On behalf of Mets fans everywhere I’d like to express my outrage — why wasn’t Scott Schoeneweis considered worthy of a lengthy ban, and can’t the decision below be appealed? From the Baltimore Sun’s Jeff Zrebein and Dan Connolly.
Major League Baseball today suspended Orioles outfielder Jay Gibbons 15 days, beginning with the start of the 2008 season, for violating the league’s drug policy. Gibbons admitted to The Sun today that he had used hGH.
Gibbons had not previously addressed allegations that he received a shipment of steroids and hGH from a raided Florida pharmacy. Gibbons and Kansas City Royals outfielder Jose Guillen, who was also given a 15-day ban today, are the first players to be suspended without failing a drug test.
“I am deeply sorry for the mistakes that I have made,” Gibbons said. “I have no excuses and bear sole responsibility for my decisions. Years ago, I relied on the advice of a doctor, filled a prescription, charged the hGH, which is a medication, to my credit card and had only intended to help speed my recovery from my injuries and surgeries. I hope that my family, teammates, fans and [Orioles owner] Peter Angelos and the entire Orioles organization will accept my apologies and that we can all move on.”
Commissioner Bud Selig’s office concluded its investigation of Gary Matthews Jr. , Troy Glaus, Rick Ankiel and Scott Schoeneweis and ruled there was insufficient evidence of any drug program violations. The investigation of Jerry Hairston Jr. is continuing and will be completed shortly, according to Major League Baseball.