Rookie pitcher Campbell gets 80-game drug suspension

Miami Marlins rookie righthander Paul Campbell was suspended 80 games on Monday after testing positive for an anabolic steroid in violation of Major League Baseball’s drug program.

The suspension involving the performance-enhancing drug testosterone was effective immediately, MLB said.

The 25-year-old Campbell, a Rule 5 acquisition in December from Tampa Bay, said he never knowingly ingested the PED, or had even heard of it.

“Due to the fact that I do not know the origin of how this substance has entered into my system, I currently have no viable defense,” Campbell said in a statement. “I have unfortunately become one of the many athletes, across multiple sports, who are presenting themselves to the world and asking for members of the anti-doping world to help us find answers as to why this metabolite is continuing to show up in athletes’ bodies, and ultimately costing them significant detours in their careers.”

Campbell apologized for bringing “negative light” to those who believe in him. He made his big league debut this season and was 0-2 with an 8.74 ERA in five games and 11 ⅓ innings. He made one start for Miami, last Saturday in Washington, and gave up four earned runs in 3 ⅔ innings.

Campbell is making the major league minimum of $570,500 this season and will lose about half that amount.

Marlins general manager Kim Ng said the organization was disappointed by the news of Campbell’s suspension.

“The Marlins support MLB’s continued efforts to maintain a level playing field for our athletes,” Ng said in a statement.