED use

Jenrry Mejia has been suspended for 80 games for testing positive for the steroid stanozolol, Major League Baseball announced on Saturday.

It was Mejia’s first violation of MLB’s drug program.

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In a statement that was released shortly after the announcement, the Mets said:

"We were disappointed when informed of Jenrry’s suspension for violating Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. 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."

Mejia, who has accepted the suspension – which will begin immediately – said:

"I know the rules and I will accept my punishment, but I honestly have no idea how a banned substance ended up in my system. I have worked hard in my career and missed time due to injury. I have worked way to 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. I’m sorry to the Mets organization, my teammates and the fans, as well as my family."

Mejia is currently on the 15-day disabled list due to elbow inflammation.

Days Mejia spends on the disabled list will count toward the suspension.

Thoughts:

Mejia’s suspension is a complete shock, but I suppose any player getting suspended for steroids shouldn’t ever elicit that type of response.

Regarding Mejia’s claim that he unknowingly took stanozolol, it’s impossible to take him seriously since he accepted the suspension without an appeal.

Had Mejia legitimately had no idea how the steroid got into his system, it would’ve made sense for him to challenge the findings of his positive test. He did no such thing.

As far as how this impacts the Mets, for the moment it leaves them in the exact same position they were in before Mejia’s suspension was announced. Mejia is on the 15-day disabled list and there was no timetable for his return, but perhaps he would’ve been able to come back sooner rather than later.

With Mejia now out for the next 80 games, Jeurys Familia will officially take over as closer, with both Carlos Torres and Rafael Montero setting him up.

When Vic Black and Bobby Parnell are activated from the disabled list, the Mets will have a bit of a glut to deal with in the bullpen, but Mejia being out until July will lessen that.