Major League Baseball recently announced a 105-game suspension for Kansas City Royals infielder Miguel Tejada for using amphetamines, but according to reports, a link to Biogenesis, Anthony Bosch and performance enhancing drugs was swept under the rug.
According to sources close to MLB's Biogenesis investigation, Tejada was given the choice of accepting the 105 games for amphetamines without appealing, or facing that same ban plus additional punishment for his link to steroids. The amphetamine use stems from using Adderall, which Tejada previously had a "Therapeutic Use Exemption" for that expired.
Upon accepting his suspension, Tejada released a statement apologizing to the Royals and their fans saying, "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 re-applying for a Therapeutic Use Exemption. Under the requirements of the Joint Drug Program, I made a mistake in doing so."
This wasn't Tejada's first problem with Adderall use. According to the Joint Drug Agreement, an initial positive test for amphetamines calls for the offending player to undergo counseling, a second failed test costs the player 25 games, and a third calls for an 80-game ban. Tejada apparently tested positive twice already before the third precipitated his lengthy suspension.
The 39-year-old Tejada was doing well in Kansas City this season, hitting .288 with three home runs and 20 RBI in 53 games. Tejada is a former American League MVP in 2002 as a member of the Oakland Athletics, is the third former MVP to be linked to Bosch and Biogenesis; he joins Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers and the new poster child for performance enhancing drugs, Alex Rodriguez.
Since 2009, the last time Tejada batted over .300, Tejada has bounced around from the Baltimore Orioles, to the San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants and finally the Royals.
The revelation of Tejada's connection to steroids and Biogenesis could help the case of Rodriguez as he appeals his 211-game ban, despite having never tested positive for any PEDs. The current situation shows MLB attempting to use public shame to incentivize accepting suspensions without a fight, and also could be construed as an attempt to alter the conversation about the steroid problem.
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