CLEVELAND (AP) – Cleveland Indians outfielder Marlon Byrd has been suspended 162 games for testing positive a second time for a performance-enhancing drug.
MLB officials said Wednesday that Byrd tested positive for Ipamorelin, a growth hormone releasing peptide.
Byrd was suspended for 50 games in 2012 shortly after he was released by Boston. Major League Baseball increased its penalty for a second offense in 2014 from 100 games to a full season.
Byrd’s lawyer Jay Reisinger said in a statement that the positive test resulted from a tainted supplement. He says Byrd won’t appeal the suspension.
The 38-year-old Byrd signed as a free agent in March with Cleveland, which needed veteran outfield depth because both left fielder Michael Brantley and right fielder Lonnie Chisenhall were recovering from injuries.