TAMPA, Fla. -- Tampa Bay Devil Rays outfielder Alex Sanchez was suspended 10 days for violating baseball's new
drug policy, the first player publicly identified under the major leagues' tougher rules.
The suspension begins Monday when Tampa Bay opens its season
against Toronto, the commissioner's office said Sunday.
Under the new policy that took effect last month, steroids and
other performance-enchancing substances are the only drugs to draw
a 10-day suspension. Baseball officials and the players' union
agreed they would not disclose the exact substance for which a
player tests positive.
Sanchez said he was surprised by the suspension, adding that he
uses milkshakes and multivitamins to build his energy -- and blaming
the positive test on something he bought over the counter.
"I'm going to fight it, because I've never taken steroids or
anything like that," said Sanchez, who was released by Detroit in
mid-March and signed by the Devil Rays.
The union can appeal the suspension to arbitrator Shyam Das,
according to union general counsel Michael Weiner. But unlike other
suspensions, it will not be held up pending an appeal. A decision
had not yet been made, Weiner said Sunday night.
"The way the system is, you're guilty until proven innocent," Sanchez's agent, Juan Iglesias, told The Miami Herald. "If anyone's going to test positive for steroids, it's not going to be Alex Sanchez."
Sanchez, 28, who hit .322 with 19 stolen bases in 79 games for
the Tigers last season, said he was drug tested while he was with
Detroit. He was to be the Devil Rays' center fielder on opening
day.
Because the suspension is without pay, Sanchez will lose $32,787
of his $600,000 salary.
Devil Rays general manager Chuck LaMar said the team would have
no comment on the suspension.
"It's suprising," manager Lou Piniella said. "That's all I
have to say on that."
Piniella conceded, however, that it was frustrating to have to
make a lineup change on the eve of the season opener.
"Sanchez had come in here and hit the ball," Piniella said.
"Now we've just got to make adjustments, and we will."
New York Yankees manager Joe Torre, speaking before Sunday night's opener against the Boston Red Sox, believed the test was a sign baseball's new steroids policy is working.
"The fact that the testing evidently worked, that's what we want to find out," Torre said. "We want to get the fans' trust back, and that's the only way it's going to happen ... This is a good sign -- not for Sanchez -- but it gives credibility to the way they are testing."
Sanchez learned of the positive test result early Sunday and
participated in a workout at Tropicana Field later in the day. He
said he had not been told what banned substance was detected.
He insisted, however, that he has never used steroids.
"I know I did nothing incorrect. ... I take stuff I buy over
the counter. Multivitamins, protein shakes, muscle relaxants. That
kind of stuff," Sanchez said.
"I'm surprised because look at what kind of player I am. I'm a
leadoff hitter. I never hit any home runs."
Sanchez did not identify any of the products he purchased over
the counter, but described them as "something to give me energy,
put a little muscle on my body. That's it."
"Everything on the banned list is a Schedule III controlled
substance except for Human Growth Hormone," said Gene Orza, the
union's chief operating officer. "There is nothing sold over the
counter after Jan. 15, the effective date of the new [federal]
legislation, that is a banned substance."
Baseball has only urine tests, which can't detect hGH. It is
possible the Sanchez took a substance that he purchased legally
before Jan. 15.
Sanchez left Cuba on a rickety raft 11 years ago, leaving his
family behind. He spent about 16 months in a refugee camp before
finally making it to the United States. Last month, Sanchez was
reunited with his mother and brother in Miami for the first time
since 1994.
Asked if he was embarrassed to become the first player to be
disciplined under baseball's new steroids policy, Sanchez shrugged.
"There's nothing we can do about it," he said.
The suspension was announced less than three weeks after several
current and former players, including Mark McGwire, traveled to
Washington to testify at a congressional hearing on steroids in
baseball.
"The biggest penalty is being known as a steroid user. That's
the No. 1 punishment you can get," Philadelphia pitcher Randy Wolf
said. "Whether it's 10, 30 days, a year, your name being out there
and being branded is going to be the biggest punishment."
Yankees pitcher Mike Mussina said the suspension drives
home the reality of the tougher rules.
"I guess you don't really realize it until it actually happens,
and now it has," Mussina said.
Red Sox pitcher Bronson Arroyo sounded amazed that Sanchez
tested positive.
"The little guy?" Arroyo said, referring to the 5-foot-10,
180-pound Sanchez.
Red Sox second baseman Mark Bellhorn said, "Anybody can do it.
Everybody always thinks steroids are the big, bodybuilder type.
Just because you take them doesn't mean you're going to be a huge
dude."
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.