Mets Second Baseman Robinson Canó Suspended For 162-Games After Testing Positive For A Performance-Enhancing Substance
New York Mets second baseman Robinson Canó received a 162-game suspension without pay after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance according to the MLB.
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“We were extremely disappointed to be informed about Robinson’s suspension for violating Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program,” Sandy Alderson, Mets president, said in a statement per The Washington Post. “The violation is very unfortunate for him, the organization, our fans, and the sport. The Mets fully support MLB’s efforts toward eliminating performance-enhancing substances from the game.”
Canó was also suspended in 2018 when he was with the Mariners. The second baseman was given an 80-game suspension for a first-time violation of MLB’s drug policy per The Seattle Times.
When Canó spoke for the first time publicly in 2018 since that suspension, The Seattle Times’ Ryan Divish reported “he was personable as always, contrite when talking about his mistakes, giddy about how the Mariners (were) playing in his absence and hopeful when talking about a chance to contribute to the team when (he was) eligible to return.”
Here’s what Canó said then, in July of 2018,:
“…as you guys know, I’ve been getting tested for the last 12 seasons and I’ve never had an issue with MLB policy. I was being treated for some medical ailments and I was being supervised by a doctor. But at the same time, I understand that everything that goes into my body, I’m responsible for that. I wanted to apologize genuinely to the city of Seattle and to all the fans, and the young baseball players in the (United) States and the DR (Dominican Republic) and most importantly to my teammates. I wanted to show my face to you guys. I don’t think for me it’s fair to just come back and walk into the clubhouse. I’m here now to take questions. One thing I want you to know, because of my agreement with MLB, I’m not allowed to go into details.”
Robinson Canó, July 2018, per The Seattle Times
Canó, in that same interview with media members in July 2018, also went on to say:
“For me, this is the hardest thing that I’ve been going through in my life besides the death of my grandpa,” he said in July 2018 per The Seattle Times. “As you guys know, I love this game so much. For me, baseball is everything. You know I hate to sit in the dugout and have a day off. Being away from the game and not being able to sit in the dugout and cheer for my teammates, that makes it even harder.”
Tigers infielder Jeimer Candelario is “a longtime friend” of Canó’s per The Detroit Free Press and they worked out together in the Dominican Republic earlier this year.
Candelario commented on the news of his friend per Detroit News’ Chris McCosky: “He’s a human being and I am here for him. He’s my friend. But I can’t tell him much more than that. I will give him a couple of days, then I will try to reach him. But there’s not much that I can say.”
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