Mets reliever Mejia banned for life for doping
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Major League Baseball (MLB) on Friday issued a lifetime ban to former New York Mets closer Jenrry Mejia after he tested positive a third time for a performance-enhancing substance. Mejia, 26, tested positive for anabolic steroid Boldenone. He was in the midst of a 162-game suspension for both Boldenone and Stanozolol, for which he tested positive while serving his original 80-game ban last summer. The lifetime suspension is the longest drug-related ban MLB has issued. The Mets issued the following statement regarding Mejia's suspension: "We were deeply disappointed to hear that Jenrry has again violated 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's Mets career ends with a 3.68 ERA in 113 appearances. A former top prospect, he was the Mets' closer as recently as the 2015 Opening Day, before an injury landed him on the disabled list and thrust Jeurys Familia into that role. Mejia's first suspension occurred during that stint on the disabled list. (Reporting by Larry Fine in New York; Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes)
