The only way for Major League Baseball to get serious on banning illegal substances from the game is to enforce its existing rules to the fullest extent allowed under the current CBA. The Mets have learned that lesson very quickly last week. Whether the players will see this as a wake-up call, we still do not know. From the NY Post:
That’s three strikes for Jenrry Mejia, and he’s out.
The right-hander, who pitched for the Mets in five of the past six
seasons, has become the first player in baseball history to receive a
permanent suspension for using illegal performance-enhancing drugs.
Major League Baseball announced Friday that Mejia, 26, committed a third
offense under its drug program — all within the last year — this time
testing positive for Boldenone, an anabolic steroid.
The suspension can last as little as two years, however, if Mejia
succeeds on an application, as is his collectively bargained right, for
reinstatement.
Hector Gomez, a Dominican sports journalist, reported late Friday that Mejia denied any wrongdoing.
“It’s not like they [MLB] say,” Mejia said, according to Gomez. “I’m sure I did not use anything.”
Mejia, who had been pitching in winter ball in his native Dominican
Republic, added, “I will appeal. Win or lose, I have a lot of faith. I
have to clear my name. … I will not stand idly by. I will take this case
to the bitter end.”
It’s possible Mejia was referring to the reinstatement application
down the road. He already had his chance to appeal before the verdict
was announced.
Mejia got caught while still serving his second infraction, which
drew him a 162-game suspension last July 28; he had 99 games left and
was due to return to the Mets in late July. His first suspension,
lasting 80 games, went into effect last April.
“We were deeply disappointed to hear that Jenrry has again violated
Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program,”
the Mets said in a statement. “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.”
“I honestly can’t find the words that would correctly convey my
disbelief,” said former Met Michael Cuddyer, who played briefly with
Mejia last season before retiring in December.
As per the Joint Drug Program’s terms, Mejia can submit his
application for reinstatement no earlier than one year following the
imposition of his suspension — Feb. 12, 2017, in other words — and his
case must be heard by the commissioner within 30 days of filing the
request. The commissioner must then notify the player of his decision
within 30 days of the hearing.
Even if the commissioner ruled in Mejia’s favor, the pitcher still
could not become an active player until he completes a two-year
banishment. If the commissioner ruled against Mejia — and you can expect
MLB to be quite unsympathetic to such a plea — then Mejia could take
his case to an independent arbitrator. Once again, if the arbitrator
decided that Mejia could come back, the suspension still would last for
two years. So Mejia can’t pitch in organized baseball until 2018 at the
earliest.
