Kansas City Royals infielder Miguel Tejada was suspended 105 games Saturday for the continual use of amphetamines, testing positive twice this season since April, a person familiar with the test results told USA TODAY Sports.
The person, who spoke only on the condition of anonymity because he was unauthorized to speak publicly on the matter, said Tejada tested positive for the use of Adderall last week. It was his second offense of the season and the third positive test in his career, the person told USA TODAY Sports.
The Royals placed him on the 60-day disabled list in a mysterious move this week because he had only a minor calf strain, raising questions of a possible positive drug test.
Tejada, the 2002 American League MVP, never disputed the test result from last week, but the Major League Players Association argued that he had a therapeutic use exemption for the drug. Yet, his exemption expired April 15, according to the person familiar with the test, and Major League Baseball refused to grant him an extension.
Tejada will begin serving the suspension immediately.
USA TODAY Sports asked Major League Baseball officials about Tejada’s suspension Friday, but MLB could not confirm the positive test until making an official announcement Saturday.
Tejada received the second longest suspension for performance-enhancing drugs behind only New York Yankee third baseman Alex Rodriguez’s 211-game suspension. He received 25 games for the second offense and 80 games for the third offense.
“I apologize to my teammates, the Royals organization and to the Kansas City fans,” Tejada said in a statement released by the players association. “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.”
Tejada, who was hitting .288 with three homers and 20 RBI in 53 games, will begin immediately serving the suspension, forcing him to miss the rest of this season and the first 64 games of 2014. He would be ineligible to play until June 2014, which likely would end his career at the age of 39.
Tejada would receive a lifetime ban if he tests positive a fourth time for amphetamines.
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