Jay Gibbons and Jose Guillen were each suspended 15 days by Major League Baseball for violating baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Neither player has failed a MLB mandated test. The suspensions will take place at the beginning of the 2008 season.
Instead Guillen and Gibbons were linked to anti-aging clinics illegally distributing anabolic steroids and human growth hormone (hGH) to players. Their connection to the clinics was turned up by an Albany based grand jury investigating anti-aging clinics and wellness centers providing drugs with bogus prescriptions from doctors.
Gary Matthews Jr., Rick Ankiel, Troy Glaus and Scott Schoeneweis also were linked to performance-enhancing drugs in similar media reports, but MLB said there was “insufficient evidence” to determine they violated the drug policy which only contained penalties for using drugs starting in the 2004 season.
This may give us some perspective on how MLB will deal with the findings from George Mitchell’s investigation which is expected to be released December 13, 2007. If Mitchell “names names” and outlines solid evidence other players may be suspended in a similar manner.
Guillen was recently signed to a three-year $36 million contract by the Kansas City Royals. General Manager, Dayton Moore, sounded confident that Guillen’s drug use was behind him.
“We signed Jose knowing that was a possibility. 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.”
In October 2006, it was reported that Gibbons had been named in the Jason Grimsley affidavit. Grimsley reportedly said Gibbons, along with Brian Roberts and Miguel Tejada, all “took anabolic steroids.” The reports that lead to this suspension cited receipts indicating Gibbons acquired hGH as well as testosterone (considered an anabolic steroid) and human chorionic gonadotropin, “a hormone produced naturally during pregnancy, but taken by anabolic steroid users to stimulate the production of testosterone, which is suppressed as a result of steroid use.”
Gibbons admission only referenced the human growth hormone.
“I am deeply sorry for the mistakes that I have made. I have no excuses and bare 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.”
