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Ex-Giant Byrd suspended 162 games for PED violation

Major League Baseball on Wednesday gave Byrd a 162-game suspension without pay after testing positive for he growth hormone secretagogue Ipamorelin, a performance-enhancing substance, in violation of the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

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Byrd released a statement, saying he had no intention of taking a banned substance and consulted with “a medical professional” for advice on what he could take since his suspension four years ago. Byrd was suspended for 50 games during the 2012 season while a member of the Boston Red Sox.

“Marlon stood up in front of everybody and took responsibility and apologized”, Indians manager Terry Francona said. Byrd is the third player to receive a season-long ban in baseball history, joining Mets reliever Jennry Mejia, who is now banned for life, and Yankees designated hitter Alex Rodriguez.

Byrd is the second Indian and seventh overall player to be suspended this year as a result for using performance-enhancing drugs.

Byrd joined Cleveland after spending last season with the Cincinnati Reds and the San Francisco Giants. Byrd had seemingly found the “Fountain of Youth” in the twilight of his career, but as we have come to learn, that fountain is sometimes filled with steroids.

The 38-year-old outfielder joined the Indians in the offseason and is hitting.270 with five home runs and 19 RBIs. This is an undesirable setback for an Cleveland team that is now over.500 and seemingly trending positively.

Losing Byrd makes a negative impact on the Indians as it leaves them thin on outfield depth.

Vince Grzegorek of Cleveland Scene broke the news that Byrd tested positive. The Indians are his 10th Major League Baseball team. He was an All-Star in 2010 with the Chicago Cubs, one of 10 teams he’s played for. After an extensive investigation by my lawyers and an independent chemist, it was concluded that the most likely source of Ipamorelin was a tainted supplement.

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“I alone am responsible for what I put in my body, and therefore, I have decided for forgo my right to an appeal in this matter and accept the suspension”. If Byrd actually felt concerned about harming the Indians, their fans, and his teammates, he would never have taken a supplement off of the NSF Certified for Sport list.

29 May 2016 Cleveland Indians Outfield Marlon Byrd  at bat during the fifth inning of the Major League Baseball game between the Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field in Cleveland OH. Baltimore defeated Cleveland 6-4. (P