Miguel Tejada suspended 105 games for amphetamines use
Miguel Tejada, a veteran infielder for the Kansas City Royals, has been suspended 105 games for repeated use of amphetamines, Major League Baseball announced Saturday.
Tejada, who did not play in the majors last season, twice tested positive this season for amphetamines. Under baseball’s joint drug program, he was handed 25- and 80-game suspensions for second and third violations of amphetamines use.
[Update, 4 p.m.: The Associated Press and Yahoo! Sports are reporing that sources have said that Tejada tested positive for Adderall, a substance used to treat attention-deficit disorder.]
In a statement released by the MLB Players’ Assn., Tejada said:
“I apologize to my teammates, the Royals organization and to the Kansas City fans. I have a medical condition that requires medication to treat. I took that medication while reapplying for a therapeutic use exemption. Under the requirements of the Joint Drug Program, I made a mistake in doing so.”
Tejada, a six-time All-Star and the 2002 American League MVP, is currently on the disabled list with a calf injury. He played in 53 games this season, batting .278 with three home runs and 20 runs batted in.
The 39-year-old Dominican, who was often linked to steroid use -- drawing a mention in the Mitchell Report -- but never admitted to using them, has played 16 seasons in the majors. He’s hit .285 in his career with 307 home runs and 1,203 RBIs.
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