MEJIA GETS LIFETIME BAN FOR HIS PED USE

Mets pitcher receives first suspension of its kind for PED use

NEW YORK » Mets relief pitcher Jenrry Mejia became the first player to receive a lifetime ban under Major League Baseball’s anti- drug agreement after testing positive for a performance- enhancing substance for the third time.

The commissioner’s office announced Friday that Mejia tested positive for the anabolic steroid Boldenone, which athletes have used to increase muscle mass and once was popular for use in horse racing.

The 26- year- old right- hander was the Mets’ closer in 2014, then was suspended for 80 games last April 11 after his positive test for Stanozolol, a drug popular among bodybuilders. At the time, Mejia said, “I can honestly say I have no idea how a banned substance ended up in my system.”

Mejia returned July 12 and appeared in seven games for New York, then was banned for 162 games July 28 after a positive test for Stanozolol and Boldenone.

“I think not surprisingly there’s a tremendous amount of disappointment, I think to some extent, anger, to some extent, amazement that this could happen so soon after a previous suspension was completed,” Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said last summer. “This is the consequence of making bad choices.”

The Mets said Friday they “were deeply disappointed.” The Major League Baseball Players Association declined comment, and a spokesman for Mejia’s agents said the pitcher had no comment.

Under pressure from Congress to toughen their anti- drug program, major- league players and teams agreed in November 2005 that a third positive test for PED use would result in a lifetime ban.

Mejia’s 162- game suspension had matched the longest under the big- league program, a year- long ban served by Yankees star Alex Rodriguez in 2014 that originally was 211 games before an arbitrator reduced it.

Mejia may apply one year from now to baseball commissioner Rob Manfred for reinstatement, and Manfred at his discretion has the power to let Mejia back in baseball — but no earlier than for the 2018 season. If an application is made and denied, Mejia could ask baseball’s arbitrator to end the ban, claiming the penalty is without “just cause.”