(CelebNMusic247) Melky Cabrera Suspended?
Yankee outfielder turned All-Star Game MVP, Melky Cabrera has been suspended for 50 games after testing positive for testosterone, Major League Baseball announced on Wednesday.
Daily News Sources revealed last month that the San Francisco Giants outfielder had come under scrutiny by Major League Baseball officials for performance-enhancing drug use. Giants officials and Cabrera’s agents refused to discuss the speculation, and Cabrera himself denied using banned substances after he was questioned about the speculation by CSN Bay Area reporter Andrew Baggarly. Baggarly later apologized for raising the issue with Cabrera.
When approached by a Daily News reporter on July 30 and asked if there were any irregularities or issues with a recent drug test, Cabrera shook his head vigorously and said, “No.”
Cabrera and his advisors had considered fighting the suspension, a source familiar with the case told the Daily News. But Cabrera ultimately decided he could not successfully fight the suspension. He acknowledged that he had tested positive for a banned substance in a statement released through the Major League Baseball Players Association on Wednesday.
Cabrera said.
“My positive test was the result of my use of a substance I should not have used.”
“I accept my suspension under the Joint Drug Program and I will try to move on with my life. I am deeply sorry for my mistake and I apologize to my teammates, to the San Francisco Giants organization and to the fans for letting them down.”
Moreover, the positive vibes are now tainted by Cabrera’s positive drug test. He is the second high-profile major leaguer to test positive in the past 12 months: Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone in October, during the postseason.
He appealed his positive test, and when the matter went before an arbitration panel, the decision was overturned in February by independent arbitrator, Shyam Das, who has since been fired by MLB. Braun used the victory to blast the collection agency responsible for the handling of players’ samples.
