Jose Guillen and Jay Gibbons were suspended for the first 15 days of next season for doping violations on Thursday, an indication of how Major League Baseball might treat any players named in the Mitchell steroids investigation.
Guillen and Gibbons were accused in media reports of receiving human growth hormone after January 2005, when it was banned by MLB.
Gary Matthews Jr, Rick Ankiel, Troy Glaus and Scott Schoeneweis also were linked to performance-enhancing drugs, but MLB decided there was "insufficient evidence" to determine they committed a doping violation. They were accused of receiving the substances before 2005.
Former senator George Mitchell was hired by MLB commissioner Bud Selig in March last year to investigate drugs in baseball. A lawyer involved in the case said he had been told to be prepared for the report to be issued next Thursday. The lawyer spoke on condition of anonymity because the release date has not been made public.
Guillen instructed the players' association to file a grievance over his suspension, which would be decided by an arbitrator. Gibbons will not challenge his penalty.
contract
Earlier in the day, Guillen and the Kansas City Royals finalized their US$36 million, three-year contract.
"We signed Jose knowing that was a possibility," Royals general manager Dayton Moore said of the free-agent outfielder. "While my initial reaction is one of disappointment, I am thoroughly convinced that Jose will put this behind him and we collectively support him as he begins a new chapter in his baseball life."
Gibbons accepted responsibility and apologized.
"I am deeply sorry for the mistakes that I have made. I have no excuses and bear sole responsibility for my decisions," the Baltimore Orioles outfielder said. "Years ago, I relied on the advice of a doctor, filled a prescription, charged the HGH [human growth hormone], which is a medication, to my credit card and had only intended to help speed my recovery from my injuries and surgeries."
The 15-day penalties match what a second offense would have drawn under 2003-04 rules.
Cleveland Indians pitcher Paul Byrd also reportedly received HGH. He said he took it for a medical condition and did so under a doctor's supervision.
investigation
The six players whose cases were resolved on Thursday met with MLB officials after media reports that their names surfaced in a national drug investigation by the district attorney in Albany, New York.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported last month that Guillen bought HGH, two types of testosterone and the steroids stanozolol and nandrolone between May 2002 and June 2005.
Gibbons got six shipments of Genotropin (a brand name for synthetic human growth hormone), two shipments of testosterone and two shipments of human chorionic gonadotropin between October 2003 and July 2005, SI.com said in September.
Ankiel, a St Louis Cardinals outfielder, admitted he used HGH in 2004. The New York Daily News reported he received eight shipments of prescription HGH that year.
Glaus, a Toronto Blue Jays third baseman, received multiple shipments of nandrolone and testosterone between September 2003 and May 2004, SI.com reported.
Matthews, a Los Angeles Angels outfielder, received Genotropin in August 2004, according to SI.com.
Schoeneweis, a reliever on the New York Mets, received six shipments of steroids in 2003 and 2004, ESPN.com reported.
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