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| Jay Gibbons |
As homerun king
Barry Bonds faces federal charges that he lied to investigators about using performance-enhancing drugs, Orioles outfielder
Jay Gibbons and the Royals'
Jose Guillen were suspended for 15 days for violation of the MLB drug policy.
Baseball Commissioner
Bud Selig launched an investigation and implicated Gibbons and Guillen along with Mets reliever
Scott Schoeneweis, St. Louis'
Rick Ankiel, Toronto's
Troy Glaus and the Angels'
Gary Matthews Jr..
While the latter four were cleared, Gibbons and Guillen received suspensions “because a paper trail revealed that they purchased human growth hormone as recently as 2005, the first season in which baseball banned HGH for major-league players,” according to the
Chicago Sun-Times.
Gibbons issued a statement, reported by the Associated Press, admitting to his involvement.
"I am deeply sorry for the mistakes that I have made. I have no excuses and bear sole responsibility for my decisions. Years ago, I relied on the advice of a doctor, filled a prescription, charged the HGH, which is a medication, to my credit card and had only intended to help speed my recovery from my injuries and surgeries. I hope that my family, teammates, fans and [Orioles owner]
Peter Angelos and the entire Orioles organization will accept my apologies and that we can all move on."
Neither Gibbons or Guillen actually tested positive, but were implicated in the purchase of the banned substance. Guillen has not issued a statement of admission and is appealing the suspension.
