Marlins catcher Ronny Paulino was suspended for 50 games on Friday after he tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance under Major League Baseball’s drug policy.
Paulino’s suspension begins immediately, and since the Marlins have only 42 games remaining, will extend into next year’s season. The Marlins are scheduled to host the Houston Astros on Friday night.
“To control my weight this season, I used a dietary pill,” Paulino said in a statement released by the team. “I recently learned that the dietary pill contained a substance banned under Major League Baseball’s drug policy. I am ashamed and saddened for disappointing and distracting my family, my teammates, the entire Florida Marlins organization and baseball fans.”
Neither Marlins president David Samson nor general manager Larry Beinfest said they had spoken with Paulino, whose belongings were still in his locker as teammates arrived for work on Friday.
“It is extraordinarily disappointing,” Samson said. “And I’ll leave it at that.”
The 1.9m, 113kg Paulino is batting .259 with four homers and 37 RBIs in his sixth season in the majors. He got off to a solid start this year, but has struggled since the All-Star break, hitting .195 with just one home run.
Florida (60-60) began the day 10and-a-half games behind the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves and eight back of the Philadelphia Phillies in the wild-card race.
“I accept full responsibility and all consequences for this mistake, and therefore choose not to challenge my suspension,” the 29-year-old Paulino said. “I was irresponsible for failing to take all precautionary steps in confirming the approval of the dietary pill. Without a doubt, I have learned from my mistake.”
The Marlins said owner Jeffrey Loria has ordered a thorough investigation of the team’s practices when it comes to educating players about what they can and cannot take. The franchise has had four players suspended under the minor league policy this season as well.
“This is not behavior we tolerate,” Samson said. “This is not how you get ahead. This is, for any kid who is playing baseball and wants to play baseball, you do not become a major leaguer or a better major leaguer by violating policies. You just don’t.”
Paulino is the second player to be suspended this year under the major league drug policy. Cincinnati Reds pitcher Edinson Volquez received a 50-game ban in April for a positive test for a performance-enhancing substance.
Paulino, a native of the Dominican Republic, began his big league career with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was traded three times after the 2008 season, landing in Florida when the Marlins acquired him from San Francisco for a minor league pitcher.
The Marlins placed Paulino on the restricted list and recalled catcher Chad Davis from Triple-A New Orleans.
“It’s a tough situation for this whole team, for Ronny,” said catcher Brett Hayes, who was in Friday’s lineup. “All I heard is that he got banged for 50 games. I don’t know what he took ... All that stuff is scary stuff especially nowadays in sports. I feel for Ronny. It’s a terrible situation. He is a great teammate, he’s still a great teammate, he’s still a good person.”
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